Boreal Forest and Climate Change
There are several crucial feedbacks from forests to the climate system. The mechanisms for those feedbacks are elaborated in the book: they involve changes in the carbon cycle, albedo, N2O emissions and the production of aerosols. Much of this work is new and the feedback relationships have not yet been incorporated into models of the climate system. The book will be an important introduction for students and climate modellers alike, providing conceptual tools and ideas that are broadly applicable to terrestrial systems.
Bone and Cartilage Engineering
Bone and Cartilage Engineering presents the theory and practice of cell-based regeneration of skeletal defects. Much of the focus is on the importance of the cell biological and biomaterial aspects for engineering a clinically relevant device. The basic key techniques for optimal engineering outcomes including cell and organ culture, biomaterial development, and bioreactor use are described in detail and highlighted by multiple figures.
Bluetooth based indoor location positioning system for mobile robot navigation
Positioning objects has been an important topic since it’s needed to locate people, guide them to a certain place, and assist companies and organizations with their assets management. Great applicational opportunities emerge based on the inquiry of Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI). In this research, a positioning system using Bluetooth RSSI is proposed for indoor applications. First, RSSI values are inquired multiple times and the average is taken at multiple points of different distances from the transmitters. Then the distance is determined by the variations of RSSI values respectively to distance variations. Finally, a triangulation algorithm is used to calculate the current location of the receiver.
Blockchain : Empowering Secure Data Sharing
The book explains the security architecture model and the practice of building data sharing from the blockchain infrastructure, allowing readers to understand the importance of data sharing security based on the blockchain framework, as well as the threats to security and privacy. Further, by presenting specific data sharing case studies, it offers insights into solving data security sharing problems in more practical fields. The book is intended for readers with a basic understanding of the blockchain infrastructure, consensus mechanisms, smart contracts, secure multiparty computing, homomorphic encryption and image retrieval technologies.
Block Copolymers II
Block coplolymers have been studied for several decades, a period that has been punctuated by a number of books and review articles on the topic. Despite this history, the subject is far from exhausted and, if anything, has experienced a strong renewal in recent years. This has been speartheaded by a vast variety of new block copolymers, the important development of powerful visualization techniques, AFM in particular, that have become readily available, as well as motivating visions of nanotechnological applications. In this context, this new two-volume book, with its focus on the most recent developments in the area, is timely,
Block Copolymers I
Block copolymers have been studied for several decades, a period that has been punctuated by a number of books and review articles on the topic. Despite this history, the subject is far from exhausted and, if anything, has experienced a strong renewal in recent years. This has been spearheaded by a vast variety of new block copolymers, the important development of powerful visualization techniques, AFM in particular, that have become readily available, as well as motivating visions of nanotechnological applications. In this context, this new two-volume book, with its focus on the most recent developments in the area, is timely
Blameworthy Belief : A Study in Epistemic Deontologism
Believing the wrong thing may sometimes have drastic consequences. The question as to when a person is not only ill-guided, but genuinely at fault for holding a particular belief is an important one: It touches upon the roots of our understanding of such notions as criminal negligence and moral responsibility. The answer to this question may influence the extent to which we are willing to submit each other to punishments ranging from mild resentment to harsh prison terms. This book presents an extensive effort to shed light on the conditions under which we may appropriately deem someone blameworthy for holding a particular belief. It regiments and unifies several debates within contemporary epistemology, ethics and legal scholarship. Finally, the book brings a new philosophical look on issues like our power to control beliefs and the extent and nature of foresight.
Biosimilars : Regulatory, clinical, and biopharmaceutical development
Provides a comprehensive overview of the biosimilar regulatory framework, the development process and clinical aspects for development of biosimilars. The development path of a biosimilar is just as unique as a development path of a new drug, tailored by the mechanism of action, the quality of the molecule, published information on the reference product, the current competitive environment, the target market and regulatory guidance, and most importantly, the emerging totality of evidence for the proposed biosimilar during development.
