Search results for ""nova science publishers inc""

In this compilation, the role of liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and chemometrics for the analysis and characterization of plant natural products is addressed. The authors provide a comprehensive review of the pharmacological activity of cetrarioid lichens and their major secondary metabolites as antioxidants to prevent and treat oxidative stress-related diseases. Following this, the way in which the detection of various secondary metabolites and bioactive compounds in some plants can reduce sickle cells in vitro is studied. In addition, the efficiency of green and conventional solvent systems concerning the three classes of phytochemicals (phenols, alkaloids, and flavonoids) is described. Lastly, a brief history of antibiotics and the spread of resistance is provided, and future strategies to combat drug-resistant microbes are discussed.

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This book provides comprehensive insights into emerging trends on calcium signaling in the nervous system from triggering signal transduction neuronal pathways to regulation of brain functions. Calcium signaling is one of the major coupling mechanism linking external stimuli with intracellular processes. Normal calcium signaling is important for functioning of all cells particularly neurons coupled to control mechanisms of the body inducing intra- and intercellular signaling and triggering biochemical cascade to control metabolism, gene expression, cell differentiation and apoptosis. The author, Dr. Victor V. Chaban is Professor of Medicine with dual appointment at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Chaban completed his post-doctoral training in Neuroscience at UCLA and graduate studies in Clinical Research at CDU. He serves on National Institute of Health and several international study sections and holds U.S. Patents. Prof. Chaban is established expert, who contributed significantly to a better understanding of neuroplasticity and neurodegeneration associated with changes in calcium signaling. Calcium Signaling and Nervous System: Overview and Directions for Research gives an up to date account of changes in intracellular Ca2+ associated with primary afferents sensitization, neuronal and glial reorganization, neuroprotection and neurodegeneration. This book is recommended to scientists, healthcare providers, students and patients.

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This compilation opens with a review of the current knowledge regarding the impact of endocrine disruptors on human health, as well as the mechanisms contributing to it. The authors emphasize the evidence of aquaporin modulation by hypoxia and erythropoietin, as these water channels are increasingly valued as potential biomarkers of disease, as well as pharmacological targets for the treatment of brain and renal injuries, cardiovascular disorders and cancer. Later, the safety and tolerability of adalimumab demonstrated in pivotal phase III clinical trials is examined, along with long-term follow up data from open-label extensions and the ESPRIT registry. Adalimumab for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis and peripheral spondyloarthritis is also discussed. The authors go on to study the types, causes, effect and problems related to polycystic ovary syndrome. The closing study deals with the relationship between reactive oxygen species and male fertility, providing some futuristic approaches for better research in the field.

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This book reviews the current literature relevant to college students and e-cigarette use, with emphasis on the perceived risks and benefits of use, and discusses how this information may be applied to future interventions in this population. E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices, vape pens, e-hookah, e-cigars, e-pipes, or other electronic nicotine delivery systems. They are designed to heat a liquid solution that emulates smoking using a smoke-free technique. Ongoing studies of nicotine salts and by-products such as N-nitrosonornicotine and nicotyrine and their physiological effects are also reviewed.

