Nova Science Publishers Inc – förlag

In this book, an attempt to augment the physical representations about some phenomena of the quantum electrodynamics in relation to medical physics is made. First of all, the physical theory of an electromagnetic radiation quantum is developed. The Schrodingers equation for a quantum is found and solved. The quantum length, how it is radiated, what the role of a vacuum in these processes, etc. are shown. The explanation of the quark confinement reason (impossibility to leave a hadron by a quark) is given. With the help of the Feynmans diagram method, some physical processes playing an important role in medical physics are analysed in detail: annihilation of the electrons and positrons in photons, breaking of the electrons in an electric field of a nucleus, changing of the quantum polarisation direction at the interaction site with molecules, etc. The use of Feynmans diagram method makes the loss of some physical phenomena accompanying a researched physical process possible, in particular the Doppler effect. On the basis of the quantum electrodynamics, the modern methods of diagnostics are investigated: a positron-emission tomography and a magneto-resonant tomography. Their developmental processes are also discussed. This book will be useful to students and scientists whose interests lay in the fields of quantum electrodynamics and medical physics.

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID's) are one of the most widely prescribed drugs for their analgesic, antiinflammatory and antipyretic properties. This book provides new research on the common uses, risks and effectiveness of NSAIDs. Chapter One evaluates the potential environmental health impacts of NSAIDs in aquatic environments. Chapter Two reviews the incidence rate and toxic damage of diclofenac which is one of the mostly detected drugs in aquatic environments worldwide. Chapter Three discusses advanced oxidation processes for the removal of NSAIDs. Chapter Four outlines recent progress of EPs and their role in inflammation-related cardiovascular diseases.

This book provides new research on water resources. Chapter One discusses water resource management and intelligent monitoring systems for reservoirs. Chapter Two describes actions applied to the management of water resources in the region of La Plata in Argentina. Chapter Three analyses the physico-chemical characteristics of natural waters in a drainage system of northern Xinjiang (Central Asia) to provide additional information to the readers on the chemical evolution and recharge mechanism of natural waters in an arid environment. Chapter Four reviews flow alterations and then employs a modeling system and databases for the river systems of Texas to investigate characteristics of river flows and long-term impacts thereto resulting from development and other causative factors.

Important corporate governance mechanisms such as ownership concentration and debt used by the large firms can affect firm performance and value in developed markets. The mixed findings which are non-conclusive in the literature pertaining to these relationships pose questions about the exact nature of the relationships between these mechanisms and firm value. Moreover, the mixed findings in the literature have resulted in the endogeneity issue of the former becoming central to discussions in corporate governance and corporate finance studies. The research in this book focuses on the dynamic endogeneity issue to investigate whether this issue influences the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and firm value in the largest Australian firms based on agency theory. The study investigates this issue through three different advanced econometric models and tests based on agency theory: two-way fixed effects (FE) and the two-step system known as the generalised method of moments (GMM). The book concludes that dynamic endogeneity is not a serious issue in influencing the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and firm value in the largest Australian firms. These models can be applied to other countries for investigating similar corporate governance and finance issues.

In this compilation, the authors comprehensively investigate SOD effects in the homeostasis of mammal endometrium, using available information on several species and their team experience relating to the topic. In addition, they address its role in endometrial integrity and some uterine clinical conditions and infertility. The current knowledge of plant SODs, their abiotic-stress modulated expression and activity, and analyses results on genetic engineering of plant SODs are summarized. Significance of superoxide dismutases in the crop improvement for stress tolerance is also discussed. This book reviews the oxidative stress and damage to plants, while also summarizing the characteristics of SOD enzymes and discussing their involvement in the tolerance of plants against abiotic stress. Additionally, many authors have studied the protective role of SOD in the mice cochlea, however more recently the role of SOD gene polymorphisms in the susceptibility of sudden sensorineural hearing loss has been investigated. Therefore, the authors also examine the role of SOD in the cochlea and its involvement in the pathogenesis of noise induced hearing loss, age related hearing loss and sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Most people have some degree of malocclusion. Malocclusions have a strong hereditary component as an etiologic factor, both in families and in ethnic and racial groups. This phenotype can be recognized at an early age and becomes progressively more evident with growth, appearing as one of the main factors that force patients to seek orthodontic treatment. The goal of orthodontic treatment is not only ensuring the alignment of the teeth, jaw relationship, function and aesthetic but also improving self-esteem and quality of life. This e-book about orthodontics will describe such information and knowledge concerning malocclusion in a logical way that can generate better knowledge regarding the treatment effectiveness of malocclusion, facilitate assessment and provide the momentum needed for a sustained upgrade in the standards of care of patients in daily orthodontics. The authors of this book have worked hard to manifest their ideas scientifically. Reading the works of all of these authors has been educating and has exposed the depth of their understanding and abilities. Though this book is anticipated for general dental practitioners and undergraduate students in the field, it will also act as a convenient compendium for postgraduates as well. There may be errors of omission and commission. Any comments and suggestions for improvement are cordially welcome.

