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Summary: The use of energy it is argued started about two million years ago when humans started cooking their food using firewood. As humans developed new skills with increased activities, energy interaction and usage emerged. Energy was used not only for domestic functions but also for space applications. With industrialization, humans realized that energy was needed to move machines and do other things as well. In this quest, and without understanding the consequences of using fossil fuels extensively, many problems arose. Researchers in energy embarked on a journey to study different forms of energy. To understand different needs, researchers have tried to come up with ways in which small-scale energy harvesting can be adapted to different needs that do not require heavy-duty energy production.This book attempts to present a number of ideas regarding a few selected small-scale energy harvesting methods and techniques as well as theories and products that may be helpful in improving the quality of life. Some of the new products are still in the prototype stage, while others are already being utilized. Many researchers in small-scale energy harvesting and those aspiring to follow this path of research will find this book not only motivating but also a useful guide in their endeavors.

Summary: I am very proud and excited to introduce to you this book, which provides many interesting indications on how to better understand and handle the world of opticalcoherence tomography (OCT). Reading the chapters, you will be aware that this device is extremely important not just in the clinical practice of retinal diseases, but is also very useful as a surgical tool. Moreover, application of OCT has crossed the borders of the retina and is currently being applied to corneal diseases and glaucoma. I amconfident you will find enough useful information to improve your practice using OCT and to provide a better quality of care for your patients.

Summary: This book, intended for all physicians who are facing patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms, has been assembled by interested, invited authors and contains important topics from basic research to clinical practice. Experimental studies focus on biomechanical and biochemical factors. In clinical practice, the decision to treat, based on risk-benefit ratio, is very delicate in patients with concomitant malignant diseases. Periprocedural risk is determined by anatomy, while aneurysms causing neck pain are one of the most frequent challenges for both open and endovascular methods. Finally, careful planning is crucial. Postoperative complications are different from post-implantation syndrome, which is still an underestimated problem, toward detection and treatment of endoleaks and eventual conversion.

Summary: This book focuses on the applications of robust and adaptive control approaches to practical systems. The proposed control systems hold two important features: (1) The system is robust with the variation in plant parameters and disturbances (2) The system adapts to parametric uncertainties even in the unknown plant structure by self-training and self-estimating the unknown factors. The various kinds of robust adaptive controls represented in this book are composed of sliding mode control, model-reference adaptive control, gain-scheduling, H-infinity, model-predictive control, fuzzy logic, neural networks, machine learning, and so on. The control objects are very abundant, from cranes, aircrafts, and wind turbines to automobile, medical and sport machines, combustion engines, and electrical machines.

Summary: Endocarditis is a disease process that involves an infection of the heart, cardiac structures, or implantable cardiac support devices and can be a difficult clinical problem. As patients get older and have more comorbidities, their risks for infection increase. In addition, the growing problem of intravenous substance abuse has led to a considerable increase in these patients developing endocarditis. Advances in medical technology have facilitated diagnosis and management, particularly with greater emphasis on early surgical intervention. Nevertheless, success requires a team approach and individualization of care in the setting of very complex medical, surgical, and ethical problems. The goal of this book is to illustrate some of the evolving challenges and controversies in managing these very complex and often extremely sick patients.

Summary: Whereas the field of Fluid Mechanics can be described as complicated, mathematically challenging, and esoteric, it is also imminently practical. It is central to a wide variety of issues that are important not only technologically, but also sociologically. This book highlights a cross-section of methods in Fluid Mechanics, each of which illustrates novel ideas of the researchers and relates to one or more issues of high interest during the early 21st century. The challenges include multiphase flows, compressibility, nonlinear dynamics, flow instability, changing solid-fluid boundaries, and fluids with solid-like properties. The applications relate problems such as weather and climate prediction, air quality, fuel efficiency, wind or wave energy harvesting, landslides, erosion, noise abatement, and health care.

Summary: Advanced Understanding of Neurodegenerative Diseases focuses on different types of diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, different tauopathies, Parkinson's disease, prion disease, motor neuron diseases such as multiple sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy. This book provides a clear explanation of different neurodegenerative diseases with new concepts of understand the etiology, pathological mechanisms, drug screening methodology and new therapeutic interventions. Other chapters discuss how hormones and health food supplements affect disease progression of neurodegenerative diseases. From a more technical point of view, some chapters deal with the aggregation of prion proteins in prion diseases. An additional chapter to discuss application of stem cells. This book is suitable for different readers: college students can use it as a textbook; researchers in academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies can take it as updated research information; health care professionals can take it as a reference book, even patients' families, relatives and friends can take it as a good basis to understand neurodegenerative diseases.