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This chapter is a monography concerning the possible role of tissue stiffness in the human carcinogenesis as well as its possible impact in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of the malignancies. Cancer is a very serious health problem in mankind, with an increasing prevalence and incidence worldwide. Although in the last years, several diagnostic and therapeutic approaches were suggested and made available for managing human malignancies, the outcome of patients and their quality of life are still poor for most of these different forms of neoplasms (Torre LA, Siegel RL, Ward EM, Jemal A., Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2016;25(1):16-27. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-15-0578). Several reasons may explain this dismal prognosis: the aggressive biological behavior of some histological subtypes, the acute-, intermediate- or late- side effects of systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy, including toxicity of organs, diarrhea, skin irritation, nausea, mucositis, alopecia, vomiting, intestinal discomfort, asthenia, the arising of immunosuppression with neutropenia, the increased risk of infections as well as the occurrence of secondary cancers, at variable time intervals, either within a few weeks or months/years after the end of anticancerous treatments. From chemotherapy to biological therapy: A review of novel concepts to reduce the side effects of systemic cancer treatment (Review). Int J Oncol.] 2019;54(2):407-419. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2018.4661). 1) Novel strategies and methodological approaches are strongly required to determine an effective improvement in the management of these diseases. It is conceivable to suppose that not only the genetic alterations, but also further important factors may be involved in determining the prognosis of patients, suffering from malignancies. 2) Extracellular matrix (ECM) represents a crucial and key component of tissue structure contributing to the initiation, growth, and progression of human carcinoma. This last consists of a three-dimensional and highly dynamic macromolecular network, supporting the structure of all mammalian cells and modulating their function. ECM is characterized by well-defined physical, biochemical and biomechanical properties and plays multiple functions, such as: a) the maintenance of cellular, tissue and organ homeostasis, b) the regulation of both the amounts and the activities of growth factors and receptors c) the preservation of an adequate hydration status and pH level in the tissue microenvironment. It undergoes a continuous but tightly regulated remodeling and several mechanisms participate in the control of its adequate composition and structural organization. Therefore, ECM regulates a wide series of distinct cell activities, such as differentiation, apoptosis, proliferation and migration as well as energy production and availability. In normal conditions, a dynamic interplay is established among mammalian cells and ECM, surrounding them. The result of this cooperation is the maintenance of a proper ECM composition, morphology, disposition and activity in all tissues and a correct intracellular structure and function, both in the cytoplasm and in micro-organelles, such as nucleus. In the last years, a large series of studies are focusing on a better understanding of ECM alterations and abnormalities, that emerge in its structure, shape and spatial organization, during the occurrence of different pathological conditions, such as inflammation and cancer. 3) ECM contributes to regulate and modulate a wide series of distinct cell activities, such as differentiation, apoptosis, proliferation, and migration as well as energy production and availability. In normal conditions, a dynamic interplay is established among mammalian cells and ECM, surrounding them. It involves soluble factors, such as chemokines, cytokines, costimulatory molecules, additional biological mediators (oxidants and prostaglandins) and physical stimuli (microenvironment stiffness and tensional/compression forces). The result of this cooperation is the maintenance of a proper ECM composition, morphology, disposition and activity in all tissues and a correct intracellular structure and function, both in the cytoplasm and in micro-organelles, such as nucleus. In the last years, a large series of studies are focusing on a better understanding of ECM alterations and abnormalities, that emerge in its structure, shape and spatial organization, during the occurrence of different pathological conditions, such as inflammation and cancer. To date, some studies are investigating the mutual interactions among the cells, that are progressively acquiring a cancerous phenotype, and the stroma surrounding them as well as the changes in physical properties of nucleus- and cytoplasmic- microenvironment. It has been shown that the ability of malignant cells to grow and to metastasize depends on several factors, such as the relationship occurring between the stroma stiffness as well as the nucleus and cytoplasm rigidity. Since 2003, Professor Donald Ingber published some interesting papers about tensegrity and tissue stiffness as a possible risk factor for cancer development (Ingber DE. Tensegrity I. Cell structure and hierarchical systems biology. ] J Cell Sci. 2003;116(Pt 7):1157-73; Ingber DE. Tensegrity II. How structural networks influence cellular information processing networks] J Cell Sci. 2003;116(Pt 8):1397-408). He has shed new light on this topic. Taking advantage from these experimental evidences, this paper describes the state of the art concerning this topic and the diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic use in clinical practice in the last years as well as the possible future application of these evidences. We performed this chapter to identify the available studies, assessing: 1) the possible association between tissue stiffness and risk of cancer development; up to now a rather high number of malignant tumoralhistotypes have been identified in the different human organs and have been included in our anatomopathological classifications. Therefore, we decided to consider in our review only the following organs: brain, breast, colon, esophagus, kidney. liver, lung, prostate, stomach, thyroid and uterus and for each of them we have analyzed the most frequent, aggressive and lethal malignancies as paradigm; 2) the "state of art" for this topic with clinical (diagnostic and therapeutic management) purpose; 3) the potential relationship between the values of tissue stiffness and prognosis in patients with cancers involving the above reported organs and the current use as well as their potential future application in clinical practice.

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This book is the initiative of young researchers looking for the right forum where to disseminate their investigations concerning the European Union. The combination of independent researchers are understood as a part of a whole, a part of a project in constant development. The EU is constantly pushed forward in the integration process by internal and external forces, in a development full of obstacles that need to be overcome. These researches provide an insight academic view on the main fields of integration in the European Union, from a perspective of deeper integration. They combine the analysis with critics and future proposals for a better understanding a very important social movement, foreseeing the logical obstacles the process will encounter and present a set of proposals for the right implementation of measures solving the necessities of the Europeans.

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Volume 19 first describes the principles, materials and processes in 2.5D printing and post-press enhancement based on the authors' research. This compilation goes on to discuss Hadoop, a pioneering open source framework that has revolutionized the big data world due to its ability to process vast amounts of unstructured and semi-structured data by distributing a massive amount of data across clusters. A new tool that uses general and query-based summarization to analyze students' log files at the Academic Center for Tutoring at Columbus State University, a small state university in Georgia, USA, is introduced. The concept of a Vehicle Accident Prediction System is presented using accident datasets based on actual vehicle accident data extracted from open-source datasets. The current problem of rapid data increase throughout the year is discussed, along with the available options for gaining useful insight from World Wide Web created data. A review of different methods for Audio-Visual Speech Recognition using Random Forest is presented, and a strategy based on the combination of Wavelet multiresolution analysis and Random Forest is proposed. The authors review six recent applications of autoencoders in cryo-EM and cryo-ET data analysis, discussing the autoencoders' strength and weaknesses to provide potential directions for future research. In closing, an algorithm is presented which uses ensembles of metamodels and classifiers to predict which candidate designs for computer simulations are expected to cause failures and to divert the search accordingly.

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This volume is a ground-breaking criticism of our criminal systems and of international criminal justice. One way of ensuring compliance with international criminal justice is to seek justice through pursuing the naked truth. Is it feasible to change this legal discipline? Is it possible for a society of human beings to function without any criminal legislation? We could also pose other crucial questions which concern our courts, legislative powers, and various governmental sanctions. What can we say about the world of animals? Do they also have legislative authorities who draft their international criminal law? What about enforcement measures, courts, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and prisoners? Do they also kill millions of human beings through their political sanctions? Why do animals human not have any law, although human beings have produced vast amounts of case law? Are we more abhorrent than animals human? Are animals better educated and more morally competent than human beings? Given the answer to these questions, we use the term "human beings" in juxtaposition to the term "animals human" throughout this work. The volume puts forward its philosophy concerning the different attitudes of criminal theory and the doctrines which have strengthened the criminal discipline to favour the gross offenders known as the "authorities." Obtaining and reading this book is a must for the millions of prisoners, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, professors, researchers, philosophers, politicians, and students of law, criminal law, criminology, and political science, as well as military and police officers of all ranks, and academics.