Bioprocessing Technology for Production of Biopharmaceuticals and Bioproducts
Written for industrial and academic researchers and development scientists in the life sciences industry, Bioprocessing Technology for Production of Biopharmaceuticals and Bioproducts is a guide to the tools, approaches, and useful developments in bioprocessing. This important guide: •Summarizes state-of-the-art bioprocessing methods and reviews applications in life science industries •Includes illustrative case studies that review six milestone bio-products •Discuses a wide selection of host strain types and disruptive bioprocess technologies
Biophysical Techniques in Photosynthesis ; Vol. II
Since the first volume on Biophysical Techniques in Photosynthesis Research, published in 1996, new experimental techniques and methods have been devised at a rapid pace. The present book is a sequel which complements the first volume (Volume 3 in the Series) by providing a comprehensive overview of the most important new techniques developed over the past ten years, especially those that are relevant for research on the mechanism and fundamental aspects of photosynthesis. The contributions are written by leading scientists in their field. The book has 5 sections: Imaging; Structure; Optical and laser spectroscopy; Magnetic resonance; Theory. Each chapter describes the basic concepts of the technique, practical applications and scientific results. Possibilities and limitations from a technical as well as a scientific point of view are addressed, allowing the reader not only to recognize the potential of a particular method for his/her own quest, but also to assess the resources that are required for implementation. The book is intended for use by graduate students and researchers in photosynthesis as well as in (bio)physics, (bio)chemistry and biology in general.
Biophysical characterization of functional peptides
Presents reproducible and step-by-step procedures for the peptide synthesis, their characterization and applications. The volume includes an introductory section on in silico modelling of new peptide molecules, Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Docking, Electrostatic fingerprinting of peptides, and other modelling tools for peptide designing and optimization. Further, it covers protocols for the solid phase peptide synthesis, chromatographic and mass spectrometric characterization of peptides. Importantly, it covers methods for biophysical characterizations of peptides for their potential applications as drug delivery vehicles, peptide nano-assembly, bionanocatalysis, protein aggregation diseases, and peptide-based anti-bacterial.
Biophysical Aspects of Transmembrane Signaling
Transmembrane signaling is one of the most significant cell biological events in the life and death of cells in general and lymphocytes in particular. Until recently biochemists and biophysicists were not accustomed to thinking of these processes from the side of a high number of complex biochemical events and an equally high number of physical changes at molecular and cellular levels at the same time. Both types of researchers were convinced that their findings are the most decisive, having higher importance than the findings of the other scientist population. Both casts were wrong. Life, even at cellular level, has a number of interacting physical and biochemical mechanisms, which finally build up the creation of an "excited" cell that will respond to particular signals from the outer or inner world.
Biomineralization : From molecular and nano-structural analyses to environmental science
Over the past 45 years, biomineralization research has unveiled details of the characteristics of the nano-structure of various biominerals; the formation mechanism of this nano-structure, including the initial stage of crystallization; and the function of organic matrices in biominerals, and this knowledge has been applied to dental, medical, pharmaceutical, materials, agricultural and environmental sciences and paleontology. As such, biomineralization is an important interdisciplinary research area, and further advances are expected in both fundamental and applied research.
Biometrics, Computer Security Systems and Artificial Intelligence Applications
This book presents the most recent achievements in some fascinating and rapidly developing fields within Computer Science. The scientific works presented in this book have been partitioned into three topical groups: Image Analysis and Biometrics, Computer Security Systems, and Artificial Intelligence and Applications. Image Analysis and Biometrics is the branch of Computer Science dealing with the very difficult task of artificial, visual perception of objects and surroundings, as well as the problems connected with it. Computer Security and Safety is at present a very important and intensively investigated branch of Computer Science because of the menacing activity of hackers and computer viruses.
BioMEMS and biomedical nanotechnology ; Vol. III : Therapeutic Micro/Nanotechnology
The human body is composed of structures organized in a hierarchical fashion: from biomolecules assembled into polymers, to multimeric assemblies such as cellular or-ganelles, to individual cells, to tissues, to organ systems working together in health and disease- each dominated by a characteristic length scale. Decades of science and engineer-ing are now converging to provide tools that enable the orderly manipulation of biological systems at previously inaccessible, though critically important, length scales (<100 mi-crons). Thus, the approaches described in this volume provide a snapshot of how micro-and nanotechnologies can enable the investigation, prevention, and treatment of human disease.The volume is divided into three parts. The first part, Cell-based therapeutics; cov- ers the merger of cells with micro- and anosystems for applications in regenerative medicine spanning the development of novel nanobiomaterials.
