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Detection of Fetal Abnormalities Based on Three Dimensional Nuchal Translucency
by Khin Wee Lai Eko SupriyantoUltrasound (US) prenatal screening has been proposed as the most effective technique for Trisomy 21 early assessment. Assessment of Nuchal Translucency (NT) offers promising non-invasive method for fetal abnormalities detection up to 75%. Nevertheless, current clinician practice of NT examination by locating the sonogram calipers on 2D US image requires highly trained and competent operators by adhering to a standard tedious protocol; therefore it is prone to errors and hence it decreases the reliability in intra- and inter-observer repeatability. This Brief provides the basic knowledge regarding Trisomy 21 diseases and its existing detection methods. The restrictions and disadvantages of each method are discussed accordingly. Therefore, a non-invasive early detection method using 3D ultrasound reconstruction of Nuchal Translucency is introduced. This new method for 3D NT assessments has an edge over the previous 2D methods, and entails the composite function in visualizing the explicit internal marker structure. Further, image processing techniques covered from data acquisition, pre-processing, speckle noise reduction and 3D segmentation are also discussed. This should be especially useful for students and professional researchers in the Biomedical and image processing fields.
Fractal Time: Why a Watched Kettle Never Boils (Studies of Nonlinear Phenomena in Life Science, Volume 14)
by Susie VrobelThis book provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the notion of fractal time, starting from scratch with a philosophical and perceptual puzzle.
Science Diplomacy: New Day or False Dawn
by Lloyd Spencer Davis Robert G. PatmanAs modern foreign policy and international relations encompass more and more scientific issues, we are moving towards a new type of diplomacy, known as “Science Diplomacy”. Will this new diplomacy of the 21st century prove to be more effective than past diplomacy for the big issues facing the world, such as climate change, food and water insecurity, diminishing biodiversity, pandemic disease, public health, genomics or environmental collapse, mineral exploitation, health and international scientific endeavours such as those in the space and the Antarctic? <P><P>Providing a new area of academic focus that has only gathered momentum in the last few years, this book considers these questions by bringing together a distinguished team of international specialists to look at various facets of how diplomacy and science are influenced by each other.The book not only dissects the ways that politics, science and diplomacy have become intertwined, but also highlights how the world's seemingly most intractable problems can be tackled with international collaboration and diplomacy that is rooted in science, and driven by technology. It, therefore, challenges the conventional wisdom concerning the juxtaposition of science and the world of diplomacy.
Transition Metal Organometallic Chemistry
by Francois MatheyThis book serves as a concise guide to essential topics in Transition Metal Organometallic Chemistry for senior undergraduate and graduate students; it blends qualitative theoretical approach with experimental description of the facts. Its content emphasizes on the orbital description of M-L bonds; the electronic structures of the main types of organometallic complexes (ML2 to ML6); main types of organometallic reactions; organometallic compound synthesis, analytical characterization and the reactivity and lastly the applications of transition metals in homogeneous catalysis.
Electromigration Modeling at Circuit Layout Level
by Feifei He Cher Ming TanIntegrated circuit (IC) reliability is of increasing concern in present-day IC technology where the interconnect failures significantly increases the failure rate for ICs with decreasing interconnect dimension and increasing number of interconnect levels. Electromigration (EM) of interconnects has now become the dominant failure mechanism that determines the circuit reliability. This brief addresses the readers to the necessity of 3D real circuit modelling in order to evaluate the EM of interconnect system in ICs, and how they can create such models for their own applications. A 3-dimensional (3D) electro-thermo-structural model as opposed to the conventional current density based 2-dimensional (2D) models is presented at circuit-layout level.
Carbon Nanotubes as Nanodelivery Systems: An Insight Through Molecular Dynamics Simulations (SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology)
by Melvin Choon Lim Zhaowei ZhongThis book showcases the application of carbon nanotubes as nanodelivery systems for copper atoms, using molecular dynamics simulations as a means of investigation. The nanodelivery system of the carbon nanotube presents the possible usage of the carbon structure in many areas in the future. This book is comprehensive and informative, and serves as a guide for any reader who wishes to perform a molecular dynamics simulation of his own and to conduct an analytical study of a molecular system.