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Set in the South and Southeast Region, this book attempts to analyse the implications of both genocides perpetrated on the unarmed Rohingya minority community in Myanmar, and the geopolitics of the powers of the region that deter the resolution of this festering problem. The book highlights the helplessness of the UN system to take any punitive actions against the perpetrators (ie: the security forces of Myanmar) given that China, India and Russia, who are taking the side of Myanmar for geopolitical reasons. They have exercised their vetoes at the UNSC to such an action. The book describes the key players in this region, their interests, compulsions and imperatives, and covers different strategies launched by the United States, China, India, Japan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar that tend to stall the resolution of the process or even refusing to take back the Rohingya refugees -- 1.1 million of them including children and women -- now languishing in the cramped camps inside Bangladesh. Most of these refugees were forced to flee their ancestral homes after a ghastly genocide meted out to them in October 2017. Such massacres have been taking place in a series of violence starting from 1977-8. This issue has huge regional security implications. The ugly heads of insurgency are also looming large. This has turned out to be a huge burden on the economy and environment of Bangladesh. However, different donor agencies including UNHCR are providing relief and rehabilitation. The author provides ramifications and reflections in the form of scenario development and suggesting certain options -- uniqueness of this book -- on this festering humanitarian issue.

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Leptospira is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes leptospirosis, one of the most important re-emerging zoonotic diseases. The disease is worldwide diffused, and animals are involved in its spreading. Among animals, wildlife play an important role in the epidemiology of leptospirosis, as reservoir of specific Leptospira serovar. Several species are known as Leptospira maintenance host, but other are less investigated and could represent a "new" host involved in its epidemiology. The book "Leptospira Infection in Wild Animals" contains descriptions of leptospirosis epidemiology in several wild animal species, highlighting the infection in different part of world, the most detected Leptospira serovar and the risks of infection for both humans and domestic animals. Data on marine mammals, wild boar, rodent, lagomorph, wild ruminants, amphibian and reptiles, bats and non-human primates Leptospira infection were deeply analysed and discussed in order to better understand their role in the leptospirosis epidemiology.

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This book first describes the physical profile of elite young tennis players focusing on the Inertial Movement Analysis patterns. In Inertial Movement Analysis, wearable microsensor technology is used to improve the knowledge about activity patterns such as accelerations, decelerations, jumps and changes of direction. Following this, the authors review the prevalence and risk factors of low back pain in tennis players and discuss the optimal rehabilitation program, focusing on non-operated adolescent/adult tennis players. A methodology for creating educational training programs in volleyball is examined. Algorithmic methodological steps of educational training programs, models and methods that were used in their creation and control, and the calculation and analysis of their effects and changes in volleyball are presented. The game pattern of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic women's volleyball finals between the USA and Brazil is assessed through data obtained from an observational video analysis of the Olympic finals in Beijing and London. Studies on game analysis in volleyball are discussed which identify that the points generated through the fundamentals of attack, block and serve are decisive for a team to achieve victory in high performance volleyball. Thus, the objective of this study was identify the factors that determine victory in high-performance men's volleyball. In the conceptual aspect, the authors discuss the theoretical assumptions of sociology of sport and historical-critical pedagogy, aiming to understand volleyball's history and basic fundamentals. In closing, the relationship between athletes, parents, and coaches is discussed in detail, depending on each individual's expectations and how these expectations influence the self-confidence of volleyball players.

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This 2 volume book paints an accurate picture of Joan of Arc both as a religious and historical figure. In this book, Joan emerges as an exemplary human being, with a character as near to perfection as anyone could achieve, whether one believes in Christian teachings or not.

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This book focuses on two aspects of neuroimaging related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that have greatly evolved in the last decades: the development of optical tools in the biology field and advances in the field of magnetic resonance imaging. Therapeutic writing and expressive disclosure interventions have been demonstrated to facilitate the emotional processing of thoughts and feelings about the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis experience, with relevant implications for illness adjustment. Based on these premises, the authors explore the linguistic patterns in the cognitive-affective processing of illness experience in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Following this, the authors discuss recent studies that offer a new perspective on sensory networks in motor neuron diseases to understand the true extent and patophysiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and suggest new potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of this tragic disease. The closing study focuses on the respiratory involvement of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is the principal cause of death. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is characterized by respiratory failure consequent to respiratory muscles dysfunction, as well as bulbar muscles which support the upper airways, developing in dyspnoea and impaired sleep.