Bio-mechanisms of swimming and flying ; Fluid dynamics, biomimetic robots, and sports science
This book follows "Bio-mechanisms of Animals in Swimming and Flying" published in 2004 including 11 chapters. This time, the book includes 31 chapters on the latest researches into natural autonomous systems and locomotion in both flying and swimming organisms. The area of sports science such as analysis and simulation of human swimming is newly added. The computational frameworks for the modeling, simulation and optimization of animals in swimming and flying demonstrate an important role in the progress of interdisciplinary work in the fields of biology and engineering. An innovative technology is exhibited for the flight of an insect size micro air vehicle. Neuronal science is not only unveiling the locomotion mechanisms of swimming in fish from the aspect of the neuronal activities, but also applied to underwater biomimetic robots. The interdisciplinary works are exhibited in the fields of biology and engineering, yielding real-world benefits in innovative technologies.
Biomarkers as targeted herbal drug discovery : A pharmacological approach to nanomedicines
Looks at the applications of biomarkers as important tools for herbal drug discovery, presenting research on phytoconstituents with advanced nanotechnological applications for healthcare benefits. Herbal drug discovery based on biomarkers is an emerging area in complementary and alternative medicine that has tremendous potential in healthcare. Conventional medications have limited efficacy and high toxicity, whereas herbal drugs are said to provide wide structural diversity that is not usually seen with conventional/synthetic drug molecules. Recognition of various herbal constituents, such as terpenoids, fatty acids, flavonoids and steroids, are well explored in the management and treatment of various disorders in this volume. These agents target various biomarkers such as nitric oxide (NO), cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, NF- kβ, lipoxygenase (LOX), and arachidonic acid. Reviews the literature on inflammatory biomarkers in the treatment of diseases Looks at the development of herbal drug discovery based on biomarkers Explores emerging concepts of nanomedicines for herbal drug delivery Takes an interdisciplinary approach, with application to disciplines related to medical, pharmaceutical, biotechnological, Ayurvedic, Unani and biomedical engineering fields
Biological processes associated with impact events
The biological effects of asteroid and comet impacts have been widely viewed as primarily destructive. The role of an impactor in the K/T boundary extinctions has had a particularly important influence on thinking concerning the role of impacts in ecological and biological changes. th During the 10 and final workshop of the ESF IMPACT program during March 2003, we sought to investigate the wider aspects of the involvement of impact events in biological processes, including the beneficial role of these events from the prebiotic through to the ecosystem level. The ESF IMPACT programme (1998-2003) was an interdisciplinary effort that is aimed at understanding impact processes and their effects on the Earth environment, including environmental, geological and biological changes.
Biological Invasions Belowground : Earthworms as Invasive Species
he most conspicuous biological invasions in terrestrial ecosystems have been by exotic plants, insects and vertebrates. Less conspicuous but possibly of equal importance are invasions by soil invertebrates, which are occurring literally beneath our feet. Familiar examples include the South American fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) which has invaded North America and Australia, and the New Zealand flatworm (Arthurdendyus triangulatus) which has become wide-spread in the United Kingdom; both have caused considerable ecological and economic damage. There is now evidence that exotic earthworm invasions are increasing world-wide and may be having significant impacts on soil processes and plant communities in some regions. Much remains to be learned about these ‘cryptic’ biological invasions. The papers in this book are based on efforts by an international group of soil ecologists to assess the biological and ecological mechanisms of earthworm invasions, their geographic extent and impacts on terrestrial ecosystems, and possible means by which earthworm invasions might be mitigated.
Bio-inspired credit risk analysis : Computational intelligence with support vector machines
Credit risk analysis is one of the most important topics in the field of financial risk management. Due to recent financial crises and regulatory concern of Basel II, credit risk analysis has been the major focus of financial and banking industry. Especially for some credit-granting institutions such as commercial banks and credit companies, the ability to discriminate good customers from bad ones is crucial. The need for reliable quantitative models that predict defaults accurately is imperative so that the interested parties can take either preventive or corrective action. Hence credit risk analysis becomes very important for sustainability and profit of enterprises. In such backgrounds, this book tries to integrate recent emerging support vector machines and other computational intelligence techniques that replicate the principles of bio-inspired information processing to create some innovative methodologies for credit risk analysis and to provide decision support information for interested parties.



















