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This book deals with medical image analysis methods. In particular, it contains two significant chapters on image segmentation as well as some selected examples of the application of image analysis and processing methods. Despite the significant development of information technology methods used in modern image analysis and processing algorithms, the segmentation process remains open. This is mainly due to intra-patient variability and/or scene diversity. Segmentation is equally difficult in the case of ultrasound imaging and depends on the location of the probe or the contact force. Regardless of the imaging method, segmentation must be tailored for a specific application in almost every case. These types of application areas for various imaging methods are included in this book.

This book focuses on several key aspects of nonlinear systems including dynamic modeling, state estimation, and stability analysis. It is intended to provide a wide range of readers in applied mathematics and various engineering disciplines an excellent survey of recent studies of nonlinear systems. With its thirteen chapters, the book brings together important contributions from renowned international researchers to provide an excellent survey of recent studies of nonlinear systems. The first section consists of eight chapters that focus on nonlinear dynamic modeling and analysis techniques, while the next section is composed of five chapters that center on state estimation methods and stability analysis for nonlinear systems.

Heat and mass transfer are ubiquitous transport phenomena in many fields, from the natural environment and living organisms to the engineering process. This book focuses on the latest advances in applying fundamental heat and mass transfer theory and novel technologies for addressing a wide range of industrial problems of interest. This book will present readers with a recent analytical study, CFD modelling, and experimental investigations of heat and mass transfer topics associated with a variety of engineering disciplines including multiphase flow, nanofluids, porous media, battery thermal management, and engineering processes such as extractive distillation and arc welding. The book aims to provide new insights to understand the heat and mass transfer phenomena, serving as a platform for exchanging inspiring ideas and boosting further development of these disciplines.

As a baby one of our earliest stimuli is that of human faces. We rapidly learn to identify, characterize and eventually distinguish those who are near and dear to us. We accept face recognition later as an everyday ability. We realize the complexity of the underlying problem only when we attempt to duplicate this skill in a computer vision system.This book is arranged around a number of clustered themes covering different aspects of face recognition. The first section on Statistical Face Models and Classifiers presents reviews and refinements of some well-known statistical models. The next section presents two articles exploring the use of Infrared imaging techniques and is followed by few articles devoted to refinements of classical methods. New approaches to improve the robustness of face analysis techniques are followed by two articles dealing with real-time challenges in video sequences. A final article explores human perceptual issues of face recognition.

This book covers a variety of topics on animal reproduction and reproductive medicine. With evolving technology and a continual increase in knowledge, regarding domestic pets or agricultural animals, new information is available on diverse topics in this broad field. The book contents reflect the individual experience of authors, who developed a number of themes identified as attracting interest in the field. As it is, new opportunities were opened for productive collaboration. We have tried to provide you with current, specialised information that may be useful to students, clinicians and researchers. We hope this book inspires you to embrace these themes, foster the debate on particular topics and may be used as a start-up source for exploring the theriogenology field.

An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the Earth, resulting from the sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in size from those that are so weak that they cannot be felt to those violent enough to toss people around and destroy the whole cities. At the Earth's surface, earthquakes manifest themselves by shaking and sometimes displacement of the ground. When the epicenter of a large earthquake is located offshore, the seabed may be displaced sufficiently to cause a tsunami. Earthquakes can also trigger landslides and occasionally volcanic activity. Earthquakes are caused not only by rupture of geological faults but also by other events such as volcanic activity, landslides, mine blasts, and nuclear tests. This book addresses the multidisciplinary topic of earthquake hazards and risk, one of the fastest growing, relevant, and applied fields of research and study practiced within the geosciences and environment. This book addresses principles, concepts, and paradigms of earthquakes, as well as operational terms, materials, tools, techniques, and methods including processes, procedures, and implications.

Periodontology explores the molecular status in periodontal disease. Optical devices in the diagnosis and management of the disease are also discussed. The book addresses the role of the oral healthcare provider in interprofessional communication in the systemic management of autoimmune bullous disease-associated conditions. A study involving chemically modified tetracyclines and host modulation with nonsurgical and surgical periodontal therapy, including postoperative pain management, is presented here. Therapeutic strategies of stem cell application in bone tissue engineering and the potential of platelet-rich fibrin-sourced growth factors in periodontal procedures to enhance wound healing and regeneration are also proposed. Supportive implant maintenance and regenerative processes are explored. Management of the endoperiodontal lesion is also discussed (note: the recent periodontal classification has not been referenced here). The book explores the best transdisciplinary practices for the management of special healthcare needs patients.