Decision Making Algorithms for Hydro-Power Plant Location
by Mrinmoy Majumder Soumya GhoshThe present study has attempted to apply the advantage of neuro-genetic algorithms for optimal decision making in maximum utilization of natural resources. Hydro-power is one of the inexpensive, but a reliable source of alternative energy which is foreseen as the possible answer to the present crisis in the energy sector. However, the major problem related to hydro-energy is its dependency on location. An ideal location can produce maximum energy with minimum loss. Besides, such power-plant also requires substantial amount of land which is a precious resource nowadays due to the rapid and uncontrolled urbanization observed in most of the urban centres in the World. The feasibility of such plants also depends on social acceptance as well as the level of environmental casualty and economic benefit, all of which is also spatially dependent. Decision making algorithms are applied to identify better solution if a problem has more than one alternative explication. Nature based algorithms are found to be efficient enough to catalyze such kind of decision making analysis. That is why the present study tries to utilize nature based algorithms to solve the problems of location selection for hydropower plants. The study employed six different types of nature based algorithms to select one of the locations among many available for installation of hydropower plant in the North Eastern part of the Indian subcontinent. The locations are selected based on their in stream resources and included in the decision making as alternatives. A methodology of criteria selection, determination of weightage and applications of bioinspired algorithms are adopted to produce utmost exertion of the available natural resources with minimum hostility and wastage of the same.
Segmentation of Hand Bone for Bone Age Assessment
by Yan Chai HumThe objective of this Brief is to provide a solution to the unsolved technical problem in segmentation for the automated bone age assessment system. The task is accomplished by first applying the modified histogram equalized module, then applying the proposed automated anisotropic diffusion technique. It is followed by a novel fuzzy quadruple division scheme to optimize the central segmentation algorithm, and then an additional quality assurance scheme. The designed segmentation framework works without demanding scarce resources such as training sets and skillful operators. The results have shown that the designed framework is capable of separating the soft-tissue and background from the hand bone with high accuracy. This Brief should be especially useful for students and professional researchers in the Biomedical and image processing fields.
Sustainability of Biofuel Production from Oil Palm Biomass
by Cynthia Ofori-Boateng Keat Teong LeeThis book evaluates and discusses the main sustainability challenges encountered in the production of biofuel and bio-products from oil palm biomass. It starts off with the emphasis on oil palm production, oil palm products recovery and oil palm wastes utilization. The simultaneous production of these bio-products for sustainable development is discussed. This is followed by the key factors defining the sustainability of biofuel and bio-product production from oil palm biomass. The environmental issues including ecological, life cycle assessment and environmental impact assessment of oil palm plantation, milling and refining for the production of biofuels and bio-products are presented. Socio-economic and thermodynamic analysis of the production processes are also evaluated using various sustainability assessment tools such as exergy. Lastly, methods of improving biofuel production systems for sustainable development are highlighted.
Municipal Solid Waste Management in Asia and the Pacific Islands: Challenges and Strategic Solutions
by Masaru Tanaka Pariatamby AgamuthuSolid waste management issues, technologies and challenges are dynamic. More so, in developing and transitory nations in Asia. This book, written by Asian experts in solid waste management, explores the current situation in Asian countries including Pacific Islands. There are not many technical books of this kind, especially dedicated to this region of the world. The chapters form a comprehensive, coherent investigation in municipal solid waste (MSW) management, including, definitions used, generation, sustainable waste management system, legal framework and impacts on global warming. Several case studies from Asian nations are included to exemplify the real situation experienced. Discussions on MSW policy in these countries and their impacts on waste management and minimization (if any) are indeed an eye-opener. Undoubtedly, this book would be a pioneer in revealing the latest situation in the Asian region, which includes two of the world's most dynamic nations in the economic growth. It is greatly envisaged to form an excellent source of reference in MSW management in Asia and Pacific Islands. This book will bridge the wide gap in available information between the developed and transitory/developing nations.