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Low-Density Polyethylene: Properties and Applications examines the rheology of low-density Pply(ethylene)-based systems. Processing this commodity, alone or in combination with different micro/nano-fillers, requires a deep knowledge of its rheological behavior in order to set up the process parameters. Following this, the comprehensive research progress on low-density polyethylene is reviewed, and the mechanisms of low-density polyethylene biodegradation are summarized. Additionally, the effect of microorganisms on low-density polyethylene and products of this degradation with their level of toxicity is discussed. Later, the authors focus on the different types of low-density polyethylene, microorganism-mediated degradation, changes in the physiological properties of low-density polyethylene post degradation and its applications in other fields. The detailed knowledge of preferential sorption is studied in an effort to reveal new information regarding low-density polyethylene properties. Consequently, the usage of low-density polyethylene in membrane separations is promoted.

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Volume 165 first presents promising information about the essential goal of effective and safe medication for target patients with the appropriate genotypes. The authors explore the diverse causes of neonatal leukemoid reaction in premature infants proposed by Hill and Duncan in 1941, such as intrauterine infection and maternal steroid administration. This compilation also explores hjypoxia-inducible factor-1, a key gene regulator for cellular adaptation to hypoxia which leads to a transcriptional response under physiological as well as pathological conditions. From a historical perspective, Wilms' tumor treatment is assessed, focusing on the different approaches of the two main groups, the Children's Oncology Group and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology. The genetics and genomics of Plasmodium, which include multiple parameters and factors affecting disease transmission, are assessed in an effort to enhance our knowledge about the disease. Following this, whole slide imaging or virtual microscopy is used for the quantitative evaluation of liver biopsy specimens of patients with chronic hepatitis. The closing study examines data which reveals changes in the functioning of the ceruloplasmin/transferrin system, decreasing the content of toxic ions of Fe2+ in the plasma of patients with Parkinson's disease. These changes are a pathogenetically significant factor of Parkinson's disease at all stages.

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This book provides a better understanding of Fuzzy set theory, Fuzzy logic and Neural Networks and various other techniques seem very well suited for modelling and controlling a real system. Energy is of major importance to civilisation, because it is driving force which binds human race. The estimation of energy in the form of renewable and sustainable is one of the important aspects to understand the how resources are harnessed and to predict what might happen under various possible future conditions. Using available modelling techniques to generate the best algorithms, the objective is to determine the best solution in terms of comparing the performances of the solutions through different parameters for a specific case. Consumption of Fossil fuels at a rapid pace has generated an alarming situation and with the subsequent increase in the number of vehicle the pollution level has reached well beyond human's control. This is frightening enough to observe the fact that the pollution level has surpassed all records and the need of the hour is to find an alternate fuel which can really be of great assistance in reducing the exhaust emission and augment the performance parameters of engine. Major researches are carried out on various engines to draw closer towards a realistic solution. Experiments performed on various engines are considered to be time consuming and the expenses met to perform these experiments are too costly, so the need of soft computing techniques involved in this area. Soft computing can be better described as the process to find the solution to an inexact problem. Soft computing has showed lot of potential in giving the researchers the exact solution may be in case of validating or predicting the performance and emission parameters. Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference system (ANFIS), Fuzzy Expert System (FES), Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) are the various soft computing techniques widely used. This book focuses on to carry out the comprehensive review and various other experimental works of various researchers who have carried out the work on these various soft computing techniques on various engines with various alternative fuels on the basis of modelling techniques, time is saved to a great extent and the capital investment involved is comparably very low. Various modelling techniques are being readily used to predict the performance parameters for various engines and modelling techniques have become the readily available tool to compare and validate the experimental work being carried out by researchers to get accurate matching with the experimental data. The benefit of this issue will be at large in connecting with varieties of work done in the field of Biomass which includes wood and wood waste, municipal solid waste. Landfill gas and biogas. Ethanol, Biodiesel, Hydropower, Geothermal, Wind, Solar. Thus soft computing techniques are fast and reliable hence, they can be a substitute for conventional experiments.

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This compilation details the challenges in the development of computer systems more complexed by AI/IoT using examples based on systems thinking, as well as introduces how these technologies can aid in safety and security. The authors carry out a study to establish the safety and security challenges preventing parents from enrolling their young children in schools, with the intention of recommending strategies to address these challenges. This study is guided by the ecological systems theory which explains how factors within the environment influence children's development and education. The concluding section focuses on the system dynamics paradigm which seems to be a suitable modeling method to describe social engineering situations. Opportunities for future research are also discussed.

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The subject of this book is the man of that new hemisphere which was revealed to Europe in 1492. There through all historic centuries he had lived apart, absolutely uninfluenced by any reflex of the civilisation of the Ancient World; and yet, as it appears, pursuing a course in many respects strikingly analogous to that by means of which the civilisation of Europe originated. The recognition of this is not only of value as an aid to the realisation of the necessary conditions through which man passed in reaching the stage at which he is found at the dawn of history; but it seems to point to the significant conclusion that civilisation is the development of capacities inherent in man.

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Every year in the United States, hundreds of women die of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. According to CDC data, racial/ethnic disparities exist with regard to these deaths. For example, non-Hispanic black women were more than three times as likely to die as non-Hispanic white women, and non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native women were more than two times as likely to die as non-Hispanic white women. This book describes trends in pregnancy-related deaths in the United States, including trends in causes and timing of these deaths, and the efforts focused on reducing pregnancy-related deaths.