How to utilize digital technology to engage learners in deep learning is an issue that warrants significant attention in 21st century education. Deep learning refers to learners engagement in critical and creative thinking, making inferences and transferring knowledge. Modern technologies like virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and 3D visualization provide the platform for deep learning in an educational setting more effectively. This book presents a collection of essays on the relationship between digital technologies and deep learning. The edited volume focuses on cognitive, metacognitive and affective processes in digital technology-based deep learning. A unique feature of the book is its emphasis on bridging the theories with practice where the practice of deep learning with digital technology is well-grounded in relevant theories and theoretical frameworks. Moreover, the book includes case studies to effectively promote the application of digital technology in deep learning. As such, the book is rightly poised to address current issues facing deep learning and digital technology in education. The audience will find this book a useful companion as they will soon discover that this book provides helpful information on both theoretical and practical aspects in deep learning with digital technology. It also serves as an excellent resource for researchers and individual professionals who seek to understand the relationship between deep learning and digital technology in education.

The Many Benefits of Meditation addresses prenatal meditation and its positive effects on maternal health, fetal health and infant health. The authors evaluate a Prenatal Eastern Based Meditative Intervention (EBMI) program developed for pregnant Chinese women in Hong Kong in order to evaluate the effects of meditation on pregnancy. The conceptual framework was based on the postulation of positive relationships between meditation and pregnancy health which is important for fetal health and child health. The following chapter discusses how the exponential growth of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in recent years has resulted in a marketisation and commodification of practice (popularly labeled McMindfulness) which divorces mindfulness from its ethical origins in Buddhist traditions. Another article is included which examines the elusive primordial energy that the ancient yogis referred to as Kundalini. This energy is said to ascend through each of the seven chakras from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. When the Kundalini reaches the crown chakra, cosmic consciousness, a restructuring of the psyche, and paranormal abilities have been reported. The authors use a multidisciplinary approach to explore how Kundalini is typically expressed and safely managed, and the importance for recognition by health care professionals. Next, a review is presented with the objective of determining whether evidence exists that directly compares the utility of tai chi/qi gong and mindfulness meditation in the treatment of cancer pain in adults. Several articles described the benefits of tai chi/qi gong on the pain experience of adult cancer patients, and multiple articles discussed the positive effects of mindfulness practices on pain. A paper is presented which examines the effects of Concentrative Meditation on worry, attention, dispositional mindfulness, and decentering. The results suggest that short-term uses of concentrative meditation are likely to be effective for worry, which may be associated with enhanced selective attention and decentering. Later, the effects of cognitive decentering and thinking errors on eating disorder symptoms among women's college students are examined. A structural equation model of questionnaire data (N = 173) revealed that cognitive decentering reduced eating disorder tendency by ameliorating thinking errors. The last study combines three distinct literatures. Burnout is a huge concern as workers and employers experience losses and challenges due to its effects, and DoS and mindfulness have been identified as important psychological traits for coping with burnout. The results of this study suggest that both DoS and Mindfulness are negatively correlated with burnout, indicating that these traits are important buffers against and resources for coping with emotional exhaustion.

Elderly Care: Options, Challenges and Trends examines the demographic shifts Lebanon has experienced over the last few decades, indicating that it is a rapidly aging country. Such an aging population may need various levels of support including access to nursing care in nursing homes, either for short-term rehabilitation or for extended periods of time, when individual dependency outstrips family-based resources. Next, a review is provided on the latest studies and evidences regarding the influence of indoor environment on elderly health. A set of recommendations to improve elderly environmental health are presented, considering the most recent state-of-the-art on this field. Following this, the authors share their real-world experiences from an ongoing large-scale project on IoT-enabled community eldercare. Technology-centric challenges that need to be addressed are identified so that such systems can be sustainably implemented and adopted by key stakeholders. In a separate chapter, the book analyzes hospice care in China, which is still far from meeting its needs caused by the profound aging of Chinas population. The analysis indicates that the Chinese Government should formulate a development plan for hospice care and include hospice care services in the National Healthcare Insurance System. Additionally, NGOs should continue to play their part in hospice care development. The perspectives of aging and frailty syndrome are explored later, focusing on the role of biomarkers and environmental exposure in its development. Currently, there are several gaps in the scientific literature regarding frailty syndrome, namely in their definition, models, causal-effects and prevention or treatments. Afterwards, rib fractures in the elderly are addressed. Although plain radiographic films are diagnostic, a large number of patients will need CAT scans for more precise locations of rib fractures. The management of complications as a direct result of rib fractures; mostly hemopneumothorax or visceral injury, will be dealt with accordingly. In an additional study, the factors for hospital admissions associated with adverse drug events are studied. Drug related hospital admissions in the elderly are commonly influenced by polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing.