New Computation Methods for Geometrical Optics
by Psang Dain LinThis book employs homogeneous coordinate notation to compute the first- and second-order derivative matrices of various optical quantities. It will be one of the important mathematical tools for automatic optical design. The traditional geometrical optics is based on raytracing only. It is very difficult, if possible, to compute the first- and second-order derivatives of a ray and optical path length with respect to system variables, since they are recursive functions. Consequently, current commercial software packages use a finite difference approximation methodology to estimate these derivatives for use in optical design and analysis. Furthermore, previous publications of geometrical optics use vector notation, which is comparatively awkward for computations for non-axially symmetrical systems.
Smart Metering Design and Applications
by K.S.K Weranga Sisil Kumarawadu D. P. ChandimaTaking into account the present day trends and the requirements, this Brief focuses on smart metering of electricity for next generation energy efficiency and conservation. The contents include discussions on the smart metering concepts and existing technologies and systems as well as design and implementation of smart metering schemes together with detailed examples.
Optical Precursors: From Classical Waves to Single Photons
by Jf Chen Shengwang Du Heejeong Jeong Mmt LoyEver since Einstein's special relativity in 1905, the principle of invariant light speed in vacuum has been attracting attention from a wide range of disciplines. How to interpret the principle of light speed? Is light referred to continuous light, or light pulse with definite boundaries? Recent discovery of superluminal medium triggered vigorous discussion within the Physics community. Can communication via such "superluminal channel" break the speed limit and thus violate causality principle? Or, will a single photon, which is not governed by classical laws of Physics, tend to break the speed limit? To solve these problems, this Brief brings in Optical Precursors, the theoretical works for which started as early as 1914. This is a typical optical phenomenon combining wave propagation theory and light-wave interaction. Both theory and experimental works are covered in this Brief. The study of precursor verifies that the effective information carried by light pulses can never exceed the speed of light in vacuum- c. Further, through observation from nonclassical single photon source, the precursor rules out the probability of a single photon traveling with the speed, breaking the classical limit.
Assessment of Environmental Impact by Grocery Shopping Bags: An Eco-Functional Approach (EcoProduction)
by Yi Li Subramanian Senthilkannan MuthuThis book reviews the manufacturing processes of different shopping bags used for grocery purposes, life cycle impacts, modelling of life cycle impacts, carbon and eco-footprints in different countries, consumption of shopping bags in different countries, consumer behaviour of shopping bags in various countries and its relation to eco-impact, assessment of functionality of shopping bags, concept and framework of eco-functional assessment of shopping bags, biodegradation of shopping bags, etc.
Statistics and Scaling in Turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard Convection
by Emily S.C. ChingThis Brief addresses two issues of interest of turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection. The rst issue is the characterization and understanding of the statistics of the velocity and temperature uctuations in the system. The second issue is the revelation and understanding of the nature of the scaling behavior of the velocity temperature structure functions. The problem under the Oberbeck-Boussinesq approximation is formulated. The statistical tools, including probability density functions (PDF) and conditional statistics, for studying fluctuations are introduced, and implicit PDF formulae for fluctuations obeying certain statistical symmetries are derived. Applications of these PDF formulae to study the fluctuations in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection are then discussed. The phenomenology of the different types of scaling behavior: the Bolgiano-Obhukov scaling behavior when buoyancy effects are significant and the Kolmogorov-Obukhov-Corrsin scaling behavior when they are not, is introduced. A crossover between the two types of scaling behavior is expected to occur at the Bolgiano length scale above which buoyancy is important. The experimental observations are reviewed. In the central region of the convective cell, the Kolmogorov-Obukhov-Corrsin scaling behavior has been observed. On the other hand, the Bolgiano-Obukhov scaling remains elusive only until recently. By studying the dependence of the conditional temperature structure functions on the locally averaged thermal dissipation rate, evidence for the Bolgiano-Obukhov scaling has recently been found near the bottom plate. The different behaviors observed in the two regions could be attributed to the different size of the Bolgiano scale. What physics determines the relative size of the Bolgiano scale remains to be understood. The Brief is concluded by a discussion of these outstanding issues.
