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A bridge is a structure built to span the physical obstacles without closing the way underneath, such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing the passage over the obstacle. Bridge engineering is an engineering discipline branching from civil engineering that involves the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of bridges to ensure safe and effective transportation of vehicles, people and goods. This book Bridge Engineering includes the main topics and the basic principles of bridge engineering and provides the full scope of current information necessary for effective and cost-conscious contemporary bridge. It reflects new engineering and building developments, the most current design methods, and the latest industry standards and policies. It provides a comprehensive overview of the significant characteristics for bridge engineering. It highlights the recent advancements, requirements, improvements, and details of the latest techniques in the global market. It contains a collection of the latest research developments on the bridge engineering. It comprehensively covers the basic theory and practice in sufficient depth to provide a solid grounding to bridge engineers. It helps readers to maximize effectiveness in all facets of bridge engineering. This professional book as a credible source and a valuable reference can be very applicable and useful for all professors, researchers, engineers, practicing professionals, trainee practitioners, students and others who are interested in the bridge projects.

In Slovenia, attorneys as a part of the justice system represent an autonomous and independent service that is regulated by law. As set out in the decision of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia, there is no doubt that the legislature has to adopt the law to regulate the attorneys' profession, but in its attempt of such regulation, the legislature always collides with the constitutional requirement that the attorneys are autonomous and independent. Therefore, when regulating the attorneys' profession, the legislature has to address the issues of autonomy and independence and thus also the question of determining attorney tariffs, while certain issues must be left to be autonomously regulated within the attorneys' profession. The attorney tariff does not determine a mandatory price of legal services because an attorney and his client may always reach an agreement that is different from the attorney tariff. However, the tariff is binding when the court decides on the obligation to reimburse the party who has succeeded in a dispute for their attorney costs. With our research, we have empirically demonstrated that the existing attorney tariff in Slovenia unjustifiably drains smaller law firms, which guarantee an efficient coverage of population and smaller undertakings with a network of legal services. As a result, the economic autonomy and independence of law firms are compromised, and the right to effective judicial protection is unjustifiably restricted for the parties who succeed in a dispute.

"Nanomaterials" is a special topic of recent research and is a milestone of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Nanoscale materials are a series of substances/compounds, in which at least one dimension has smaller size than 100 nm. Nanomaterials have a broad area of development, which is growing rapidly day by day. Their impact on commercial applications as well as on the respective academia and education is huge. The basic points of this book can be divided into synthesis of nanomaterials and their applications. For example, special mention is about metal-oxide nanostructures, nanocomposites, and polymeric nanomaterials. Also, synthesis, characterizations, various processes, fabrications and some promising applications are also developed and analyzed.

Hepatology is the medical specialty that studies the normal functioning of the liver and its diseases. It has experienced a steady progress in recent decades, as well as occurred in other medical specialties. It deals with the acute and chronic inflammatory processes of the liver, among which is the viral hepatitis. Recently, very effective drugs have been introduced in this field that achieves the elimination of the hepatitis C virus in the great majority of patients. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis has increased markedly worldwide especially in Western countries in relation to overweight, diabetes, and other metabolic conditions. Cirrhosis and its complications are better managed, and patients live longer, thanks also to the earlier detection of hepatocarcinoma and the generalization of the use of liver transplants. This book deals with all of these interesting topics, thanks to the excellent collaboration of a great group of specialists that have collaborated with their knowledge and expertise in this edition.

This book seeks to introduce the reader to current methodologies in analytical calibration and validation. This collection of contributed research articles and reviews addresses current developments in the calibration of analytical methods and techniques and their subsequent validation. Section 1, "Introduction," contains the Introductory Chapter, a broad overview of analytical calibration and validation, and a brief synopsis of the following chapters. Section 2 "Calibration Approaches" presents five chapters covering calibration schemes for some modern analytical methods and techniques. The last chapter in this section provides a segue into Section 3, "Validation Approaches," which contains two chapters on validation procedures and parameters. This book is a valuable source of scientific information for anyone interested in analytical calibration and validation.

The book is divided into two sections and represents the current trend of research in aquatic bioresource. In the section "Biology, Ecology and Physiological Chemistry", high-impact articles are contributed on reproduction, population genetics, evolution, biodiversity, biology and ecology of different aquatic faunas. Physiological chemistry of lipid, bioactive pharmaceuticals and chemical ecological aspects of aquatic organisms were discussed. In the section entitled "Conservation and Sustainable Management", authors highlighted conservation- and management-related issues of various bioresources in different regions of the earth. The book mentions the biological, ecological, physiological and genetic significance of aquatic organisms with resource potential. The authors stressed on rational utilisation and management of bioresource ensuring minimal damage of the aquatic ecosystem. This book would provide a direction towards sustainable ecological management of bioresource.