The event industry is a robust economic force worldwide. It spans into many other important sectors like travel, tourism, hospitality, technology, media and communication, inter alia. In America, it is estimated that 18 million events are organised yearly, generating approximately $280 billion in spending and $66.8 billion in labour income (Event Industry Outlook 2016). Events showcase talent and are perhaps those moments when societies and communities group together to revive certain traditions and cultures, which are otherwise dormant. In other contexts, like the case of tourism, events create economic value for the hosting destination, which boosts the economy. In contrast to permanent attractions, an event has the potential to promote authenticity and hence, is increasingly tapped by marketers for the purpose of differentiation. For instance, destinations celebrate their unique culture and heritage through events which represent important milestones in their tourism history. Given their capacity to attract visitors and generate profit, tourism destinations are increasingly capitalising on events as a diversification strategy. This trend has undoubtedly precipitated popularity in event studies and hence the writing of this book. The landscape of the book covers a broad spectrum of research. The chapters explore the changing dimensions in the industry based on the following themes: - Event Management Trends and Policies - Events and Destination Image and Preference - Events and Education - Events, Attendees and Organisers In the present book, an attempt is made to cover a wide range of events (sport, cultural, festivals and weddings) and issues related to the organisation and management of these events (policies, terrorism, etc.). The chapters also provide solutions and strategies for the organisation of successful events (protocol, etc.). The book also offers an opportunity to understand attendees from a consumer behaviour point of view. More importantly, some chapters cover events from an education point of view by examining the question from both a Higher Education perspective (universities) and an event organiser angle (what is done to make people aware of sustainability). The editors have invited academics from Africa (Kenya, Algeria), South America (Argentina), Europe (England, Italy and Greece), and the Middle East (Abu Dhabi) to contribute thirteen chapters in the fields of their expertise. With its perfect combination of theoretical and practical issues, this book aims to share with readers the knowledge needed to professionally manage events in different fields. The latest trends including the key theories, concepts and case studies related to event management are presented in a manner that intellectually stimulates readers to get ready for an experiential learning journey. This book will enable readers to understand the impact of events on destination management organisations, explain the role of events in promoting international sport competitions, and understand the key issues in planning and designing collaborative partnerships in event management. Each chapter features a real-life case study to highlight key concepts and replace theoretical concepts with practical solutions to effectively approach the organisation of events, as well as preparing readers to tackle any challenges they might face in their future opportunities to manage events.

This book analyses human behaviour from an individual and organisational perspective. Based on cutting-edge research, each chapter is focused on modeling human behaviour in different fields and taking into account uncertain environments by applying innovative quantitative and qualitative approaches. This book deals with the decision-making process of individuals behaving as economic agents who consume, save, produce and invest, but also with organisations such as families, firms, public entities and even countries. This book comprises a wide spectrum of contemporary topics. Each chapter challenges the reader by the approaches employed, providing insight into the pillars of western societies: Sociology and Public Health, Economy and Finances, Medicine, Architecture, Archeology and Engineering. Modeling Social Behavior and its Applications deals with trendy issues and provides answers to socio-economic dilemmas.

Tribology, the science of interacting surfaces in relative motion, has traditionally focused on technological applications, although some attention has been given to geotribology and tribochemistry. This volume explores the geological applications of tribology in some detail, before introducing the entirely new subdisciplines of archaeotribology and the tribology of rock art. The various geological, archaeological, and rock art applications are then correlated through the detailed description of a tribological phenomenon of the natural world that was only discovered most recently, kinetic energy metamorphosis (KEM). This newly described phenomenon was first observed as a by-product of rock art production, but it was subsequently recognised as a widespread physical process whose effects are much more common in both geology and archaeology. Not only does this book illuminate the holistic and thus inter-disciplinary character of natural processes, it also presents the need to view tribology as a science connected to many other fields. Therefore, this volume advocates an extended scope for a science traditionally focused on aspects of friction, wear, and lubrication of machines. This enhances the importance of tribology, while at the same time enriching disciplines that have never even been considered to have potential connections with tribology. The book therefore succeeds in demonstrating that, ultimately, all disciplines are interconnected in the magnificent web of science, in which all fields of scientific enquiry must play a role. This book thus presents a strong statement on the need for integrative understanding, but at the same time it demands high standards of epistemology. The introductory chapter presents a rigorous definition of science, and of the inherent characteristics of scientific propositions. It is followed by a chapter about geotribology, detailing the many applications of tribology in the vast field of geology. This includes reviews of fluvial, aeolian, glacial, and tectonic processes, each of which deals with interacting surfaces in relative motion. In the next section, the numerous applications of tribology in archaeology are examined in some detail. The chapter on the tribological nature of all rock art presents an innovative review of a topic never before defined as tribological. The climax of the book, however, is in the concluding chapter, which expounds and analyzes the newly discovered process of KEM. First detected in a specific kind of rock art, it was upon investigation identified as a major contributor to several hitherto unexplained phenomena in geology. In this way, the volume demonstrates strikingly how all of science, in the end, forms a single interconnected system.