Summary: Biotechnology is the scientific field of studying and applying the most efficient methods and techniques to get useful end-products for the human society by using viable micro-organisms, cells, and tissues of plants or animals, or even certain functional components of their organisms, that are grown in fully controlled conditions to maximize their specific metabolism inside fully automatic bioreactors. It is very important to make the specific difference between biotechnology as a distinct science of getting valuable products from molecules, cells or tissues of viable organisms, and any other applications of bioprocesses that are based on using the whole living plants or animals in different fields of human activities such as bioremediation, environmental protection, organic agriculture, or industrial exploitation of natural resources. The volume Advances in Applied Biotechnology is a scientific book containing recent advances of selected research works that are ongoing in certain biotechnological applications. Fourteen chapters divided in four sections related to the newest biotechnological achievements in environmental protection, medicine and health care, biopharmaceutical producing, molecular genetics, and tissue engineering are presented.

Summary: Fusion power may offer a long-term energy supply with an uninterrupted power delivery, a high power-generation density, and no greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to preventing the worst effects of climate change and making an enduring contribution to future energy supply. However, the intense conditions inside a fusion power plant (extreme temperatures and high magnetic fields necessary for nuclear fusion) call for addressing several potential problems. These include the development of new materials with extremely high heat tolerances and low enough vapor pressure and the design of mechanical structures that can withstand the electromagnetic force generated as well as feedback controllers to measure and counteract the unstable modes of evolution of the plasma, to name a few. The future of nuclear fusion as an efficient alternative energy source depends largely on techniques that enable us to control these instabilities. Mathematical modelling and physical experiments attempt to overcome some of the hindrances posed by these complexities. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art in this fascinating and critically important field of pure and applied physics, mathematics, and engineering, presenting some of the most recent developments in theory, modelling, algorithms, experiments, and applications.

Summary: The HIV epidemic has had a significant and profound impact on the world and health resources. Considerable progress has been made in understanding the risks and drivers of the epidemic. Antiretroviral drugs have relieved human suffering and prolonged life. However, access to quality management needs to scale up and be made universal. This book discusses critical issues related to the treatment of HIV infection and related co-infections and challenges in adherence and discordancy. New vaccine approaches discussed may provide the ultimate solution for eradication. Sharing knowledge from various experts in medical and basic sciences improves the quality of care for this persistent global threat. This book discusses emerging advances in HIV-AIDS management to support strategies for control and elimination.

Summary: This book provides a concise yet comprehensive source of current information on Down syndrome. It focuses on exciting areas of research on chromosome editing, neurogenomics and diseases associated with Down syndrome. Research workers, scientists, medical graduates and physicians will find this book as an excellent source for consultation and references. Key features of this book are chromosome engineering in Down syndrome, mental retardation and cognitive disability, prenatal diagnosis and diseases associated with Down syndrome. Although aimed primarily for research workers on Down syndrome, we hope that the appeal of this book will extend beyond the narrow confines of academic interest and be exciting to wider audience, especially parents, relatives and health care providers who work with infants and children with Down syndrome.

Summary: Uveitis is the fifth cause of visual loss in the developed world, accounting for up to 20% of legal blindness. Visual loss due to uveitis currently has a significant impact on the productivity and quality of life of many patients worldwide. Therefore, advances in diagnostic techniques and therapeutic strategies are crucial for patients suffering from the disease. Improvements in our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms, development of more accurate diagnostic tests, and better treatment alternatives come from the continuous efforts of researchers from all over the world who are committed to improving the standard of care of patients suffering from these potentially blinding diseases.This book focuses on the most recent advances in diagnostic techniques for primary and systemic-associated autoimmune and infectious uveitis, as well as new therapeutic strategies that have significantly reduced the rate of ocular complications and improved the visual outcome of patients suffering from these devastating disorders.

Summary: Alkenes, which have carbon-carbon double bonds, are chemicals and energy sources that play an important role in human life, including economics and the environment. This book examines the production and synthesis of alkenes, olefins, and polyolefins, as well as environmental issues faced during industrial production of these hydrocarbons. It also discusses eco-friendly and green separation techniques.