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Genetic disorders constitute an important portion of childhood mortality, stillbirths, and ongoing disability. Single gene disorders arising from gene mutations, affecting any aspect of function or structure of the gene, are extraordinarily diverse. Most of these gene disorders are usually rare, but collectively they constitute an important public health burden. As such, the authors address the requirement for essential genetic and management services. Age-related macular degeneration is discussed, with risk factors including age, gender, ethnicity, smoking, body weight, hypertension and diet. Confluence of genetic and environmental risk factors lends credence to a complex, multifactorial etiologic model of development of age-related macular degeneration. Continuing, this compilation explores the molecular mechanisms of telomere attachment, specifically during the interphase. Their study is important not only for general telomere biology, but also for the understanding of cell aging and etiology of telomere-associated aging diseases. The important transcriptomic analyses performed in Streptomyces are discussed, particularly addressing how they contribute to uncovering the biochemical mechanisms that regulate morphology and secondary metabolism activation. A focus on bovine mastitis is provided, the most economically devastating disease affecting the dairy industry. Resistance to mastitis is a complex function involving various biological pathways, molecules and cells. Genetic factors are one of several factors affecting the occurrence of mastitis. The closing study centers on the way in which extracellular DNA is enriched with pericentromeric tandem repeats, the most variable portion of the genome up to species specificity.

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The Corona hype, the Corona panic, has manifested the common cold as a brand new disease. What we present here is the psychosomatic hypothesis for COVID-19. We are living in a time of change. It is easy to assume that we live in a safe and stabile world, but the Corona COVID-19 pandemic has shown the whole world that this is not the case. Mighty forces changes our way of living, thinking and things changes fast. It is difficult to understand what is happening, for you need to be an expert in many different fields in order to really get it: medicine, economy and politics. You even need psychology, sociology and maybe even consciousness-research to fully comprehend what we are dealing with in the 2019-2020 Corona pandemic. This book tries to give you sufficient background in different areas to at least get an idea of what is happening around us in all parts of the world.

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This book begins by delineating the measurement tools currently available to evaluate sleep problems in children and adolescents: polysomnography, actigraphy, sleep diaries, and questionnaires. Continuing, this collection unpacks the complexities of the most common sleep disorders affecting children and adolescents by discussing the child-specific features, etiology, common comorbidities, and differential diagnostic considerations pertinent for each disorder. The authors summarize the importance of a healthy sleep cycle in normal brain development during childhood and the effects of sleep disturbances on normal brain function and brain structure. Additionally, possible associations between sleep disturbances in children and emotional/behavioural problems are addressed, based on a suggestion that these symptoms are not the emerging manifestations of an underlying disorder but rather are a network of symptoms that are causally interrelated. In closing, the authors highlight the importance of identifying the causes of mouth breathing and obstructive sleep apnea in children. If left untreated, such breathing disorders can progress to more severe conditions in adulthood. (Imprint: Nova Medicine and Health)

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Probably no religious institution in the world has had so remarkable a history, and assuredly none has attracted so large and varied a literature, as the Papacy. This book contains a study of twenty famous popes whose careers and whose influence were important in the development of the church and in the history of the world. It provides a view of the Papacy from the early 3rd to the early 20th century.

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This monograph is intended to present an overview- most of which is based on ideas and conclusions presented in published literature, the rest representing our own concepts developed through extensive research. Here, the reader will discover the rational relationships between basic mechanisms, and experimental data, and theoretical expressions which were developed over several years by scientists for coir fibre characterisation and utilisation in particular. It will help to those who deal with coir fibre in both industry and academia specially to teachers, students and technologists. It contains the perspective of coir, its textile related structure and properties with a comparison between few other allied lingo-cellulosic fibres. Coir fibre are coarser for textile applications and possesses highly variable properties. So segregation of fibres from the bulk considering properties may give suitable fibre for spinning, composite making and other applications. The optimum value addition of coir can be realized, when a fully systematic supply chain of quality fibre with proper gradation system can be developed. The fibre shows high flexural rigidity and lower inter-fibre frictional resistance for which it is difficult to spin finer yarn and indicates its suitability for coarse textile applications. Coir fibre is circular and multi-fibrillar. Moisture regain is moderate. Thermal and component analyses reveal the presence of similar amount of lignin and celluloses in the fibre. SEM image reveals that surface of the fibre is waxy, irregular, and having micro-imperfections. Microbial resistance makes the coir suitable for using it in different engineering and geotechnical applications in conjunction with soil and water. The property-based advantages of coir are resistant to fungi and rot, excellent insulation against temperature, not easily combustible, flame-retardant, resistant to moisture and dampness, tough and durable, highly resilient, totally static free, easy to clean etc. It is not suitable for technical uses due to low strength, high extensibility and very low modulus. Sometimes high bulk and low coefficient of friction act as the disadvantages. The age old manual spinning technology should be replaced by mechanised system. The fibres can be highly suitable to form compressed mat for various products of geotextile, agro-textiles, and sound and heat insulators with improved softness and fineness property. Being an ecofriendly, natural product from renewable sources, coir products serve mankind in several ways as a substitute for many synthetic products which are extensively used but are harmful to nature. Coir wood substitute will help to protect valuable forests.