Fuzzy logic models can be used to demonstrate human decision making in complex situations, and can therefore be an important tool in examining natural complexity. Moreover, fuzzy logic can be exploited to predict chaotic behaviors. But why is fuzzy logic so valuable? The idea of fuzzy logic has been around since 1965, and since its introduction thousands of applications of fuzzy logic have been implemented in industry, medicine, and even economic applications and patents. How did this invaluable theory achieve such great success? This book aims to compare well-known and well-used membership functions to demonstrate how to select the best membership functions and show when and why to utilize them. This book also demonstrates how different fields of studies utilize fuzzy logic showing its wide reach and relevance.

Over the past decade, progress in plant science and molecular technologies has grown considerably. This book focuses on plant biotechnology applications specializing in certain aspects of breeding and molecular marker-assisted selection processes, omic strategies, usage of bioinformatic tools, and nanotechnological improvements in agricultural sciences. Most farmers and breeders can no longer simply turn to the older strategies, and new instructions are needed to adapt their systems to achieve their production goals. The book covers new information on using metabolomics and nanotechnology in agriculture. In these circumstances, all new data and technology are very important in plant science. The topics in this book are practical and user-friendly. They allow practitioners, students, and academicians with specific background knowledge to feel confident about the principles presented on a new generation of molecular plant biotechnology applications.

Seismology in polar regions (Arctic and Antarctic) allows us to study the static condition and high-latitude dynamics of the Earth. This book covers the recent developments in seismology in polar regions; observations and networks; international collaboration; heterogeneous structure and dynamics of the lithosphere; deep Earth's interiors observed from high latitudes; characteristics of seismicity and seismic wave propagation; and global tectonics in terms of Earth's history, including the interdisciplinary studies on the interaction between Earth's spheres. Since the International Polar Year (IPY) in 2007/2008 was the most exciting campaign launched within contemporary polar studies, this book observes recent seismological achievements by the IPY, specifically focusing on the seismic signals near the surface associated with cryosphere dynamics and evolution. Topics on cryoseismology, such as glacial earthquake activities, are viewed in terms of global warming. Moreover, observational experiments and long-term monitoring under the extreme conditions in the polar environment are also discussed.

This book provides the fundamental understanding of the functioning of solar cellsand the materials for the effective utilization of energy resources. The main objective of writing this book is to create a comprehensive and easy-to-understand source of information on the advances in the rapidly growing research on solar cells.Emerging Solar Energy Materials comprises 12 chapters written by the experts in the solar cell field and is organized with the intention to provide a big picture of the latest progress in the solar cell field and at the same time give an in-depth discussion on fundamentals of solar cells for interested audiences. In this book, each part opens with a new author's essay highlighting their work for contribution toward solar energy. Critical, cutting-edge subjects are addressed, including: Photovoltaic device technology and energy applications; Functional solar energy materials; New concept in solar energy; Perovskite solar cells; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Organic solar cells; Thin-film solar cells. The book is written for a large and broad readership including researchers and university graduate students from diverse backgrounds such as chemistry, physics, materials science, and photovoltaic device technology. The book includes enough information on the basics to be used as a textbook undergraduate coursework in engineering and the sciences.

Apoptosis is an essential biochemical process in cell turnover, development, and chemical-induced cell death. Current knowledge and ongoing research of apoptosis highlight our understanding in designing the therapeutic approaches for several diseases. This book covers four main sections: "Apoptosis and Necrosis," "Apoptosis Inducers," "Proteasome and Signaling Pathways in Apoptosis," and "Radiation-Based Apoptosis." The first section implicitly describes the differences between apoptosis and necrosis processes. The following section elaborates the small molecule-induced apoptosis. Then, the third section deals with proteasome and signaling pathways and finally, resistance to chemotherapy and electromagnetic radiation is covered in the last section. Overall, the book deals with pathways for manipulating apoptosis and provides a unique perspective to the scientists.