Summary: Allergic rhinitis, while troublesome for a patient, may be also a challenge for the physician. That is why physicians must still learn more on the pathophysiology, clinical spectrum and novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the disease. The chapters of this volume address a variety of important topics related to allergic rhinitis. They begin with a description of innovative translational approaches allowing for unification of animal and human models. Contributing authors provide up-to-date reviews of clinical aspects of allergic rhinitis in children, its association with bronchial asthma and other co-morbid conditions. They also discuss the impact of allergic rhinitis on sleep and sports. Together with articles on diagnostic approaches as well as novel treatments, the book offers a comprehensive and stimulating review of the topic. May this book find a wide readership among allergists and other physicians interested in allergic disease, and also among pediatricians, general practitioners and other specialists who increasingly have to deal with this seemingly benign, but sometimes extremely troublesome, disease.

Summary: Alternative medicine is recognized as medical products and practices that do not belong to the standard cares taken by medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy and allied health professionals. It has developed into a multitude of medical products and practices that significantly improve the body condition and show disease prevention actions. The content of this book does not cover all areas of alternative medicine, but provides the reader with insights into selected aspects of established and new therapies. It consists of 12 chapters that are separated into 4 parts: (1) Historical and Cultural Perception, (2) Compositional Analysis, (3) Therapeutic Potential, and (4) Action Mechanism and Future Direction, written by world experts who are reviewing their original and others' research. The book will be useful to students, clinicians, teachers and researchers who have interest in advances in alternative medicines.

Summary: This book offers a sharp critique and a detailed analysis of some pernicious social welfare problems and the wide-ranging causes and consequences of those complex social issues on individuals, families, and communities. Unemployment, health-care disparities, teenage pregnancy, and intimate partner violence constitute the focus of this work. Based on empirical and historical analyses of primary and secondary data, the book provides a conceptual framework that facilitates the reader's understanding of how those social issues are interrelated. Each chapter offers some clear policy recommendations directed to address those social problems. Written by well-published scholars, this work will be of great interest not only to students majoring in the social and political sciences but also to academics and practitioners active in the field of social welfare, social policy, and social work.

Summary: For the past two decades, Sports Medicine has been a burgeoning science in the USA and Western Europe. Great strides have been made in understanding the basic physiology of exercise, energy consumption and the mechanisms of sports injury. Additionally, through advances in minimally invasive surgical treatment and physical rehabilitation, athletes have been returning to sports quicker and at higher levels after injury. This book contains new information from basic scientists on the physiology of exercise and sports performance, updates on medical diseases treated in athletes and excellent summaries of treatment options for common sports-related injuries to the skeletal system.

Summary: "Multiple chronic conditions," also known as multimorbidity, is a special situation frequently encountered by global healthcare professionals, especially internists/primary care physicians, neurologists, respiratory/pulmonologists, pain specialists, and oncologists, who spend more than three-quarters of their time in the treatment of chronic diseases and direct patient care. Thus, the increasing need for multidisciplinary approaches in the management of multiple chronic medical problems, rather than focusing on individual diseases, should be borne in mind by global healthcare professionals, public health professionals, healthcare providers, health policymakers, and pharmaceutical industries. This book is an up-to-date source of information for physicians, residents, and advanced medical students seeking a broader understanding of managing chronic disease clusters.

Summary: The aim of An Update in Dental Implantology and Biomaterial is to continue the challenge of reconstruction and implantology into another volume with unique updates. As a surgeon who is usually asked to accomplish the reconstructive skeleton of the rehabilitation plan, questions like ""Doc, I am in a hurry, how fast can you finish the treatment?"" are becoming very common in practice these days. This phenomenon goes hand in hand with people's current lifestyles. Another challenge is the inapplicable prosthetic plan due to the difficulty at the patient side or the surgical intervention side. The advancement in reconstruction is appreciated, but apparently it has not reached the limit of placing the factors of cost, time, and invasiveness into one location. I believe that cases should be treated and rehabilitated as soon as possible, with reasonable cost and feasible technicality, so that clients can focus on their daily lives. With this book I am honored to present a homogeneous gathering of literature on implantology, elaborated with up-to-date techniques of grafting, the improvement of anterior aesthetics, and answers to questions concerning postoperative implant complications and microbiota care.