This is a book that will address the ways in which the theory andd of empowerment can be established and sustained in a variety of community settings and for a variety of target groups, and that may operate at different levels, from individual to societal. In this book, the authors aim to explore and illustrate how inclusive communities can be created and sustained through the development and implementation of empowerment strategies at various levels: Individual, peer, community and societal. The authors utilize the framework of the Dynamic Synergy Model, outlined in Chapter Two, as the context in which we can understand and then actualize the ideals of inclusive communities. In the first two chapters of this volume, the authors outline the concept of inclusive communities, beginning with the initial notion of inclusion, and how that concept has been applied in a variety of settings. They then discuss the topic of empowerment, its theoretical foundations and evolution, including a critique of the concept and the inherent power dynamics of community-based work. In Chapter Two, the authors outline the various levels of empowerment, introduce the Dynamic Synergy Model and delineate a variety of components for establishing and sustaining empowering activities at a variety of levels, in various settings, with evidence or goals for any of the elements outlined for establishing and sustaining empowerment goals with a variety of methods. The authors especially encourage contributions that can illustrate the implementation and/or evaluation of work that exemplifies the Dynamic Synergy Model.

This book presents a number of possible applications for neurofeedback in offender treatment, including perpetuators of domestic violence and various other forms of violent and anti-social behavior, certain forms of sexually abusive behavior, and criminal behavior of an obsessivecompulsive nature. A global description of this method is presented, followed by a brief overview of the empirical evidence of its efficacy in specific relevant treatment areas. To accomplish a targeted impact of neurofeedback on specific cortical functions, EEG-based local brain activity neurofeedback training was developed by Bauer et al. (2011). With this approach, an implemented algorithm automatically identifies and localizes EEG-sources in successive sLORETA solutions. Based on this information, the feedback is exclusively controlled by EEG-generating sources within a selected cortical region of training. In order to individually and precisely locate and define the region of training, the use of evoked potentials of known local origin is recommended. In one study, a total of 30 Iranian veterans with spinal cord injuries were randomly assigned to either neurofeedback, physical training, or a control condition. At the beginning of the study and four weeks later, reaction times and balance were objectively measured. Compared to the control condition over time, reaction times improved in the neurofeedback condition, while balance improved in the physical training condition. Compared to a conventional treatment condition, neurofeedback and physical training improved skills in specific areas of motor control. The authors go on investigate the effect of neurofeedback training on the motor performance and conscious motor processing of skilled dart players. The subjects consisted of 20 males. The research was conducted in five phases, including: pre-test, training neurofeedback, posttest 1, under pressure test and posttest 2. Additionally, the authors investigate the effect of one session of neurofeedback training on the motor performance of elite and non-elite volleyball players. The research was conducted in three phases: pre-test, training neurofeedback, and post-test. The effect of Quiet Mind Training on alpha power and dart throwing is also studied. A total of 20 novice dart players were randomly assigned to either Quiet Mind Training or a control condition. Dart playing skills and alpha were assessed four times: at baseline, 20 session later, under stress conditions, and at study end. In the penultimate study, this collection proposes that prefrontal neurofeedback training would be accompanied by changes in the relative power of EEG bands and ratios of individual bands with increased effectiveness at higher numbers of sessions. Outcome measures included EEG and behavioral ratings by parents/caregivers. Mu rhythm and bimanual coordination was examined in 10 healthy boys, 10 boys with high-functioning in-active autism and 10 boys with high-functioning active autism. Results indicated that high-functioning in-active autistic boys and high-functioning active autistic boys have a higher mean of relative phase error.

This book attempts to address and answer questions about different types of disorders in particular developmental spheres in children with learning and behavioural problems. It suggests how a child with sensory integration disorders can be helped in therapy and via other means using methods supporting disturbed sensory integration and other methods supporting the child's development.

Occupational health and safety refers to the whole series of prevention measures and protection, technical measures, organisational solutions, and procedures that must be adopted by the employer to avoid dangerous situations for their employees. While it is true that total security exists in the absence of dangers, and this is a difficult concept to translate into real life, in the absolute sense, it is also true that the application of safety rules makes the occurrence of adverse events and incidents more difficult, and it always results in a better quality of life. Each analytical laboratory should provide its own "Good Laboratory Practices" and procedures must be the result of the experience and must be known, correctly interpreted, shared, and respected by all the staff of laboratory. The idea of creating a manual on occupational health risks in a chemical and biological analysis laboratory derives from the need to provide technical support for the various figures involved in activities requiring the safe use of chemical and biological agents in lab analysis. The purpose of this work is to provide workers with more detailed information on the main possible causes of risk in an analysis laboratory, as well as on the most appropriate means of individual and collective protection to be used at work. The manual also gives an overview of main laboratory safety standards pertaining to clothing and equipment as well as procedures and lab design. This manual can be a valuable approach to knowledge of laboratory risks in order to eliminate or at least minimise them. Finally, the handbook can also be a support to the drafting of internal safety standards, both for general and specific procedures.