This book concerns the different aspects of forest fires, the impact of fire on both forest resources (e.g. forest cover) and communities that use different forest functions. Therefore, forest fires have their environmental, economic and social consequences, and none of them is less important. Forest fires can be caused by both natural forces and anthropogenic factors, and in the latter case, it is extremely interesting to profile the potential arsonist. Forest fires may also cause conflicts, stronger or weaker, in local communities that have been using forests for years. These conflicts can be solved both by gradually changing the law itself and through education at the local level. Not less important is the ability to detect fires early, which can be helped by the development of modern technologies. In limiting the effects of forest fires, it may also be helpful to develop mathematical models that indicate various factors affecting the possibility of a fire or affecting the rate of its spread. Not less important is the attempt to assess the direction of forest regeneration after the fire has ceased, in understanding what the help of modern technology is. These aspects of forest fire are the subject of this book. I realize, however, that the contents in it can only be an incentive for the reader to learn more, in an interesting aspect. I assume that this book will be valuable to researchers as well as students who are interested in different aspects connected to forest fires, not only from the ecological point of view but also from the social one. Both are extremely important in future forest protection and sustainable use of forest by local communities.

The demand for electricity and heat production is still largely covered by conventional thermal power plants based on fossil fuel combustion. Thermal power stations face a big challenge to meet the environmental requirements constantly keeping high process efficiency and avoiding lifetime shortening of critical components. In recent years, many activities have been observed to reduce pollutant emissions and optimize performance in thermal power plants. Increased share of renewable sources of energy in domestic markets enforces flexible operation and fast adjustment to actual demand. Gas power plants start to play a very important role in this process, allowing for rapid change of load and emission reduction. Operation under changing load together with keeping emissions at the accurate level requires constantly introducing new solutions and technologies as well as carrying out many research and development activities for optimization of the electricity and heat production process. The edited book is aimed to present new technologies, innovative solutions, measurement techniques, tools and computational methods dedicated to thermal power plants in the light of new trends and challenges.

Dendrimers are defined as nanoscale macromolecules having a particular architecture consisting of treelike arms or branches. They are characterized by special properties that make them promising candidates in medicine, biology, materials science, synthetic organic chemistry, biotechnology, environmental engineering, optics, electronics, catalysis, electrochemistry, photochemistry, and sensors and even for production of cosmetics and personal care products. The dendrimers research field is growing day by day, and scientists are exploring new synthesis and functionalization methods in order to improve and to determine new properties and thus new applications. The main purpose of this book is to highlight the issues regarding properties and applications of dendrimers in the field of biology, medicine, liquid crystal devices, electronics, quantum devices, and self-healing technology.

The main idea of this study is to scrutinize the performance efficiency and enhancement of modelling and simulations of PEM fuel cell. Besides, the research of PEM fuel cell performance can figure out many critical issues for an alternative resource energy. The chapters collected in the book are contributions by invited researchers with a long-standing experience in different research areas. I hope that the material presented here is understandable to a wide audience, not only energy engineers but also scientists from various disciplines. The book contains nine chapters in three sections: (1) "General Information About PEM Fuel Cell", (2) "PEM Fuel Cell Technology" and (3) "Many Different Applications of PEM Fuel Cell". This book presents detailed and up-to-date evaluations in different areas and was written by academics with experience in their field. It is anticipated that this book will make a scientific contribution to PEM fuel cell and other alternative energy resource workers, researchers, academics, PhD students and other scientists both in the present and in the future.

This book focuses on recent and innovative methods on vibration analysis, system identification, and diverse control design methods for both wind energy conversion systems and vibrating systems. Advances on both theoretical and experimental studies about analysis and control of oscillating systems in several engineering disciplines are discussed. Various control devices are synthesized and implemented for vibration attenuation tasks. The book is addressed to researchers and practitioners on the subject, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students and other experts and newcomers seeking more information about the state of the art, new challenges, innovative solutions, and new trends and developments in these areas. The six chapters of the book cover a wide range of interesting issues related to modeling, vibration control, parameter identification, active vehicle suspensions, tuned vibration absorbers, electronically controlled wind energy conversion systems, and other relevant case studies.

Modeling and simulating biological and physical systems are nowadays active branches of science. The diversity and complexity of behaviors and patterns present in the natural world have their reciprocity in life systems. Bifurcations, solitons and fractals are some of these ubiquitous structures that can be indistinctively identified in many models with the most diverse applications, from microtubules with an essential role in the maintenance and the shaping of cells, to the nano/microscale structure in disordered systems determined with small-angle scattering techniques. This book collects several works in this direction, giving an overview of some models and theories, which are useful for the study and analysis of complex biological and physical systems. It can provide a good guidance for physicists with interest in biology, applied research scientists and postgraduate students.