Summary: The human system employs the use of endogenous enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic antioxidant defence systems against the onslaught of free radicals and oxidative stress. Enzymatic antioxidants and non-enzymatic antioxidants work synergistically with each other, using different mechanisms against different free radicals and stages of oxidative stress. Dietary and lifestyle modifications are seen as the mainstay of treatment and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. The major aims of dietary and lifestyle changes are to reduce weight, improve glycaemic control and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, which accounts for 70- 80% of deaths among those with diabetes. It is also important to note that medicinal plants have been used as medicines since ancient time, and continue to play significant role even in modern medicine in management and treatment of chronic diseases. Impressive numbers of modern therapeutic agents have been developed from plants. Phytochemicals have been isolated and characterised from fruits such as grapes and apples, vegetables such as broccoli and onion, spices such as turmeric, beverages such as green tea and red wine, as well as many other sources. The WHO estimates that approximately 80% of the worlds inhabitants rely on traditional medicine for their primary health care and many medicinal plants have ethno-medical claims of usefulness in the treatment of diabetes and other chronic diseases globally, and have been employed empirically in antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antihypertensive, antinflammatory and antiparasitic remedies. This book examines the role of antioxidant-rich natural products in management and treatment of diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Summary: As the most common cardiac valve disease, aortic stenosis is frequently encountered by healthcare providers in clinical practice. It may be suspected from a cardiac murmur found at a routine clinical exam, signs on ECG, heart failure, or an episode of syncope or arrhythmia. Echocardiography as well as other imaging tools provide information about the degree of severity of the stenosis. Nevertheless, careful judgement of potential symptoms is crucial. When it comes to treatment, a catheter-based approach has emerged as the preferred option in many cases, even though open-chest surgery is still standard treatment. Regardless of treatment modality, a multidisciplinary team is needed to provide optimal management of patients with aortic stenosis. This book provides all the necessary information on aortic stenosis, including etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.

Summary: This second of two volumes on EMG (Electromyography) covers a wide range of clinical applications, as a complement to the methods discussed in volume 1. Topics range from gait and vibration analysis, through posture and falls prevention, to biofeedback in the treatment of neurologic swallowing impairment. The volume includes sections on back care, sports and performance medicine, gynecology/urology and orofacial function. Authors describe the procedures for their experimental studies with detailed and clear illustrations and references to the literature. The limitations of SEMG measures and methods for careful analysis are discussed. This broad compilation of articles discussing the use of EMG in both clinical and research applications demonstrates the utility of the method as a tool in a wide variety of disciplines and clinical fields.

Summary: Aerodynamics, from a modern point of view, is a branch of physics that study physical laws and their applications, regarding the displacement of a body into a fluid, such concept could be applied to any body moving in a fluid at rest or any fluid moving around a body at rest. This Book covers a small part of the numerous cases of stationary and non stationary aerodynamics; wave generation and propagation; wind energy; flow control techniques and, also, sports aerodynamics. It's not an undergraduate text but is thought to be useful for those teachers and/or researchers which work in the several branches of applied aerodynamics and/or applied fluid dynamics, from experiments procedures to computational methods.

Summary: This book examines artificial neural networks (ANNs) and their applications in various fields. Chapters address ANNs and deep learning techniques for real-world applications in health care, materials processing, energy management, and more.

Summary: Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is a slow and smooth continuous extracorporeal blood purification process. It is usually implemented over 24 hours to several days with gentle removal of fluid overload and excess uremic toxins. CRRT, which is based on the physiological principles of diffusion, ultrafiltration, convection, and adsorption, can be performed as slow continuous ultrafiltration, continuous veno-venous hemofiltration, continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration, and continuous veno-venous hemodialysis. Over many years, CRRT has been shown to be an effective dialysis therapy for hemodynamically unstable patients with acute kidney injury, brain injury, and/or multiorgan failure in intensive care units. Aspects in CRRT covers selected important topics with a practical approach to the management of different aspects of CRRT. All chapters have been updated and are well referenced, supported by well-illustrated figures and tables, and written by distinguished and experienced authors. Aspects in CRRT is considered as a guide to daily practice in intensive care units, and a reference for medical and nursing staff involved in taking care of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury, sepsis, and multiorgan failure.