The Sultanate of Oman is known for its internal peace, tranquility and political harmony. The country has long been a success story of growth and development in the region. The past few decades of development have not only brought about developmental transformation but have also improved the governance, standards of living and prosperity of its population. However, the recent economic globalization and technological changes have posed a number of challenges for the depleting resources of the Sultanate of Oman. Policy makers are compelled to confront these challenges by adapting the traditional development paths and striving to diversify the economy in an attempt to wean the country from its dependence on natural resources. The earlier development trajectory of the country was based on state-led development models with an important role being envisaged for the public sector. However, the diversification strategies that have been adopted recently are based on the proactive role of the private sector. These include creating an enabling business environment, attracting direct foreign investment and increasing the investment on human capital. The development vision is largely focused on strengthening the tourism, logistics and infrastructure sectors to create job opportunities for the fast growing young and educated population. The development of human capital is also a key challenge which needs to be addressed to reduce knowledge and educational deficits; the country's labour market imbalances in terms of mismatch of skills needs to be corrected through the policies of Omanization of its national work force. The country is facing new set of regional peace and security challenges in changing regional political dynamics. This book contains original research contributions which largely address these issues and challenges in recent times. The researchers have traced the development and diversification paths in Oman's historical context including the investigation of trade patterns, energy and water consumption uses and the socio-economic impact of trade with the rest of the world. Key issues of Omani culture and identity, peace and security that are linked to the preservation of the Omani national heritage and language identity are also explored. The book has explored the developmental trajectories in recent decades with its limitations and has provided in detail the answers to the use of scarce resources such as oil, gas, water and energy resources, their consumption patterns, as well as the impact of climate change in these changing and uncertain economic times. The book has also addressed the Arabic language issue and the Omani and other dialects which are very important to the Omani identity. The book debates the factors that have contributed to the growth as well as threatened the very survival of Omani dialects. The book has further investigated the significant performance challenges to Omani SMEs. The challenges of development and diversification and the barriers to diversification efforts, the composition and direction of trade flows, peace and security and the trading patterns of Oman and its attendant complexities are also discussed. The book is an original narration of the developmental and transformational journey Oman has taken to maintain inclusive development, diversification and high standards of living in this unpredictable economic climate.

This book focuses on three key questions and three assumptions, which tackle entrepreneurship and competitiveness through the pillars of young entrepreneurship and innovation in SMEs, always under the lens of the institutional approach. More specifically, the research questions of this study are the following: How do institutions and, in general, institutional processes affect entrepreneurship on the SME level and, hence, competitiveness on the country level, how can the analysis of young entrepreneurship promote our understanding of the overall web of entrepreneurship from an institutional point of view and to what degree do SMEs respond to innovative applications and activities? Moreover, the study takes on the following three research assumptions: The quality of institutions affects the development of entrepreneurship and, hence, a country's competitive position, small- and medium-sized enterprises are affected by the quality of institutions and institutional inefficiency leads to innovation fatigue. The methodology is based on specific data collection techniques that will answer the questions and assumptions of this study by using both qualitative and quantitative approaches.

The opening chapter of Living with HIV/AIDS: Challenges, Perspectives and Quality of Life is concerned with exploring the implications of living with invisible conditions in both social and professional networks, and how that may impact their overall health and wellbeing. The authors use empirical examples of people living with mental illness and people living with HIV/AIDS to examine how the level of their visible or invisible symptoms played out on their experience of living with such invisible conditions. The goal of the subsequent study is to explore the process of interviewing sero-discordant couples through a participatory action research methodology, as well as the outcome of science-in-action that was developed and formed into social capital by the community of couples living with HIV. The authors also present a theoretical taxonomy on the various themes of microaggressions that people living with HIV/AIDS encounter, including stigmatized language, desexualization and dating/sex-related microaggressions, dehumanization and second-class citizenship, pathology of HIV/AIDS, romanticizing of HIV/AIDS, and criminalization of HIV/AIDS. The final section of this compilation aims to determine the reflexivity of HIV/AIDS survivors and the strategies taken to maintain a good quality of life. The data was collected from information coming from Peer Support Group, People Affected by HIV/AIDS, health workers, Local AIDS Commission and NGOs caring about AIDS using observation, in-depth interview, and documentation methods.

