This book is an ensemble of six major chapters, an introduction, and a closure on modeling transport phenomena in porous media with applications. Two of the six chapters explain the underlying theories, whereas the rest focus on new applications. Porous media transport is essentially a multi-scale process. Accordingly, the related theory described in the second and third chapters covers both continuum- and meso-scale phenomena. Examining the continuum formulation imparts rigor to the empirical porous media models, while the mesoscopic model focuses on the physical processes within the pores. Porous media models are discussed in the context of a few important engineering applications. These include biomedical problems, gas hydrate reservoirs, regenerators, and fuel cells. The discussion reveals the strengths and weaknesses of existing models as well as future research directions.

This book describes how the principle of self-sufficiency can be applied to a reconfigurable modular robotic organism. It shows the design considerations for a novel REPLICATOR robotic platform, both hardware and software, featuring the behavioral characteristics of social insect colonies. Following a comprehensive overview of some of the bio-inspired techniques already available, and of the state-of-the-art in re-configurable modular robotic systems, the book presents a novel power management system with fault-tolerant energy sharing, as well as its implementation in the REPLICATOR robotic modules. In addition, the book discusses, for the first time, the concept of "artificial energy homeostasis" in the context of a modular robotic organism, and shows its verification on a custom-designed simulation framework in different dynamic power distribution and fault tolerance scenarios. This book offers an ideal reference guide for both hardware engineers and software developers involved in the design and implementation of autonomous robotic systems.

This book presents fundamental requirements, electrical specification, and parameter tradeoffs of wearable EEG acquisition circuits, especially those compatible with dry electrodes for user-friendly recordings.  The authors introduce active electrode, the most promising solution for dry electrodes-based EEG measurement. This architectural concept has been combined with various, innovative circuit design techniques to illustrate structured IC design methodologies for high performance EEG recording. This book also gives examples on the design, implementation and evaluation of three generations of active electrode ICs.

The goal of this book is to provide, in a friendly and refreshing manner, both theoretical concepts and practical techniques for the important and exciting field of Artificial Intelligence that can be directly applied to real-world healthcare problems. Healthcare - the final frontier. Lately, it seems like Pandora opened the box and evil was released into the world. Fortunately, there was one thing left in the box: hope. In recent decades, hope has been increasingly represented by Intelligent Decision Support Systems. Their continuing mission: to explore strange new diseases, to seek out new treatments and drugs, and to intelligently manage healthcare resources and patients. Hence, this book is designed for all those who wish to learn how to explore, analyze and find new solutions for the most challenging domain of all time: healthcare.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of nanotoxicity modeling and its implications for the development of novel nanomedicines. It lays out the fundamentals of nanotoxicity modeling for an array of nanomaterial systems, ranging from carbon-based nanoparticles to noble metals, metal oxides, and quantum dots. The author illustrates how molecular (classical mechanics) and atomic (quantum mechanics) modeling approaches can be applied to bolster our understanding of many important aspects of this critical nanotoxicity issue. Each chapter is organized by types of nanomaterials for practicality, making this an ideal book for senior undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers in nanotechnology, chemistry, physics, molecular biology, and computer science. It is also of interest to academic and industry professionals who work on nanodrug delivery and related biomedical applications, and aids readers in their biocompatibility assessment efforts in the coming age of nanotechnology. This book also provides a critical assessment of advanced molecular modeling and other computational techniques to nanosafety, and highlights current and future biomedical applications of nanoparticles in relation to nanosafety.

The book provides an introduction to the basics of fungi, discussing various types ranging from edible mushrooms to Neurospora - a model system for genetics and epigenetics. After addressing the classification and biodiversity of fungi, and fungi in different ecological niches, it describes the latest applications of fungi, their role in sustainable environments and in alleviating stress in plants, as well as their role in causing plant and animal diseases. Further chapters explore the advances in fungal interactions research and their implications for various systems, and discuss plant-pathogen interactions. The book also features a section on bioprospecting, and is an extremely interesting and informative read for anybody involved in the field of mycology, microbiology and biotechnology teaching and research.

The main goal of the present book is to deal with the role of nanobiotechnology in skin, soft tissue and bone infections since it is difficult to treat the infections due to the development of resistance in them against existing antibiotics. The present interdisciplinary book is very useful for a diverse group of readers including nanotechnologists, medical microbiologists, dermatologists, osteologists, biotechnologists, bioengineers. Nanotechnology in Skin, Soft-Tissue, and Bone Infections is divided into four sections: Section I- includes role of nanotechnology in skin infections such as atopic dermatitis, and nanomaterials for combating infections caused by bacteria and fungi. Section II- incorporates how nanotechnology can be used for soft-tissue infections such as diabetic foot ulcer and other wound infections; Section III- discusses about the nanomaterials in artificial scaffolds bone engineering and bone infections caused by bacteria and fungi; and also about the toxicity issues generated by the nanomaterials in general and nanoparticles in particular. The readers will be immensely enriched by the knowledge of new and emerging nanobiotechnologies in a variety of platforms.