Assessment of Carbon Footprint in Different Industrial Sectors, Volume 2 (EcoProduction)
by Subramanian Senthilkannan MuthuFollowed by the previous part (Volume-1), Volume-2 of carbon footprint assessment book deals with the assessment of carbon footprint in different other sectors, which were not dealt in the first part. Attention on Carbon footprint is growing day-by-day from the public, government and media. Certainly it is one of the most important topics in the agenda of every nation, which is trying its best to reduce its carbon footprint to the maximum possible extent. Every manufacturing industry or sector would like to reduce the carbon footprint of its products and consumers are looking for the products which emit lower carbon emissions in their entire life cycle. Assessment of Carbon footprint for different products, processes and services and also carbon labeling of products have become familiar topics in the recent past in various industrial sectors. Every industry has its unique assessment and modeling techniques, allocation procedures, mitigation methods and labeling strategies for its carbon emissions. With this background, volume two of this book has been framed with dedicated chapters on carbon footprint assessment on various industrial sectors, apart from the ones covered in Volume 1. In each chapter, details pertaining to the assessment methodologies of carbon footprint followed in a particular industry, challenges in calculating the carbon footprint, case studies of various products in that particular industry, mitigation measures to be followed to trim down the carbon footprint, recommendations for further research are discussed in detail.
M² Models and Methodologies for Community Engagement
by Reena Tiwari Marina Lommerse Dianne SmithHow can we engage communities? What is empowerment? To what extent should the project process be participatory? How is an outsider-insider relationship handled? How do researchers negotiate with the hegemony of western cultural interpretations? How are organizational and contextual influences handled in a project? What leadership demands do such projects place on researchers? What is capacity building? What are creative leaders and creative communities? How does the researcher journey from their studio to the situation? M² Models and Methodologies for Community Engagement discusses key theoretical constructs -- community engagement, capacity building, and community empowerment -- in order to demonstrate how theory and practice are relevant to the development of forms of community involvement. The book maps the attributes of community based projects by moving beyond simply bringing people together from a variety of disciplines, and taking an approach which is transdisciplinary and applicable across cultures and genres. Here, all people -- including the community -- are ongoing contributors, and can freely move between their own and others' discipline-specific arenas. M² differs from and extends on other works in this field of practice and research, in that its transdisciplinary, collaborative approach positions the community as a particular kind of discipline to create real change in diverse locations and fields of experience. The book is in itself a model of community engagement, as the researchers have formed a community of research and practice for change, and have developed a transformative model for community engagement that is greater than the sum of its parts - hence M². M² offers a valuable resource for students, researchers, academics, practitioners, policy developers and volunteers from the fields of architecture, interior architecture, health, planning, anthropology, education, home economics, communication, political studies and development studies.
Relaxation of the Chemical Bond
by Chang Q SunThe aim of this book is to explore the detectable properties of a material to the parameters of bond and non-bond involved and to clarify the interdependence of various properties. This book is composed of four parts; Part I deals with the formation and relaxation dynamics of bond and non-bond during chemisorptions with uncovering of the correlation among the chemical bond, energy band and surface potential barrier (3B) during reactions; Part II is focused on the relaxation of bonds between atoms with fewer neighbors than the ideal in bulk with unraveling of the bond order-length-strength (BOLS) correlation mechanism, which clarifies the nature difference between nanostructures and bulk of the same substance; Part III deals with the relaxation dynamics of bond under heating and compressing with revealing of rules on the temperature-resolved elastic and plastic properties of low-dimensional materials; Part IV is focused on the asymmetric relaxation dynamics of the hydrogen bond (O:H-O) and the anomalous behavior of water and ice under cooling, compressing and clustering. The target audience for this book includes scientists, engineers and practitioners in the area of surface science and nanoscience.