Summary: Dialysis (clearance of uremic toxins and removal of excess fluids) is a broad term for different modalities of treatment for patients with acute and end-stage kidney disease. These modalities include peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis, hemofiltration, hemodiafiltration, and continuous renal replacement therapy for critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. Dialysis is a lifesaving measure and can be conducted in hospitals, in dialysis clinics, and at home. Recently, dialysis techniques have witnessed tremendous improvements in technology and performance. The book Aspects in Dialysis covers important aspects of dialysis-related topics and is empowered with well-established and experienced authors, who have written clear and informative chapters. It covers various aspects of dialysis modalities supported by well-established clinical studies. Aspects in Dialysis can be considered as a guide for daily practice and a reference for medical and nursing staff involved in taking care of dialysis patients.

Summary: This book outlines assorted dimensional materials acquired through reconfiguration of potentially applicable physical properties and functions of some multifunctional matrixes, composites, hybrids, and blends. As the frontiers of Science and Technology become widened, many multifunctional materials are created via physico-chemically reconfigured alterations to cater for remarkable applications in this era of modernization. Today, material for sustainable and green development in S&T draws noteworthy global interest in industry and technology such as polymer-based sensors/markers, thermal conductors, metal-alloys, piezo-energy harvesters, and thermoelectrics. Chapters of this book explain practicable methodologies and viable applications in the diverse areas of material chemistry, physics, and modern engineering. All skeletal reconfigured matrixes are promising due to augmented new functionality that offers novel and advanced utilities to the resultant matrixes, composites, blends, gels, and hybrids.

Summary: Atherosclerosis is a subject of enormous contention for cardiologists and in general for all medical doctors. With this publication we have given you a concise ""state-of-the-art"" look at the world of atheroma. Many other elements could be included and so it is only a brief analysis of ""today"" (the preventive medicine era) and ""tomorrow"" (transforming the cure medicine era into the care medicine era) but also remembering ""yesterday"" (the ex-cathedra medicine era). Let's hope our arteries are free from atherosclerotic events: have a good read!

Summary: This book opens with a discussion of neurodiversity and an elaboration of the diagnosis of autism. It then examines factors correlating with autism, including sex bias, month of birth, migration and impact of infant feeding. The next section is on the impact of autism. The neurobiology and genetic section deals with epigenetics and intracellular pathways associated with etiology. The development and behaviour section deals with proprioceptive profiles and joint attention in autism. The final section focuses on interventions including mindfulness, animal assisted activity, social/cultural perspective on autism intervention and physical activity. The book is relevant to all professionals and researchers working with persons with autism, including psychiatrists/psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, nurses and care workers.

Summary: Long-term forecasting of technology has become extremely difficult due to the rapid realization of any suggested idea. Communication and software technologies can compensate for the problems that may arise during the transition period between idea generation and realization. However, this rapid process can cause problems for the automotive industry and transportation systems.Autonomous vehicles are currently a hot topic within the transportation sector. This development is related to the compatibility of vehicles of the near future with the development of the infrastructure on which these vehicles will be based. There are certain problems regarding the solutions that are currently being worked on, such as how autonomous should vehicles be, their control mechanisms, driving safety, energy requirements, and environmental use. The problem is not just about the design of autonomous vehicles. The user transportation systems of these vehicles also need problem-free solutions. The problem should not only be seen as financial because sociological effects are an important part of this feature.In this book, valuable research on the modeling, systems, transportation, technological necessity, and logistics of autonomous vehicles is presented. The content of the book will help researchers to create ideas for their future studies and to open up the discussion of autonomous vehicles.

Summary: Azoles are a broad and promising class of five-membered heterocyclic compounds containing from one up to five nitrogen atom(s) that can also contain sulfur or oxygen atoms. Widely used as potent antifungal agents, various azole derivatives have also demonstrated many other promising biological properties. This book covers studies of several types of thiazole-based heterocyclic scaffolds, the development of 4-thiazolidinone and thiazole derivatives with heterocyclic fragments as potential candidates for new drugs against trypanosomiasis, numerous synthetic approaches for the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles, the application of N-azole, N,S-azole, and N,O-azole as well as their derivatives as retarders of metallic corrosion, and the integration of azoles in materials used for renewable energy processing and applications and wood treatment.