The book Carbon Nanotubes - Recent Progress contains a number of recent researches on synthesis, growth, characterization, development, and potential applications on carbon materials especially CNTs in nanoscale. It is a promising novel research from top to bottom that has received a lot of interest in the last few decades. It covers the advanced topics on the physical, chemical, and potential applications of CNTs. Here, the interesting reports on cutting-edge science and technology related to synthesis, morphology, control, hybridization, and prospective applications of CNTs are concluded. This potentially unique work offers various approaches on the R

With the growth of urbanization, industrialization, and intensive agricultural practices, all superficial, inland, and marine water bodies have become the repository for large quantities of every type of substance extraneous to the natural aquatic environment. The knowledge of hydrodynamics becomes crucial in this context, as it is the driving mechanism for the movement and transport of these matters and of sediments that become collectors of these substances, in a surface water system. The best way to understand these natural processes is via examples and case studies. This book deals with practical studies of hydrodynamic processes through physical and numerical models. Researchers, together with practicing engineers, will find this book useful in making a rapid assessment of different environmental water body problems.

It is very essential to understand the recent advances in ruminant science to recognize and control diseases and disorders in these animals. Our book, Ruminants - The Husbandry, Economic and Health Aspects, provides a concise introductory chapter and details about the main aspects of ruminants' science and production. This is the first edition of the book, so it covers the introductory level of topics, which are written specifically for veterinary students, classroom use, and practitioners who require more knowledge of dairy animal health and production. The book covers an introductory chapter and sections on husbandry and economics as well as animal health. Each book section comprises chapters from renowned experts from the area and gives readers a unique opportunity to explore the topic.

Maize is an important staple food crop worldwide. It is the third most important cereal crop after wheat and rice and is economically used for both livestock feeds and human consumption. The latest maize research has opened up new opportunities for crop improvement. This book brings together recent work and advances that have recently been made in the dynamic fields of genetic characterization, molecular breeding, genetic engineering technologies, and mapping of agronomic traits of global maize germplasm. It also provides new insights into and sheds new light regarding the current research trends and future research directions in maize. This book will provoke interest in many readers, researchers, and scientists, who can find this information useful for the advancement of their research works toward maize improvement.

The main objective of this book is to give proficient people a comprehensive review of up-to-date global improvements in hypothetical and experimental evidences, perspectives and prospects of some newsworthy instrumentation and its numerous technological applications for a wide range of lithographic fabrication techniques. The present theme of this book is concomitant with the lithographic ways and means of deposition, optimization parameters and their wide technological applications. This book consists of six chapters comprehending with eminence of lithography, fabrication and reproduction of periodic nanopyramid structures using UV nanoimprint lithography for solar cell applications, large-area nanoimprint lithography and applications, micro-/nanopatterning on polymers, OPC under immersion lithography associated to novel luminescence applications, achromatic Talbot lithography (ATL) and the soft X-ray interference lithography. Individual chapters provide a base for a wide range of readers from different fiels, students and researchers, who may be doing research pertinent to the topics discussed in this book and find basic as well as advanced principles of designated subjects related to these phenomena explained plainly. The book contains six chapters by experts in different fields of lithographic fabrication and technology from over 15 research institutes across the globe.

Major casting processing advancements have been made in experimental and simulation areas. Newly developed advanced casting technologies allow foundry researchers to explore detailed phenomena associated with new casting process parameters helping to produce defect-free castings with good quality. Moreover, increased computational power allows foundry technologists to simulate advanced casting processes to reduce casting defects. In view of rapid expansion of knowledge and capability in the exciting field of casting technology, it is possible to develop new casting techniques. This book is intended to discuss many casting processing technologies. It is devoted to advanced casting processing technologies like ductile casting production and thermal analysis, casting of metal matrix composites by vortex stir casting technique, aluminum DC casting, evaporative casting process, and so on. This book entitled Advanced Casting Technologies has been organized into seven chapters and categorized into four sections. Section 1 discusses the production of ductile iron casting and thermal analysis. Section 2 depicts aluminum casting. Section 3 describes the casting manufacturing aspects of functionally graded materials and evaporative casting process. Section 4 explains about the vortex stir casting technique to process metal matrix composite castings. All the chapters discussed in detail the processing steps, process parameters involved in the individual casting technique, and also its applications. The goal of the book is to provide details on the recent casting technologies.

Carbon-based photocatalysis has been considered as an economic, safe, renewable, and clean technology, for various applications. However, the pristine carbon material is usually restricted by unsatisfactory photocatalytic efficiency and practical applications due to the insufficient solar light absorption, the low-surface area, and the fast recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Various modification strategies, such as elemental and molecular doping, preparation of mesoporous carbon materials, and combination of conductive materials, are adopted to enhance the photocatalytic activity of carbon materials. In this book, we intend to describe the great potential of efficient and low-cost carbon-based materials in various realms, such as photodegradation of organic compounds, water splitting, and selective organic transformations.