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A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels by Robert Kerr is an 18 volume set that contains the complete history of the origin and progress of navigation, discovery, and commerce, by sea and land. In determining upon an era for the commencement of this work, Kerr was led, from a consideration of the accidental discovery of Iceland by the Norwegians in the ninth century, to adopt that period as the beginning of the series, both because the commencement of modern maritime discovery took place during the reign of a British sovereign, and because we derive the earliest written accounts of any of these discoveries from the pen of that excellent prince. It is true that the first accidental discovery of Iceland appears to have been made in 861, eleven years before the accession of Alfred to the throne; yet, as the actual colonization of that island did not take place till the year 878, the seventh of his glorious reign, we have been induced to distinguish the actual commencement of maritime discovery by the modern European nations as coinciding with his era.

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The mission of this book is the advancing of scholarly inquiry in the wide frame of different disciplines. Its objectives are threefold. First, according to a multidisciplinary perspective, it collects high-quality researches that could be of interest to experts and novices. In particular, progress in Education, Language Learning, Content Analytics, Marketing, Mathematics and Art, Archaeology, Elearning, Social Behaviors in Cognitive Cities Environments, and Urban Planning is investigated. Second, it delineates the challenges in the areas, specifying the difficulties and opportunities for future research. Third, it provides reliable resources regarding current methodological of leading-edge research, useful to a wide audience including not only researchers but also policy-makers, teachers and students. The book consists of four sections, each comprising a different number of chapters. Starting with the field of education, one of the topic on the top of priority list of many countries in the world, the first section constitutes a significant contribution to the on-going discussion about learning. The second section focuses on Content Analytics and Social Behaviors, while the third one deals with the relationship between Marketing Competitiveness and Culture Use Value. Finally, fourth section examines the problem of new models of urban planning and design in relation to the engagement of citizens.

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A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels by Robert Kerr is an 18 volume set that contains the complete history of the origin and progress of navigation, discovery, and commerce, by sea and land. In determining upon an era for the commencement of this work, Kerr was led, from a consideration of the accidental discovery of Iceland by the Norwegians in the ninth century, to adopt that period as the beginning of the series, both because the commencement of modern maritime discovery took place during the reign of a British sovereign, and because we derive the earliest written accounts of any of these discoveries from the pen of that excellent prince. It is true that the first accidental discovery of Iceland appears to have been made in 861, eleven years before the accession of Alfred to the throne; yet, as the actual colonization of that island did not take place till the year 878, the seventh of his glorious reign, we have been induced to distinguish the actual commencement of maritime discovery by the modern European nations as coinciding with his era.

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This book was designed as an educational resource for all professionals involved in the care of patients with Gaucher disease (GD). Chapter 1 is an introduction about GD. GD is the most common autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease (LSD) due to the deficiency or absence of the activity of enzyme glucosylceramidase (GCase) or also known as acidï¢- glucosidase (GBA1) or uridine phosphate glucosylceramide synthase (UDP-GLC). Defects in these enzymes cause miss-sorting or loss function of lysosomal proteins leading to accumulation of glucocerebroside (GLC) in the tissue macrophages monocyte. Accumulation of GLC cause enlargement of the spleen, destruction of bone, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and abnormalities of the lungs. GD is classified into three types: type 1 GD (GD1) is a chronic and non-neuronopathic accounting for 95% of GD cases, and types 2 and 3 (GD2, GD3) involves nerve cell destruction causing acute brainstem dysfunction or progressive neuroleptic deterioration, respectively. Chapter 1 review disease classification, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical manifestations of GD. Chapter 2 discusses GD diagnosis and clinical presentations from prenatal, new-born, first year of life, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood patients suspected to have GD. Several biomarkers, tools used to detect abnormal biomarkers such as chitotriosidase, pulmonary and activation-regulated chemokines, and other inflammatory markers are discussed, in addition to methods used to detect these biomarkers. Chapter 3 highlights available enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), clinical trials, dosing, and adverse drug reaction of each ERT, pregnancy information, and effect of ERT on endocrine and metabolic profiles. Chapter 4 discusses available substrate reduction therapy (SRT), clinical trials, dosing, adverse drug reaction, pregnancy information, drug-drug interaction and patients' polymorphism profiles that influence the dosing of SRT. Chapter 5 discusses type 2 and 3 GD which are the neuronopathic variants of the GD, genotype and phenotype of the patients, role of ERT or SRT or gene therapy, chaperone therapy, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Chapter 6 discusses common complication of GD such as bone and hepatocellular abnormalities, increased risk of cancer and Parkinson Disease development. Chapter 7 highlights several novel therapies with their mechanisms of action, details regarding ongoing or completed clinical trials such as newer SRT lucerastat which is on clinical trials for possible use in GD3. At this time, there are no drugs available to treat GD2 or GD3. Promising novel therapy include pharmacology chaperone (PC), antioxidants, and gene therapy. There are 2 PCs currently being tested in clinical trial, ambroxol and arimoclomol. Ambroxol, an over-the-counter drugs has been used to treat various airway infections, showed promising result to cross blood brain barrier that provide promising options for GD3 treatment.