Summary: A healthy skeletal musculature is necessary for a good quality of life and is important in sports. The loss of skeletal muscle mass leads to severe clinical complications and alters daily functioning. The aim of this book is to give an overview of skeletal muscle atrophy including pathomechanism, clinical characters, and the tools for prevention and treatment. Skeletal muscle atrophy can develop due to neurogenic or myogenic reasons, and frequently appears as an age-dependent disorder (sarcopenia). The studies of theoretical background give promising perspectives to prevent and treat muscle atrophy. The book is recommended to scientists, practitioners, students, sportsmen, and everybody who is interested in the normal and impaired function of the skeletal muscle.

Summary: The purpose of this publication is to systematize the knowledge necessary to make Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or Cardiorespiratory Resuscitation (CRR) known to nursing health specialists, which translates as a set of temporary and internationally standardized maneuvers assigned to ensure the oxygenation of the vital organs when the blood circulation of an individual stops suddenly, independently of the cause of the Cardiorespiratory arrest (CRA). This knowledge is found correctly delimited in The Basic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Manual, which especially emphasizes the step-by-step methodology and techniques to follow for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). This is a basic work that cannot be overlooked by health care specialists, the society, and the public in general, because of the high probability that this situation will present at some moment in life. Thus, it is recommended to be prepared to help some person in an emergency situation. The manual is an excellent consultation work for health professionals. Given that what is expressed in this work is fundamental for life, and its objective is to make known the relevant information concerning the knowledge of CPR.

Summary: Shifting the performance of an invasive procedure from operating room or interventional lab to the ICU has advantages for both the patient and the doctor performing the procedure. The book is a guide to interventions that are commonly performed in the intensive care unit, without the need of an operating room. In the following chapters, the authors show that procedures like endotracheal intubation, videolaryngoscopy, pericardial puncture, lumbar puncture and percutaneous cholecystostomy, and intra-abdominal pressure monitoring can be safely performed outside the operating room, at the bed of the patient. All the chapters of the book are clinically orientated providing explanations and illustrations for invasive procedures. Practical recommendations are given in the book, accompanied by figures for techniques performed in critically ill patients. It will serve the experienced doctor who has not performed a procedure for a long time as well as the young doctors needing a practical assistance when facing a new patient.

Summary: This book examines the challenges in bioethics from medical, ethical, legal, and industrial perspectives. A critical exchange of ideas from professionals in interdisciplinary fields allows all people to learn and benefit from their far-reaching insights gained through personal and professional experiences in the fields of medicine and research. Examining these complex issues, ranging from brain-computer interfaces to disabilities in health care to the determination of death to safe injection sites, presents viable paradigms for all healthcare professionals who are being confronted with these issues today and in the future. The more we face these challenges directly, examine them critically, analyze them thoroughly, and debate them enthusiastically the more knowledge will be gained and hopefully more lives will be saved.

Summary: Bioethics is the application of ethics to the broad field of medicine, including the ethics of patient care, research, and public health. In this book, prominent authors from around the globe discuss the complexities of bioethics as they apply to our current world. Topics range from the philosophical bioethics of the evolution of thinking about marriage from a religious standpoint to the bioethics of radiation protection to value-based medicine and cancer screening for breast cancer. Bioethics in Medicine and Society is wide-ranging, with additional chapters on the ethics of geoengineering, complementary and alternative medicine, and end-of-life ethical dilemmas. Readers with find that the field of bioethics has broad implications throughout society from our most intimate interpersonal relationships to policies being implemented on a global scale.

Summary: Bioethics is primarily an applied ethics of health related issues. It is considered an important guide for health care and its discourses and practices. Health related technology, such as information technology, is changing rapidly. Bioethics should arguably address such change as well as continue to address more established areas of health care and emerging areas of social concern such as climate change and its relation to health. This book illustrates the range of bioethics in the 21st century. The book is intentionally not comprehensive but rather illustrative of established, emerging and speculative bioethics, such as ethics of mental health care, ethics of nano-technology in health care, and ethics of cryogenics, respectively. Hopefully the book will motivate readers to reflect on health care as a work in progress that requires continuous ethical deliberation and guidance.