This book explores the symbiotic relationship between culture and creativity, particularly exploring how resources and cultural values within a society can foster or hinder creativity. Next, this compilation proposes a new method for measuring product creativity with verification of its metric characteristics. This approach entails the construction of a creativity coefficient and a uniqueness coefficient, which are based on the assessment of the originality of the answers provided by respondents. The connection between objective indicators of creativity and its representation on the level of self-consciousness is also discussed by way of a new questionnaire for implicit theories of creativity that diagnoses four scales: originality, intelligence and personal potential, novelty and activity. The authors propose and demonstrate how a student must perceive that the ability to self-correct any discrepancies between actual and desired performance is possible and achievable in order to exhibit a positive response to feedback. "Zones of in-between" are defined as organisational, social and physical spaces at school that have the potential to allow for something else than their ostensible purposes in teaching and teacher-pupil relations. Different types of presence, interactions and expressions occur when pupils have a pause from teaching and interact with other pupils. This kind of creativity is formed by and takes place in sociocultural margins and peripheries. The final paper is a qualitative narrative examination of undergraduate students' experiences in a fully online learning community, describing how a community of 90 students divided into three sections of 30 participated in a blended course for 12 weeks which used flipped classroom video podcasts, online discussion boards, and weekly synchronous Adobe Connect conferencing.

In this compilation, the authors first analyse three components of safety culture: safety climate, safety values, and culture of prevention. The analysis includes both new empirical results and a review of earlier studies. Following this, Safety Culture: Progress, Trends and Challenges presents a report from ethnographic work at a large grain processing facility in the American Midwest. The grain industry is inherently dangerous with its heavy equipment, confined spaces and explosive environments. Sometimes the companies value efficiency and productivity over worker safety. Additionally, the authors examine differences in safety climate perceptions between permanent and contingent workers and associations to self-reported accidents/injuries in an organisation, considering possible relevant confounders. Possible interventions and strategic efforts as proposed as tools for the promotion and consolidation of organisational mindfulness. These interventions focus signal setting on management level and collective interactions on front-line level. Recommendations for the application in different settings derive from areas of work organisation, work design, strategic agenda and value setting, as well as from the promotion of organisational cultural preferences. One paper presents a model that combines theories of organisational learning, human error and situation awareness in sociotechnical task environments. A hypothesis which emerges from this model is that people who possess a questioning attitude in respect to their own contribution to error causation possess a better situational awareness of their sociotechnical work environment. Later, the effect of crew resource management training on the medical personnel of an acute medical unit is investigated, as it is an auspicious method to achieve cultural changes in high risk environments and achieve a positive safety culture. In closing, because a core objective of the International Safety Management Code is advancement of criteria for an effective maritime safety policy, the extent to which the code has been effective is discussed.

Although the non steroidal anti-inflammatory agent diclofenac is an old drug, there is ongoing research interest on potential novel indications of the drug, on adverse drug reactions of diclofenac and on the management of these adverse drug reactions. This book aims to contribute knowledge on novel aspects of the pharmacology of diclofenac. Thus, the book provides evidence on three fields: (i) potential novel indications of diclofenac, especially in oncology, (ii) adverse events of diclofenac and (iii) modulation of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular toxicity of diclofenac. The book is focused on the above areas, contributing evidence on: the anticancer effects of diclofenac; the modulation of stress response by diclofenac; rare severe adverse reactions of diclofenac; thyroid effects of diclofenac; maternal and foetal adverse reactions of diclofenac and the modulation of gastrointestinal; the modulation of cardiovascular toxicity of diclofenac. All the chapters are well-written and structured and appropriately referenced. The authors present their own research work and at the same time they provide a well-informed literature review. The book will be interesting for researchers with interest in diclofenac, academic teachers, medical doctors, pharmacologists, pharmacists, and medical students.

This book was written by a team of vascular, cardiac and neurosurgeons working mainly in the East Slovak Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, and also Luis Pasteur University Hospital in Kosice, Slovakia. The book is addressed to students of medicine and also as fundamental principles of vascular surgery for residents in different surgical specialisations. Vascular surgery has been rapidly developing in recent decades. Although the first successful arterial reconstructions appeared the beginning of the 20th century, the active management of arterial diseases has developed since the 1950s when new techniques of arterial surgery had been established. The first attempts of vascular reconstructions were performed by Alexis Carrel, a French surgeon who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1912 for inventing modern vascular suture, which is used still today. Significant development of vascular surgery brought the introduction of prosthetic grafts by Vorhees in 1952. That enabled De Backey to resect abdominal aortic aneurysm and replace it with synthetic graft in 1955. The first angiography with the catheter was performed by Seldinger in 1952, and Gruntzig in 1974 was the first who did percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and started the modern era of endovascular treatment. Since this time, an essential development in the treatment of vascular diseases has been observed. Nowadays, vascular surgeons solve the most severe cases of arterial diseases, solve complications of endovascular therapy, or are a part of hybrid procedures, which are a combination of surgical and endovascular treatment. In the first chapter, elementary clinical examinations, imagine methods, and also surgical techniques are described. Aortic disorders that are the most severe vascular diseases are analysed in the second, third, and forth chapters. Open aortic surgery is technically the most difficult part of vascular surgery and is associated with the highest mortality. Open aortic surgery is now being replaced by endovascular procedures due to lesser invasivity and mortality. The fifth chapter is dedicated mainly to surgery of carotid arteries. Stenosis of the internal carotid artery is one of the reasons for stroke. Carotid endarterectomy that removes atherosclerotic plaque from the carotid bifurcations is effective in preventing stroke in patients with stenosis of the internal carotid artery. The sixth chapter analyses the problem of surgery of peripheral arteries as peripheral arterial occlusive disease or acute limb ischemia. Both conditions can lead to major amputations and life long disability. The seventh chapter analyses vascular trauma that may lead to severe bleeding or limb ischemia; both situations require almost immediate diagnosis and treatment. Peripheral artery trauma is treated mainly by open surgery, while the treatment of aortic injury is mostly endovascular. Basic types of vascular access and problems of venous disorders are described in the eighth chapter. Venous diseases are not so life threatening but much more common compared to arterial. The last chapter deals with complications and recovery that is inevitable from an excellent surgical outcome.