Even since computers were invented, many researchers have been trying to understand how human beings learn and many interesting paradigms and approaches towards emulating human learning abilities have been proposed. The ability of learning is one of the central features of human intelligence, which makes it an important ingredient in both traditional Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging Cognitive Science. Machine Learning (ML) draws upon ideas from a diverse set of disciplines, including AI, Probability and Statistics, Computational Complexity, Information Theory, Psychology and Neurobiology, Control Theory and Philosophy. ML involves broad topics including Fuzzy Logic, Neural Networks (NNs), Evolutionary Algorithms (EAs), Probability and Statistics, Decision Trees, etc. Real-world applications of ML are widespread such as Pattern Recognition, Data Mining, Gaming, Bio-science, Telecommunications, Control and Robotics applications. This books reports the latest developments and futuristic trends in ML.

This edited book Lanthanides is a collection of research chapters, offering an excellent review of recent applications in our lives. It consists of a number of interesting chapters by scientists and researchers from different parts of the world. The book is divided into six chapters. The first chapter is a short introduction that explains the nature and purpose of the book and the logic and significance of its contents. In the second chapter, Katarzyna Kiegiel et al. introduce novel apparatus solutions, for example membrane contactors in the extraction stage and different types of matrices (uranium ore, phosphorites, etc.). The third chapter by Dariusz Sala and Bogus?aw Bieda from AGH University of Science and Technology, Management Department, Poland, describes the development of the life cycle inventory to rare earth elements (REEs) based on secondary sources, conducted according to ISO 14040 (2006) guidelines. Chapter 4 concentrates on lanthanide soil chemistry and shows how the soil chemistry of REEs may support soil science investigations. Dmitry V. Ladonin in Chapter 5 studies the content of forms of lanthanides in soddy-calcareous soils at different distances from the Cherepovets steel mill (Vologda region, Russia). The author concludes that the individual properties of lanthanides are clearly manifested in their interaction with soil components. The largest part of the fraction, bound to organic matter, contains medium lanthanides, while the heavy lanthanides are bound to Fe and Mn (hydr)oxides. The last chapter discusses ecological and physiological impacts of lanthanides on algae as primary producers in aquatic environments. This book will definitely encourage readers, researchers, and scientists to look further into the frontier topics of lanthanides and opens new possible research paths for further novel development.

To have unimaginably outstanding useful properties (physical, mechanical, electrical, optical, chemical, and magnetic) in a single material design is a highly challenging task in the material science community, which can be achieved through nanocomposites. These nanocomposites can be produced from all conventional materials, which include polymers, metals/alloys, and ceramics, by modifying their internal structures. Due to modification of the structures of all kinds of conventional materials, at either the nano or ultra-fine level, the materials exhibit superior performance, which is a boon for all fields of science. In general, nanocomposite materials can be manufactured by solid-state processing techniques, liquid metallurgy, ex-situ and in-situ powder metallurgy, and other basic science synthesis routes. Furthermore, the possibility of making environmentally friendly materials is also possible with nanotechnology. Therefore, to investigate and demonstrate developments in the field of nanocomposites, this book is targeted at all the scientific personnel working in this field.

The past three decades have been marked with huge enthusiasm from scientists and professionals in an effort to find a cure for glioma disease. Methods to confirm the kinds and grades of glioma have taken a path from classical macro- to microscopic pathohystological confirmation of tumors, through morphological-histological, molecular, and genetic diagnosis. Surgically, progress was made possible with the development and use of technological aids, for example neuronavigation, cortical mapping, electrocorticography, neuromonitoring, functional and intraoperative MRI, magnetoencephalography, etc. Great hope was placed on the extension of tumor resection and popular supratotal resection. Significant progress has been made generally in glioma treatment with the use of modern radiotherapy and new chemotherapeutics. What do we want to see for the future? By way of stem cells, a specific medicine will be produced, individualized for the particular patient, and by using a microcapsule it will be implanted into the brain zone affected by the tumor by way of robot surgery and injection needle. This is not at all an unrealistic expectation in the next decade or two.