Summary: Clinicians, scientists, and health care professionals use biomarkers or biological markers as a measure of a person's present health condition or response to interventions. An ideal -biomarker should have the following criteria: (I) ability to detect fundamental features of the disease, (II) ability to differentiate from other closely related diseases, (III) ability to detect early stages and stages of progression, (IV) the method should be highly reliable, easy to perform and inexpensive, and (V) sample sources should be easily accessible from body. Most of the chapters in this book follow the basic principle of biomarkers.

Summary: During last couple of years there has been an increasing recognition that problems arising in biology or related to medicine really need a multidisciplinary approach. For this reason some special branches of both applied theoretical physics and mathematics have recently emerged such as biomechanics, mechanobiology, mathematical biology, biothermodynamics. The Biomechanics in Application is focusing on experimental praxis and clinical findings. The first section is devoted to Injury and clinical biomechanics including overview of the biomechanics of musculoskeletal injury, distraction osteogenesis in mandible, or consequences of drilling. The next section is on Spine biomechanics with biomechanical models for upper limb after spinal cord injury and an animal model looking at changes occurring as a consequence of spinal cord injury. Section Musculoskeletal Biomechanics includes the chapter which is devoted to dynamical stability of lumbo-pelvi-femoral complex which involves analysis of relationship among appropriate anatomical structures in this region. The fourth section is on Human and Animal Biomechanics with contributions from foot biomechanics and chewing rhythms in mammals, or adaptations of bats. The last section, Sport Biomechanics, is discussing various measurement techniques for assessment and analysis of movement and two applications in swimming.

Summary: The interest in biofuel production and application is governed by the depletion of fossil fuel resources and the threatening pollution of the atmosphere because of the extensive emissions of greenhouse gases, which the present global vegetation cannot cope with. A remedy against the greenhouse gas emissions is the use of biomass presently grown as a source for biofuels. Biofuels can be further utilized as substrates for bulk chemical products. This approach is known as the biorefinery concept as an analogue to the oil-based refineries.The present book offers some examples and new ideas for the broader applications of biofuels and the resulting raw materials for energy and chemical products as alternatives to the traditional fossil fuels.

Summary: This book integrates knowledge of plant biotechnology, plant physiology, and the environment. It presents new information about soil organic carbon sequestration using plant species (tropical grasses) that have potential in climate change mitigation. It also presents scientific knowledge on the multipurpose role of microRNA (miRNA), focusing mainly on stress tolerance in crop plants. Chapters discuss uses, methods, and advantages of recombinant DNA technology and novel plant biotechnology applications for plant-based vaccines. This volume brings together knowledge about non-edible plants seeds as potential sources of biodiesel production to mitigate the global energy crisis.

Summary: The family Brassicaceae constitutes one of the world's most economically important plant groups. These plants are important sources of vegetable oil, vegetables, and condiments. Most of these crops belong to the genus Brassica, which includes common crops such as oilseeds (oilseed rape, mustard) and vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, turnip, Chinese cabbage, etc.). Brassica species play an essential role in horticulture and agriculture as well as contribute to the health of populations around the world. The current global climatic model predicts a significant decrease in growth, yield, and productivity of Brassica due to various biotic and abiotic stress factors. Thus, high-yielding, climate-resilient, and disease-resistant Brassica varieties are required to maintain as well as increase future agricultural production. The development of improved cultivars of these crops may become exhausted and improvement could become stagnant when plant breeding is merely based on a single breeding approach. Therefore, the goal of a breeding program should be to develop genetically superior Brassica cultivars suitable for a wide range of environments. This book examines the introgression of insect and disease resistance and other desirable traits into Brassica crops using inter-and/or intra-specific hybridization as well as biotechnological and molecular techniques, which could be useful for improving Brassica crops to ensure food security.

Summary: Early detection of breast cancer with screening mammography is still the best method we have in saving countless women's lives and decreasing the harms of overtreatment. This textbook encompasses relevant topics in daily patient care with breast imaging to technical innovations for improving breast cancer detection and treatment.

Summary: Asthma remains a serious health concern for millions of people globally. Despite continuing research interest, there have been few advancements that impact clinically on patient care, potentially because asthma has been treated as a homogeneous entity, rather than the heterogeneous condition it is. This book introduces cutting-edge research, which targets specific phenotypes of asthma, highlighting the differences that are present within this disease, and the varying approaches that are utilized to understand it.