This contributed volume provides insights into multiple applications using microbes to promote productivity in agriculture, to produce biochemicals or to respond to challenges in biomedicine. It highlights the microbial production of nanocompounds with medical functionality alongside new anti-mycobacterial strategies, and introduces plant-growth-promoting Rhizobacteria as well as the correlation between biofilm formation and crop productivity. Further, the authors illustrate the green synthesis of biochemical compounds, such as hydroxamid acid or biosurfactants, using microbial and fungal enzymes. It inspires young researchers and experienced scientists in the field of microbiology to explore the combined use of green, white and red biotechnology for industrial purposes, which will be one of the central topics for future generations.

This book gathers state-of-the-art research in computational engineering and bioengineering to facilitate knowledge exchange between various scientific communities. Computational engineering (CE) is a relatively new discipline that addresses the development and application of computational models and simulations often coupled with high-performance computing to solve complex physical problems arising in engineering analysis and design in the context of natural phenomena. Bioengineering (BE) is an important aspect of computational biology, which aims to develop and use efficient algorithms, data structures, and visualization and communication tools to model biological systems. Today, engineering approaches are essential for biologists, enabling them to analyse complex physiological processes, as well as for the pharmaceutical industry to support drug discovery and development programmes.

This book presents the latest cutting edge research, theoretical methods, and novel applications in the field of computational intelligence and computational biological approaches that are aiming to combat COVID-19. The book gives the technological key drivers behind using AI to find drugs that target the virus, shedding light on the structure of COVID-19, detecting the outbreak and spread of new diseases, spotting signs of a COVID-19 infection in medical images, monitoring how the virus and lockdown is affecting mental health, and forecasting how COVID-19 cases and deaths will spread across cities and why. Further, the book helps readers understand computational intelligence techniques combating COVID-19 in a simple and systematic way.

Fall-induced hip fracture is an epidemic health risk among elderly people. This book presents an image-based multilevel modeling approach to understanding the biomechanics involved in fall-induced hip fracture. By hierarchically integrating a body-level dynamics model, a femur-level finite element model, and a local bone failure model, the biomechanics approach is able to simulate all stages in sideways falls and to incorporate all biomechanical variables affecting hip fracture. This book is useful for clinicians to accurately evaluate fracture risk, for biomechanical engineers to virtually test hip protective devices, and for biomedical students to learn image-based biomechanical modeling techniques. This book also covers: Biomechanical viewing on bone composition, bone remodeling, and bone strength Bone imaging and information captured for constructing biomechanical models Bone mechanical testing and mechanical properties required for biomechanical modeling

This invaluable resource delineates procedures for development and use of stem cells in the laboratory and explores the potential for clinical applications. The text discusses mesenchymal stem cell isolation, isolation of adipose derived stem cells, new trends of induced pluripotent stem cells in disease treatment, cord blood banking, future directions of the discussed therapies and much more. The chapters are contributed by preeminent scientists in the field and present a comprehensive picture of stem cell processes, from development in the laboratory to effects and side-effects of clinical application. Stem Cell Processing and the other books in the Stem Cells in Clinical Applications series, edited by Dr. Phuc Van Pham, is essential reading for scientists, researchers, advanced students and clinicians working in stem cells, regenerative medicine or tissue engineering.

This book provides a unified framework for various currently available mathematical models that are used to analyze progression and regression in cancer development, and to predict its dynamics with respect to therapeutic interventions. Accurate and reliable model representations of cancer dynamics are milestones in the field of cancer research. Mathematical modeling approaches are becoming increasingly common in cancer research, as these quantitative approaches can help to validate hypotheses concerning cancer dynamics and thus elucidate the complexly interlaced mechanisms involved. Even though the related conceptual and technical information is growing at an exponential rate, the application of said information and realization of useful healthcare devices are lagging behind. In order to remedy this discrepancy, more interdisciplinary research works and course curricula need to be introduced in academic, industrial, and clinical organizations alike. To that end, this book reformulates most of the existing mathematical models as special cases of a general model, allowing readers to easily get an overall idea of cancer dynamics and its modeling. Moreover, the book will help bridge the gap between biologists and engineers, as it brings together cancer dynamics, the main steps involved in mathematical modeling, and control strategies developed for cancer management. This also allows readers in both medical and engineering fields to compare and contrast all the therapy-based models developed to date using a single source, and to identify unexplored research directions.

This book provides an insight into recent technological trends and innovations in mobility solutions and platforms to improve mobility of visually impaired people. The authors' goal is to help to contribute to the social and societal inclusion of the visually impaired. The book's topics include, but are not limited to, obstacle detection systems, indoor and outdoor navigation, transportation sustainability systems, and hardware/devices to aid visually impaired people. The book has a strong focus on practical applications, tested in a real environment. Applications include city halls, municipalities, and companies that can keep up to date with recent trends in platforms, methodologies and technologies to promote urban mobility. Also discussed are broader realms including education, health, electronics, tourism, and transportation. Contributors include a variety of researchers and practitioners around the world. Features practical, tested applications of technological mobility solutions for visual impaired people; Presents topics such as obstacle detection systems, urban mobility, smart home services, and ambient assisted living; Includes a number of application examples in education, health, electronics, tourism, and transportation.