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This book introduces a literature review of research conducted on Quercus analysed by species, country and topic, and the main biological processes related to the oak's response to global change are reviewed. An extensive review on the uses of acorn oils, flours, extracts, and beverages is presented. The nutritional composition and bioactive compounds naturally present in acorn are described, as well as the effects of their bioactivities on human health. Some research on pollination characteristics and acorn production in determined species of this taxon is examined, highlighting aerobiological data as an important aspect to be considered in reproduction studies. Additionally, deciduous species of the Quercus L. genus are studied during their introduction in the botanical garden of Southern Federal University in Russia. The ecological parameters of 17 species were evaluated, including winter hardiness, drought resistance, phenology, genetic data, and resistance to diseases and pests. The authors aim to determine whether Q. crassipes and Q. castanea can be recognized as foundation species, denoting that both species are dominant oaks of Mexican temperate forests. Next, this compilation discusses the most widely explored phytochemical group in oak leaves, polyphenols, of which condensed and hydrolysable tannins have been reported in high concentrations in different Quercus species. The authors consider the habitat and species diversity of oak forests in Bulgaria. The flora of studied oak forests, their structure and functionality, production, chemistry, intensity of biological turnover, and caloric content of phytomass fractions are presented in detail. An extensive study is conducted to access the population status of Quercus leucotrichophora seedlings in a part of Garhwal Himalaya Oak forest through the establishment of permanent plots in different altitudes.

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An Introduction to Fuzzy Sets provides a comparison of the quality of life in urban, intermediate and rural NUTS III regions in Portugal, with the main goal of identifying and analysing the necessary and conditions for a high quality of life in those different regions. The authors assess the necessary and sufficient conditions for higher Human Development Index levels, aiming to determine whether the same pattern could be used to explain the happiness index. In order to represent the applications of fuzzy set theory as well as neuro-fuzzy in industry, a literature review of these topics is carried out. As some researchers have efficiently utilized fuzzy logic and neuro-fuzzy, in-depth discussions are provided for stimulating future investigations. Following this, using the L. Zadeh theory of fuzzy sets, the authors consider all types of uncertainties in oil fields and oil production to make a decision as to what model is best in such a fuzzy environment. Additionally, several challenges are explored, such as: the fuzzy random finite difference numerical method, possibilistic uncertainty modelling, and the development of a fuzzy Wilks' theorem to model the hybrid structure of randomness and fuzziness modelling. In closing, a standard fuzzy arithmetic method is used for solving fuzzy equations, as well as for the optimization of fuzzy objectives. The fuzzy variable of the equation is fuzzified using a fuzzy set.

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This collection opens with a review of the plant sources, extraction methods, physicochemical characterization and commercial applications of edible and non-edible vegetable oils. The authors describe the extraction of essential oil through ultrasound to increase the productivity of favourable essential oils. The operation of ultrasound-assisted extraction along is also described. In one study, the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil derived from Campomanesia aurea O. Berg leaves is evaluated, and its antibiotic modulating potential is assessed. In a subsequent study, the authors investigate the chemical composition of compounds from E. intermedium leaf essential oil, in addition to its modulatory and antibacterial action. Additionally, the biological aspects attributed to the medicinal benefits of sandalwood oil and alpha-santalol are presented along with relevant clinical evidence.

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Patient advocacy for all human beings is a fundamental ideal as it assures the patient their rights and their safety when admitted to a healthcare facility. Nursing as a healthcare profession is complicated by the fact that it is concerned with vulnerable human beings, and ethical principles which need to be considered when providing treatment, or care for the patient. The logic for this book is twofold, the first justification for authoring this text was to enlighten nurses and other healthcare professionals to reflect on a dilemma which affects patient care and safety. A quandary in the literature which has been named a "Theory-Practice-Ethics gap" (Mortell et al, 2013). Patient safety and high quality of care are fundamental facets related to all healthcare practices. When people are admitted to hospital, they just presume that they will receive safe, quality treatment from healthcare professionals who have a duty of care. Society does not expect to be put at risk or be harmed, since the principal goal of healthcare is to augment care, safety and wellbeing, and so optimize the quality of people's lives (Leape, 2015; Wilson et al, 2009). The second justification for authoring this book, was to present an important new theory and model for patient advocacy to the professional healthcare community. The generated theory, states that, if healthcare professionals incorporate their religious, cultural and family values into their humanitarian ideals, they will be effective as patient advocates. The advocacy model which was generated the following components of advocacy, "Vulnerable-acy", which was advocacy for the vulnerable, "Familial-acy", which was advocacy that a family member would provide to a loved one, "Cultural-acy" was linked to culture, such as ethnic awareness and sensitivity, "Religion-acy" was coupled with a Muslim's Islamic holy obligations, however, this concept can be adapted for any religion and religious beliefs and "Human-acy", which identified a person's humanity and must be provided by any member of the human race. The theory and model is therefore relevant for all healthcare professionals and providers, as it has a neoteric Islamic perspective that will hopefully guide nurses and health care professionals to reflect as advocates for their patients and the care that they provide.

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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China. Chapters 1-16 contain information about the science behind the virus, economic implications, global response and public safety. Chapters 17 and 18 access the readiness of the United States Public Health System in response to emerging infectious diseases, pandemics and biological attacks.