Proceedings of the Colloquium on Administrative Science and Technology
by Rugayah Hashim Abu Bakar Abdul MajeedThis book of proceedings collects fifty-one papers presented at the inaugural Colloquium of Administrative Science and Technology (CoAST 2013) event, held at Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. It has been reviewed by 750 experts world-wide and covers three main areas - Administrative Science and Technology, Management, and Arts and Humanities. The papers in this volume reflect: * the importance of the social sciences in academia and in the nations' social-economic growth; * the multi-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary nature of academia that transcends the broad areas of the social sciences; * the increasing trend towards fundamental studies in the social sciences, management, and the arts and the humanities, which have been characterized under the overarching theme of administrative science and technology; * the growing demand for research outcomes affecting the public and private sectors' service processes. The other overlapping niche areas affecting the civil service scope will ensure more interest in and readability of the findings showcased in this proceedings book; * the popular and contemporary measurement techniques and methodologies employed within the scopes of the social sciences and humanities; * the noticeably changing trends in administrative science and technology, which will greatly impact the governments of the world, allowing the development of a better understanding of governmental processes and their impact on key performance and e-service deliveries. The reporting on technology-based services will improve the public sector's agility; * a knowledge-sharing agenda for other developing and less developed nations to emulate; * some of the major generic developments that have taken place in these thematic areas of CoAST 2013.
Inquiry into the Singapore Science Classroom
by Aik-Ling Tan Chew-Leng Poon Shirley S.L. LimThis book offers an insight into the research and practices of science teaching and learning in the Singapore classroom, with particular attention paid to how they map on to science as inquiry. It provides a spectrum of Singapore's science educational practices through all levels of its education system, detailing both successes and shortcomings. The book features a collection of research and discourse by science educators in Singapore, organized around four themes that are essential components of approaching science as inquiry: teachers' ideas and their practices, opportunities and constraints from a systemic level, students' competencies and readiness to learn through inquiry and the need for greater awareness of the role of informal learning avenues in science education. In addition, the discourse within each theme is enriched by commentary from a leading international academic, which helps to consolidate ideas as well as position the issues within a wider theoretical and international context. Overall, the papers set out important contexts for readers to understand the current state of science education in Singapore. They also highlight strengths and gaps in practices of science as inquiry as well as provide suggestions about how the system can be improved. These research findings are therefore helpful as they provide honest and evidence-based feedback as well as tangible and doable ideas that policy makers, teachers, students and school administrators can adopt, adapt and enhance.
Helicobacter pylori
by Nayoung KimThis book presents the current state of knowledge regarding the ability of Helicobacter pylori to colonize the gastrointestinal tract, the global epidemiology of H. pylori infection, transmission routes, the pathophysiology of H. pylori-related gastroduodenal and other diseases, diagnosis and treatment methods, guidelines for eradication, antibiotic resistance, the reinfection and recrudescence rate after H. pylori eradication, the effect of H. pylori and its eradication on the gastric microbiota and animal models of H. pylori or related Helicobacter infection. The aim is to equip readers around the world with the understanding required in order to implement effective methods of H. pylori eradication and to enhance clinical outcomes for patients. In addition, readers can understand the interaction between H. pylori and other gut microbiota during chronic infection and after H. pylori eradication. The text is clearly written and is complemented by many helpful illustrations. This book will be a great asset in clinical practice for all practitioners who are involved in caring for patients with H. pylori-related diseases or have an interest in the subject. It will also be a useful source of information for medical students and for intelligent laypeople seeking information on H. pylori.