Acute diarrhea, although tends to be a self-limiting disease in otherwise healthy people, continues to cause millions of deaths every year, particularly in infants and the elderly. Therefore it represents a very frequent medical problem with a significant societal impact such as health-care utilization and lost working days by caregivers. Dehydration, the most frequent and severe complication occurs in the first 48 hours from the onset of the disease. For this reason, the WHO considers this time frame the more critical period where we should mostly act. Oral rehydration solution is the most important component of treatment to avoid dehydration, but despite its proven effectiveness it is still rarely used because of low compliance mainly due to the subjective perception of poor effectiveness, as it does not reduce stools frequency, nor loss of intestinal liquids, neither the length of diarrhea. Racecadotril represents, so far, the unique drug acting on one of the main pathophysiological mechanisms underlying acute diarrhea. In this book some experts discussed the main international diarrheal guidelines in children and adults even analyzing the health costs of the disease. Other authors have thoroughly addressed the etiopathological mechanisms underlying acute diarrhea and some others have fully analyzed the clinical studies on Racecadotril present in the literature both in children and adults. In addition, the world's leading experts on Racecadotril have thoroughly clarified the drug's pharmacological mechanisms and have wonderfully summarized its safety profile. Finally we analyzed the cost-effectiveness of the drug based on the studies published so far, which confirm that Racecadotril can be a cost-saving drug in treating acute diarrhea because it can facilitate the home-management of the disease. All things considered, we can say that Racecadotril is an effective and safe anti-diarrheal drug that can reduce the associated health care costs by increasing the likelihood of resolving the disease in outpatient setting.

Advances in Medicine and Biology. Volume 158 reviews the evolution of the network-based approaches to understanding comorbidities. These approaches can reveal underlying molecular mechanisms by identifying perturbations in shared proteins or protein-protein interactions as the cause of comorbidity. Subsequently, the authors discuss radiculopathy, a painful condition in which conduction along a spinal nerve is blocked resulting in objective neurologic signs such as numbness or weakness or in compromised blood supply to a spinal nerve root, resulting in paresthesia. This collection also provides a practical reference for several aspects of blunt craniofacial trauma management, including clinical presentation recognition, the classification of injuries, and the indications for urgent interventions. 36 structures of VEGFR-2 are available in the protein data bank. In the penultimate chapter, a visual analysis is carried out for the identification of the conformation. 31 structures were present in the DFG-out conformation. The concluding chapter provides useful information about folate and its significant role in health maintenance and disease prevention, as well as dietary recommendations to researchers in basic sciences, public health, and clinical medicine.

This book provides a comprehensive guide to a range of food processing methods that are relevant to food scientists who are beginning to specialize in the area of food processing. It has been written in collaboration with researchers and professors from different countries who are experts in the field of food processing. The book covers area such as; high pro-cookies processing, application of pulsed electric field in liquid food processing, foam mat drying of pineapple juice, engineering aspects of confectionery coating in baked products, food emulsion, minimally processing of potato and yam slices, a guide to differently processed Asian rice products, tumbling and massaging as a tool in reformed meat processing and finally a chapter dealing with food processing contaminants and their mitigation strategies was included.

The parent-child relationship has been extensively researched over a long period of time. In this relationship, a perspective is explored of the behaviour of the parent and how this affects the development of the child. Added to this relationship are the effects of the environment on the relationship between the parent and the child. The well-adjusted, independent, social adult is often an indication that the parent-child relationship provided the grounding and the origins for how the adult interacts with life and others. Due to the complexities of journeying through establishing and solidifying the parent-child relationship from the stage of pregnancy, through early childhood development, to school-going age, adolescence and adulthood, understanding this relationship and the effects on the health and wellbeing of the child, has been ongoing. In this book the intention is to present various perspectives and insights into specific approaches to parenting in various environments and contexts. These contexts provide the cultural support to explore the phenomenon of parenting styles and practices providing insights from South Africa, Japan, China, the USA, Argentina, Portugal, Israel, Spain and Canada. A Closer Look at Parenting Styles and Practices zones into exploring and understanding the parent-child relationship globally.