In the period of rapid and intensive development of general electronics, this book entitled Fullerenes and Relative Materials - Properties and Applications is quite systematic and useful. It considers some aspects on synthesis, structural, vibrational, tribology, and optical properties of the fullerenes and relative materials. Some parts of the book present the specific area of the applications of the studied nanostructures. The book contains eight chapters. The special approach and interesting results on the unique properties of the materials studied as well as the different areas of their applications in general optoelectronics, solar energy and gas storage, laser and display, and biomedicine are shown. It is important for education process and for the civil and special device operations.

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.

The goal of this book is to provide readers with an update on recent developments in surgical treatment of some shoulder disorders. The perspective of this book involves highlighting management of complex shoulder conditions in better ways. This book is divided into four main sections: 'Repair' involves chapters related to primary repair; 'Replacement' section provides detailed perspective on shoulder replacement procedures for different conditions; 'Reconstruction' includes a chapter on reconstructive procedures where primary repair is not possible; and lastly 'Rehab and Miscellaneous' section includes chapters on surgical management of rheumatoid arthritis and rehab. Individual chapters provide a base for a wide range of readers including students, professors, physiotherapists and orthopaedic surgeons, who will find in this book simply explained basics as well as advanced techniques of shoulder surgeries. The book consists of ten chapeters, compiled by experts from institutes across the globe.

The development of flap surgery parallels the increasing complexity of soft-tissue defects needing reconstruction. Random and pedicled flaps as well as free muscle and fasciocutaneous flaps have helped to reconstruct single soft-tissue defects. The multiplicity of defects needing reconstruction and donor-site morbidity in addition to tailored reconstruction have called for a revision of flap concepts in favor of perforator flaps. Unfortunately, we are faced with increasingly complex reconstructive issues. New reconstructive techniques, such as the Ilizarov method, have made orthopedic reconstruction after high energy and complex trauma possible. Revision surgeries after tumor resection and plastic surgery have brought about soft-tissue defects associated with extensive fibrosis and necrosis. As a result, previously nonsalvageable limbs have been salvaged. The reconstructive surgeons are faced with the following situations: multiple soft-tissue defects, extensive fibrosis, possibility of major vessel loss, and possibility of damage of several perforators.

The book provides chapters on sex hormones and their modulation in neurodegenerative processes and pathologies, from basic molecular mechanisms, physiology, gender differences, to neuroprotection and clinical aspects for potential novel pharmacotherapy approaches. The book contains 14 chapters written by authors from various biomedical professions, from basic researchers in biology and physiology to medicine and veterinary medicine, pharmacologists, psychiatrist, etc. Chapters sum up the past and current knowledge on sex hormones, representing original new insights into their role in brain functioning, mental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. The book is written for a broad range of audience, from biomedical students to highly profiled medical specialists and biomedical researchers, helping them to expand their knowledge on sex hormones in neurodegenerative processes and opening new questions for further investigation.

This book contains selected peer-reviewed articles that cover novel information on epileptic seizure and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures written by international researchers. In this book, we discuss self-reporting technologies for supporting epilepsy treatment. We also discuss about the diagnostic testing in epilepsy genetic clinical practice. Clinical aspects related to diagnosis in patients presenting psychogenic non-epileptic seizures vs. epileptic seizures and neurocysticercosis are discussed as well. We delivered novel aspects about the treatment for pseudoseizures. In another chapter, the authors estimated the prevalence of ischemic stroke in epileptic patients presenting subarachnoid neurocysticercosis and ischemic stroke frequency among HIV-positive patients, and finally other authors discuss autoimmune epilepsy, its new development, and its future directions. We are looking forward with confidence and pride to the remarkable role that this book will play for a new vision and mission.

What is the Mediterranean? The perception of the Mediterranean leans equally on the nature, culture, history, lifestyle, and landscape. To approach the question of identity, it seems that we have to give importance to all of these. There is no Mediterranean identity, but Mediterranean identities. Mediterranean is not about the homogeneity and uniformity, but about the unity that comes from diversities, contacts, and interconnections. The book tends to embrace the environment, society, and culture of the Mediterranean in their multiple and unique interconnections over the millennia, contributing to the better understanding of the essential human-environmental interrelations. The choice of 17 chapters of the book, written by a number of prominent scholars, clearly shows the necessity of the interdisciplinary approach to the Mediterranean identity issues. The book stresses the most serious concerns of the Mediterranean today - threats to biodiversity, risks, and hazards - mostly the increasing wildfires and finally depletion of traditional Mediterranean practices and landscapes, as constituent parts of the Mediterranean heritage.

Machine Learning can be defined in various ways related to a scientific domain concerned with the design and development of theoretical and implementation tools that allow building systems with some Human Like intelligent behavior. Machine learning addresses more specifically the ability to improve automatically through experience.