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Dogs eat grass, and so do cats. Every pet owner must have noticed the grass-eating behaviour of their pets. Since wild dogs and cats eat grass too, most experts believe it to be an example of evolved traits of dogs and cats to relieve their upset gastro-intestines. Based on the observation, experts go on to suggest pet owners grow in their gardens medicinal herbs, other than botanicals that could be toxic to their pets. The herbal recipes, with doses, introduced in the book are intended for the most prevalent health problems of dogs and cats; the herbs that make up the recipes are: 1) available, as dietary supplements in the U.S., in the market by cGMP-certified manufacturers; and 2) in a dosage form of granules that is easy for pets to ingest. The book therefore not only meets experts' recommendations but also fulfils veterinarians' demand of an herbal pharmacopoeia for the widest conditions of their patients. Unlike other similar titles, the book is data-driven, quantitative, collective, comprehensive and practical: Although the herbs in the book have been used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, owing to the data-driven approach of the book, no prior knowledge of Chinese or western herbal medicines is required to comprehend the book. The second feature of the book is that every indicated health condition of an herb comes with a score. The higher the score, the more frequently herbal clinicians have prescribed the herb (or herb pair) for the diagnosed condition in humans and thus the more likely that the herb (herb pair) is effective in mitigating the condition. The book is therefore quantitative, in contrast to other books which are qualitative. The third feature of the book is that the mapping from herbs and herb pairs to health conditions results from the collective experiences and expertise of the five thousand herbal clinicians in Taiwan, rather than the experience or expertise of a single doctor as in most other books. Without the deep learning/artificial intelligence techniques employed by the author on millions of (human) health insurance data, the aforementioned features are impossible. The final unique feature of the book is that recipes for the 94 most common conditions in dogs and 81 most common conditions in cats are given in later parts of the book, serving as reinforcing examples after going through the first part. The book is therefore both comprehensive and practical for not only holistic but also conventional veterinary professionals.

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The last decade has witnessed various technological advances in life sciences, especially high throughput technologies. These technologies provide a way to perform parallel scientific studies in a very short period of time with low cost. High throughput techniques, mainly, next generation sequencing, microarray and mass spectrometry, have strengthened the omics vision in the last decades (study of complete system) and now resulted in well-developed branches of omics i.e., genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, which deal with almost every level of central dogma of life. Practice of high throughput techniques throughout the world with different aims and objectives resulted in a voluminous data, which required computational applications, i.e., database, algorithm and software to store, process and get biological interpretation from primary raw data. Researchers from different fields are looking to analyze these raw data for different purposes, but lacking of proper information and knowledge in proper documented form creates different kinds of hurdles and raises the challenges. This book contains thirteen chapters that deal with different computational biology/bioinformatics resources and concepts which are already in practice by the scientific community or can be utilized to handle various aspects of different classes of omics data. It includes different computational concepts, algorithm, resources and recent trends belonging to the four major branches of omics (i.e., genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics), including integrative omics. It will help all scholars who are working in any branch of computational omics and bioinformatics field as well as those who would like to perform research at a systemic biology through computational approaches.

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Famous European Artists by Sarah K. Bolton is a collection of biographical sketches of the famous artists of Europe, including Turner, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Murillo, Rubens, Leonardo, Titan, Raphael and Reynolds. Famous European Artists is a useful general introduction to the world of art.

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This book first discusses how depression and anxiety occur more frequently in people living with HIV/AIDS than in the general population. Anxiety and depression increase the morbidity of HIV by causing poor adherence to treatment, increased risk for suicide, greater chance for recurrence and various other significant mechanisms. The authors present an analysis of sociological research showing the prevalence of stigma and discrimination against patients with HIV infection at the dental office. Fear of stigma is a key factor in reducing the willingness to disclose HIV status. The recommended treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus infection with HIV coinfection is reviewed, focusing on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacology of drug-drug interactions between antiretroviral therapy and direct-acting antivirals. Insight on the long road towards the eradication of HIV/AIDS is discussed in an effort to achieve sustainable development goals and targets by 2030. Studies conducted in relation to biomedical, structural, behavioural and technological interventions are cited to substantiate this discussions. The closing chapter outlines updated recommendations guiding healthcare professionals to employ treatment as prevention. A discussion of the public health measures necessary to promote the success of treatment as prevention is also included.

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This book contains rare reproductions of photographs taken during the American Civil War. It is believed to be the first time that the camera was used so extensively on the battle-field. It is the first known collection of its size on the Western Continent and it is the only witness of the scenes enacted during the greatest crisis in the annals of the American nation. It records a tragedy that neither the imagination of the painter nor the skill of the historian can so dramatically relate.

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Disability research is important for the individual and the family, but certainly also for the society that has to adapt and facilitate an easier life and better service for this segment of our populations. For example, research showed significant disparities in the prevalence of disability between urban and rural residents, which can guide society to provide better service. Epidemiology and survey research can be important tools for public health focus and intervention and guide policy makers to allocate budgets and service facilities and expertise. In this book, we have gathered research on various aspects of disability from Malaysia, India, Ghana, Kenya, Portugal, Bangladesh, Thailand and Nigeria, which we hope will be of interest to the reader.

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Chapter 1 focuses on the science to understand the physical processes and projections of mass loss of the major ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, as well as of mountain and other land-based glaciers. The chapter reports on current projections of glacier mass loss due to anthropogenic climate change, and in turn how that will affect sea level. The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region's future as reported in chapter 2. Issues such as Arctic territorial disputes; commercial shipping through the Arctic; Arctic oil, gas, and mineral exploration; endangered Arctic species; and increased military operations in the Arctic could cause the region in coming years to become an arena of international cooperation, tension, or competition.

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