Research Partners with Lived Experience: Stories from Patients and Survivors
by Andrew Stranieri Grant Meredith Selena FirminThis book aims to foster collaborations between patients who have intense lived experience with a medical condition or family violence and researchers investigating them. Inviting patients or survivors into the research team is found to have significant advantages, and chapters review the literature on the benefits they can bring to investigative research teams. The collaboration can take place at multiple stages of research from helping to research design, participating in co-investigators, contributing to the interpretation of results, etc. The conditions addressed in this book include medical conditions from anxiety, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, lupus, asthma, chronic kidney disease, etc. The authors are higher degree students, academics, and active research team members who share their experiences. This is be instrumental in helping patients and survivors decide whether to transition to research. It will also support research team leaders in determining how to benefit from the new perspectives researchers with lived experience bring. The personal narratives provide insight into the challenges and rewards of having lived experience while conducting research. This book is a valuable resource for researchers in clinical fields who have been touched by firsthand exposure to a condition and have been motivated to conduct research in the respective fields. The chapters will enrich understanding for adult patients and survivors and for parents of children suffering intense experiences, who engage with the latest research publications. It will also broaden the understanding of medical, biomedical, and health sciences students interested in reading the narrative accounts of patients and survivors. Readers will gain refreshing perspectives and insights. The book relates to patients managing all kinds of noncommunicable diseases or experiences of violence, and how they can share their valuable experiences into future advancementto research. It is related to SDG 3, good health and well-being.
Animal Models in Research: Principles and Practice
by Harikrishnan Vijayakumar Sreelatha Satish Patel Perumal NagarajanThis book describes the development of animal models widely used in biomedical research using step-wise instructions and photographs. Showcasing a wide range of species from zebra fishes, birds, rodents, rabbits, dogs, and pigs, the book includes detailed methodology on how to work with these species and to develop various models. The animal models in neurology including stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Schizophrenia; Animal models in cancer research, sleep disorders, and cardiovascular diseases are described to meet the understanding of researchers who plan to replicate these models in their laboratories. In depth detailing on the development of targeted gene knockouts and transgenics, implantation models that are used in toxicology studies, and pharmacokinetic studies in pigs and dogs are a highlight. Further, the book describes pharmacologic, chemically induced, surgically induced, microbiologically induced, infectious models, models for neurobehavioral studies, oncology research, and pain research. The book has dedicated sections on anesthesia and analgesia and teaches procedures like venous cut-downs and cannulations in pigs and dogs, and endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation and thoracotomy in rodents and will serve as a self-training tool. Concepts in the field of animal model development are explained using examples. Sample size selection, study design, and statistical evaluation of experiments involving laboratory animals are explained to enable young researchers to practically understand the nuances. This book will be a valuable tool for academicians, students, scientists, and veterinarians and will benefit equally who are new to the field and who are already working with laboratory animals.
Communication Technologies and Security Challenges in IoT: Present and Future (Internet of Things)
by Ajay Prasad Thipendra P. Singh Samidha Dwivedi SharmaThis book presents overall communication technologies and protocols used in IoT like in networks: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, LoRA, GSM/GPRS/EDGE/LTE, etc. in applications: MQTT, CoAP, AMQP, XMPP, etc, focusing on the architecture and threat perseverance of each. The book also presents new/future technological additions like Wi-Fi HaLow (802.11ah), HEW (802.11ax), BLE, NFC, RFID, etc.,) and upcoming changes in communication systems in IoT and its possible security aspects. The book also covers security aspects in communication mechanisms in domain-specific IoT solutions for healthcare, smart cities, smart homes, smart vehicles, etc. The objective of the book is to assist IoT developers to have a good insight into available and upcoming communication technologies so that they can employ the best possible practices while designing and developing IoT solutions.
Environment and Renewable Energy: Proceedings of the 2023 9th International Conference on Environment and Renewable Energy (Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences)
by Pen-Chi ChiangThis book presents peer-reviewed papers of the 2023 9th International Conference on Environment and Renewable Energy (ICERE 2023), which was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, during February 24–26, 2023, in hybrid mode (both online and in-person). The conference was sponsored by the Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Vietnam, and facilitated exchanging the latest and most advanced information between scientists and engineers in the fields of environment and renewable energy. The book focuses on research related to environmental management; water resources management; ground water remediation; water treatment and reclamation; solar, biomass and wind energy; nuclear energy engineering; renewable energy grids; environmental impact assessment; and renewable energy utilization, among other topics. This volume serves as an excellent reference for researchers and engineers seeking to understand the latest technological developments in these fields.