The recent wave of teacher protests across the U.S. has shined a spotlight on advocacy in education. In an age when schools are underfunded to the point of unmanageable class sizes, outdated texts, dilapidated school buildings and shortened school weeks, educators must use their voices and advocate in order to preserve public education. This book addresses multiple strategies and approaches advocacy can take through the lens of teachers, administrators, teacher educators and community leaders. It can serve as a roadmap geared toward educators of all backgrounds and experience levels, from preservice teachers to seasoned administrators, as well as teacher educators who want to dispel the myth that public schools are failing. Too often, educators are expected to be advocates without any guidelines provided. Even though they are powerful in numbers, they are often isolated in their classrooms in attempt to meet the increasing needs of their students and the daunting demands of the educational system. This volume highlights opportunities for educators to serve as advocates by getting involved, which can take many shapes and forms. Individual chapters built around specific themes show how educators can use advocacy to forge connections, problem solve, resolve conflict, develop as professionals, enter into dialogue, utilize branches of government and become sustained education advocates. The four themes in this book are teacher advocacy, teacher and teacher education, leadership and administration and community collaborations.

Biomass gasification has received tremendous research attention all over the world because (a) biomass is abundant, diverse, renewable, and environmentally friendly, (b) the produced biogas/syngas is clean, versatile, efficient, and easily controllable, and (c) the system used is generally simple. This book aims to present up-to-date research on biomass gasification. The content of this book is divided to three parts or sections: the fundamentals of biomass gasification as presented in chapters 1 to 4, experimenting of biomass gasification as presented in chapters 5 and 6, and simulation of biomass gasification as presented in chapters 7 to 8. In chapter 1 (An introduction to biomass), biomass is introduced, and these mainly include biomass resources, biomass and energy, biomass and environment, benefits of biomass, etc. In chapter 2 (Biomass properties), the properties of biomass are introduced, and these include structural compositions (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, starch, extractives, proteins, etc.), physical properties (moisture content, particle size, bulk density, porosity, etc.), chemical properties (elemental compositions, chemical compositions, heating value, etc.) and the other properties (thermal conductivity, ignition temperature, specific heat, etc.). In chapter 3 (Biomass gasification technologies), biomass gasification technologies are classified and introduced according to the gasification agents used (air, oxygen, steam, hydrogen, supercritical water, carbon dioxide and the combination of the above gases), and some factors that have significant impacts on gasification technologies (or performances) are also discussed. Then the emerging gasification technologies (microwave gasification, solar gasification and plasma gasification) using new heat sources are also detailed, and the effects of heat source on biomass gasification are also discussed. In chapter 4 (Biomass gasifiers), the main gasifier structures are introduced, and these include fixed bed gasifiers (updraft and downdraft), fluidized bed gasifiers (bubbling fluidized bed, circulating fluidized bed and dual fluidized bed), entrained flow gasifiers (Koppers-Totzek (K-T) gasifier, shell gasifier and Gas Schwarze Pumpe (GSP) gasifier and Colin gasifier). The other gasifier structures are also presented, and these include solar gasifier, microwave gasifier and plasma gasifier, etc. In chapter 5 (High-temperature gasification of biomass), the effects of physical and chemical properties of biomass on high-temperature gasification are analyzed, and these mainly include high-temperature pyrolysis of biomass, thermal cracking of biomass tar, and high-temperature gasification of biomass char. In chapter 6 (Supercritical water gasification of biomass), the properties of SCW (supercritical water) are detailed and the effects of different operating parameters on CE (carbon conversion efficiency) and GE (gasification efficiency) are summarized. The operating parameters include feedstock characteristics, biomass concentration, gasification temperature, reactor pressure, residence time and catalyst types and concentration. In chapter 7 (Simulation of biomass gasification using thermodynamic equilibrium model), the two thermodynamic equilibrium models of stoichiometric thermodynamic equilibrium models and non-stoichiometric equilibrium models (using Gibbs free energy minimization approach) are initially introduced, and the simulation results obtained from biomass gasification using thermodynamic equilibrium models based on Aspen Plus are then presented. In chapter 8 (Simulation of biomass gasification using intrinsic reaction rate submodel), the numerical simulation of biomass gasification using the intrinsic reaction rate submodel was introduced. The kinetic model for char-gas reaction as well as the intrinsic kinetic data for various biomass materials are detailed. A CFD (computational fluid dynamic) model based on the intrinsic kinetics is developed for biomass entrained flow gasification, and the effects of operating conditions including gasification temperature, equivalence ratio, CO2/biomass mass ratio and average particle size on the gasification performances in a lab-scale entrained flow reactor are investigated. Multi-objective optimization of biomass gasification based on response surface method is then studied to improve the gasification performances. Hopefully, the content of this book can supply a helpful guide to the up-to-date research on the fundamentals, experimental, and simulation of biomass gasification.