Summary: The advances being made in veterinary medicine in the modern era are continuously pushing the boundaries of what is presently possible and available. From unraveling canine genetics and gene therapies to understanding the microbiome and the effects parasites have on canine health. Whilst many advances are being made with clinical diagnosis, surgeries, prosthetics, pharmaceuticals, and imaging techniques, preventative medicine is also at the forefront of technology. Our understanding of the medical issues, critical care, pharmaceutics, anatomy, pathology, genetics, and disease are all imperative in making advances in canine medicine. This book covers a diverse range of topics in canine health by highlighting recent and forthcoming canine medicine and health innovations and improvements.

Summary: This book is a comprehensive and practical updated review about the various aspects of cardiac arrhythmias. It covers a variety of aspects of both atrial and nonatrial arrhythmias, including genetics, clinical aspects, ECG manifestations, and practical approaches to complex cardiac arrhythmia management - office, hospital, intensive care unit, electrophysiology laboratory, and operating room. This book also presents comprehensive ECG reviews of cardiac arrhythmias like atrial flutter, Brugada pattern, Breijo ECG pattern, and PVCs. Practical aspects of preventing and managing arrhythmias - central venous catheter-induced, atrial flutter, and drug-induced cardiac arrhythmias - are described. Experts have demonstrated the approach for mapping and ablation of complex arrhythmias like atrial flutter, idiopathic ventricular tachycardia, and Brugada syndrome.

Summary: Cardiovascular risk factors contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease from early life. It is thus crucial to implement preventive strategies addressing the burden of cardiovascular disease as early as possible. A multidisciplinary approach to the risk estimation and prevention of vascular events should be adopted at each level of health care, starting from the setting of perinatology. Recent decades have been marked with major advances in this field, with the emergence of a variety of new inflammatory and immune-mediated markers of heightened cardiovascular risk in particular. The current book reflects some of the emerging concepts in cardiovascular pathophysiology and the shifting paradigm of cardiovascular risk estimation. It comprehensively covers primary and secondary preventive measures targeted at different age and gender groups. Attention is paid to inflammatory and metabolic markers of vascular damage and to the assessment of vascular function by noninvasive standardized ultrasound techniques. This is a must-read book for all health professionals and researchers tackling the issue of cardiovascular burden at individual and community level. It can also serve as a didactic source for postgraduate medical students.

Summary: The management of chronic diseases is one of the tasks of all members of the health team, and different models need to be applied in the practice of chronic care management. One of these models is home care services. There are two main sections in this book. In the first part of the section, the concept of caregiving and care at home is explained. In the second part, the responsibilities of caregivers at home and the responsibilities of caregivers of people who have health problems that occur during different periods of life are discussed. In the second section, the problems of caregivers are also included. I would like to think that what is quoted in this book, which contains examples from different cultures of the world for home care approaches, will contribute to the development of home care services. This book is presented to all health professionals working in the field of health services as well as health politics professionals and students trained in these areas.

Summary: In a global world, where the acceleration of technological changes is happening in all industrial sectors, a special focus is forced on innovation and creativity. The book has gathered a small number of sectors where innovation is being the main vector to achieve the competitiveness that companies are craving. The motivation to choose these sectors has been preceded by a careful selection in which we wanted to pick up those in which innovation is a key today. Different aspects push to create and innovate: the environment in general and in particular climate change is forcing to rethink sectors such as energy, infrastructure, water, biotechnology, materials, defense, education, or health. Dear reader, in your hand is a work that reflects the same spirit of the human being: curiosity and eagerness to overcome have allowed humanity to have evolved and still continue today.

Summary: This book, Casting Processes and Modelling of Metallic Materials, explores the various casting and modelling activities related to metallic alloy systems. The book provides results of research work conducted by experts from all over the globe to add to the research community in the era of the casting process and modelling. The book was edited by two experts in the field of materials science and modelling, Dr. Abdallah and Dr. Aldoumani, whom both have several publications in peer-reviewed journals, worldwide conferences, and scientific books. The book introduces the casting processes and then discusses the various issues and possible solutions. Over the past years, various models have been proposed and utilized to predict the performance of castings. Some of these models proved to be accurate whereas others failed to predict the casting performance. The strength of any predictive tool depends on the employment of physically meaningful parameters that replicate the real-life conditions. This has been illustrated in the current book with such predictive models and finite element (FE) modelling to illustrate the behaviour of castings in real-life conditions.