This edited volume collects the research results presented at the 14th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv, Israel, 2016. The topical focus includes, but is not limited to, cardiovascular fluid dynamics, computer modeling of tissue engineering, skin and spine biomechanics, as well as biomedical image analysis and processing. The target audience primarily comprises research experts in the field of bioengineering, but the book may also be beneficial for graduate students alike.

This book highlights the growing applications of THz technology and various modules used for their successful realization. The enormous advantages of THz devices like higher resolution, spatial directivity, high-speed communication, greater bandwidth, non-ionizing signal nature and compactness make them useful in various applications like communication, sensing, security, safety, spectroscopy, manufacturing, bio-medical, agriculture, imaging, etc. Since the THz radiation covers frequencies from 0.1THz to around 10THz and highly attenuated by atmospheric gases, they are used in short-distance applications only. The book focuses on recent advances and different research issues in terahertz technology and presents theoretical, methodological, well-established and validated empirical works dealing with the different topics.

The articles in this book review hybrid experimental-computational methods applied to soft tissues which have been developed by worldwide specialists in the field. People developing computational models of soft tissues and organs will find solutions for calibrating the material parameters of their models; people performing tests on soft tissues will learn what to extract from the data and how to use these data for their models and people worried about the complexity of the biomechanical behavior of soft tissues will find relevant approaches to address this complexity.

This book contains mainly the selected papers of the First International Workshop on Medical and Service Robots, held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in 2012. The high quality of the scientific contributions is the result of a rigorous selection and improvement based on the participants exchange of opinions and extensive peer-review. This process has led to the publishing of the present collection of 16 independent valuable contributions and points of view and not as standard symposium or conference proceedings.

The addressed issues are: Computational Kinematics, Mechanism Design, Linkages and Manipulators, Mechanisms for Biomechanics, Mechanics of Robots, Control Issues for Mechanical Systems, Novel Designs, Teaching Methods, all of these being concentrated around robotic systems for medical and service applications.

The results are of interest to researchers and professional practitioners as well as to Ph.D. students in the field of mechanical and electrical engineering.

This volume marks the start of a subseries entitled New Trends in Medical and Service Robots within the "Machine and Mechanism Science Series," presenting recent trends, research results and new challenges in the field of medical and service robotics.

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This book describes a new family of bio-polymer gels made from cytoskeletal proteins - actin, microtubule, and tropomyosin. The importance of the gel state with multi-scale hierarchical structure is emphasized to utilize emergent functions in living organisms. Detailed protocol of gel preparation, specified method of structure investigation, and dynamic studies of self-organization, self-healing, synchronized oscillating, and autonomous motility functions are introduced together with biomimetic functions of synthetic hydrogels.

This book brings together reviews from international experts who are exploring the biological activities of nanomaterials for medical applications or to better understand nanotoxicity. Topics include but are not limited to the following: 1) mechanistic understanding of nanostructure-bioactivity relationships; 2) the regulation of nanoparticles' bioactivity by means of chemical modification; 3) the new methodologies and standard methods used to assess nanoparticles' bioactivity; 4) the mechanisms involved in nanoparticle-biomolecule interactions and nanoparticle-cell interactions; and 5) biomedical applications of nanotechnology. The book will be a valuable resource for a broad readership in various subfields of chemical science, engineering, biology, environment, and medicine.

This book contains the full papers presented at the MICCAI 2013 workshop Bio-Imaging and Visualization for Patient-Customized Simulations (MWBIVPCS 2013). MWBIVPCS 2013 brought together researchers representing several fields, such as Biomechanics, Engineering, Medicine, Mathematics, Physics and Statistic.

The contributions included in this book present and discuss new trends in those fields, using several methods and techniques, including the finite element method, similarity metrics, optimization processes, graphs, hidden Markov models, sensor calibration, fuzzy logic, data mining, cellular automation, active shape models, template matching and level sets. These serve as tools to address more efficiently different and timely applications involving signal and image acquisition, image processing and analysis, image segmentation, image registration and fusion, computer simulation, image based modelling, simulation and surgical planning, image guided robot assisted surgical and image based diagnosis.

This book will appeal to researchers, PhD students and graduate students with multidisciplinary interests related to the areas of medical imaging, image processing and analysis, computer vision, image segmentation, image registration and fusion, scientific data visualization and image based modeling and simulation.

In a normal physiological state, several bacteria are present in the human gut that is essential to maintain the normal to healthy gastrointestinal function. Disturbances in this "normal flora" lead to gut inflammation and infection. This volume explores the potential of probiotics, the healthy bacteria, to manage gut-related diseases including gastrointestinal cancers, ulcerative colitis, H. pylori infections, and diarrhea; vaginosis; oral health; airway inflammation; and atopic dermatitis. The concept of designer probiotics, edible vaccines and future scope of research in the field is also presented. The animal models used for studying the benefits of probiotics in gut inflammation are described for beginners.