eHealth Applications: Promising Strategies for Behavior Change provides an overview of technological applications in contemporary health communication research, exploring the history and current uses of eHealth applications in disease prevention and management. This volume focuses on the use of these technology-based interventions for public health promotion and explores the rapid growth of an innovative interdisciplinary field.

The chapters in this work discuss key eHealth applications by presenting research examining a variety of technology-based applications. Authors Seth M. Noar and Nancy Grant Harrington summarize the latest in eHealth research, including a range of computer, Internet, and mobile applications, and offer observations and reflections on this growing area, such as dissemination of programs and future directions for the study of interactive health communication and eHealth.

Providing a timely and comprehensive review of current tools for health communication, eHealth Applications is a must-read for scholars, students, and researchers in health communication, public health, and health education.

Stem cell research and technology represent a major challenge for treating otherwise noncurable patients. A decade of intensive research has demonstrated that initial hopes based more on the will to succeed than on solid scientific bases can be translated into factual techniques only by adopting more rigorous procedures and strategies. Among other major impediments, the failure so far experienced in applying stem cell technologies to repair parenchymal organs can be ascribed to the lack of sufficient knowledge of basic mechanisms, but also to the lack of standardized criteria and protocols. Very often each laboratory follows its own "recipe" using erratic nomenclature and non-comparable, if not confusing, experimental protocols. All this makes it difficult to learn from the others and, ultimately, hampers the advance of knowledge on stem cell behavior. The ambitious goal of Adult Stem Cell Standardization is to gather the most innovative and scientifically robust knowledge and technologies on stem cells and involve investigators from academy and industry in formulating recommendations to standardize the isolation and manipulation of stem cells using solid and well-documented knowledge rather than fragmentary and often unrepeatable experimental reports.

Written specifically for biotechnology scientists, engineers, and quality professionals, this book describes and demonstrates the proper application of statistical methods throughout Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC). Filled with case studies, examples, and easy-to-follow explanations of how to perform statistics in modern software, it is the first book on CMC statistics written primarily for practitioners. While statisticians will also benefit from this book, it is written particularly for industry professionals who don’t have access to a CMC statistician or who want to be more independent in the design and analysis of their experiments. Provides an introduction to the statistical concepts important in the biotechnology industry Focuses on concepts with theoretical details kept to a minimum Includes lots of real examples and case studies to illustrate the methods Uses JMP software for implementation of the methods Offers a text suitable for scientists in the industry with some quantitative training Written and edited by seasoned veterans of the biotechnology industry, this book will prove useful to a wide variety of biotechnology professionals. The book brings together individual chapters that showcase the use of statistics in the most salient areas of CMC.

A reflection of the explosion of research and development in this field, OMICS: Biomedical Perspectives and Applications explores applications of omics in bioinformatics, cancer research and therapy, diabetes research, plant science, molecular biology, and neurosciences. A select editorial panel of experts discusses their cutting edge omics research and novel technologies, supplying a basic platform of methods and applications and a resource for enhanced cross-pollination in a multiomics approach to future endeavors in the fertile fields of omics research.

After an introduction on the omics universe, the book presents modern omics and its applications in nanotechnology, genomics, proteomics, metagenomics, toxicogenomics, immunomics, nutrigenomics, diabetes, neurology, cardiology, and cancer to name just a few. The book begins with an overview of omics and omic technologies such as cellomics, glycomics, and lipidomics. It also discusses bioinformatics, demonstrating how it can be a tool in omics, and examines the various approaches of omics technology in toxicology research and applications in biomedical sciences.

While there are a long list of omics books available, most focus narrowly on one area. Presenting a wide view of the current status of integrative omics, this resource contains complete coverage of omics in research and therapy, ranging from neuroscience to cardiology. It collates recent developments in the field into a state-of-the-art framework for this discipline.

From screening and diagnosis to prevention and treatment, every aspect of gastrointestinal endoscopy as a therapeutic measure is addressed in this volume. The authors are recognized authorities in this field, and in Therapeutic Gastrointestinal Endoscopy they present a problem-oriented, evidence-based textbook. In each chapter, it cites the key medical literature that can be studied for further reference. The book uses dozens of figures, photographs and illustrations to address the key issues of assessment, diagnosis and options for treatment. The authors present cohesive arguments for the preferred chosen management regime.

Healthcare sensor networks (HSNs) now offer the possibility to continuously monitor human activity and physiological signals in a mobile environment. Such sensor networks may be able to reduce the strain on the present healthcare workforce by providing new autonomous monitoring services ranging from simple user-reminder systems to more advanced monitoring agents for preventive, diagnostic, and rehabilitative purposes. Potential services include reminding people to take their medication, providing early warning for the onset of heart attacks or epileptic seizures, and monitoring a child's physical activity in order to assess their growth and mental development. Healthcare Sensor Networks: Challenges Toward Practical Implementation discusses the fundamental concepts in designing and building such networks. It presents the latest developments in HSNs, explores applications of the technology, and provides insights into practical design and deployment challenges. Bringing together contributions from international experts in the field, the book highlights the key areas that require further research for HSNs to become a technological and commercially viable reality. The first part of the book concentrates on the engineering challenges, covering new biosensors, energy harvesting techniques, new wireless communication methods, and novel security approaches. Building from single sensing devices to networked sensing systems, the second part of the book looks at various health applications of HSNs. It addresses the human-centric requirements that should be considered in the design of HSN technologies-cost, portability, functionality, and user acceptance-and demonstrates how engineering compromises must be made in HSN solutions. A useful and timely resource for researchers, postgraduate students, and engineers looking for innovative solutions in healthcare, this book will also be of interest to medical and allied he

Cardiology Science and Technology comprehensively deals with the science and biomedical engineering formulations of cardiology. As a textbook, it addresses the teaching, research, and clinical aspects of cardiovascular medical engineering and computational cardiology. The books consists of two sections. The first section deals with left ventricular (LV) wall stress, cardiac contractility, ventricular remodeling, active wall stress and systolic pressure generation, and vector cardiogram characteristics, with applications in cardiology. The second section covers ECG signal analysis for arrhythmias detection, LV pumping (intra-LV, aortic and coronary flow) characteristics, and coronary bypass surgery design, with applications in cardiology and cardiac surgery. This book is like an exciting train ride through the heart and into blood flows within its chamber, the coronary tree, the aorta, and finally into coronary flow and bypass grafting. The train starts from the heart's central station and journeys through exciting places of heart wall stresses, cardiac contractility measures to characterize heart failure, and active stress generation to develop systolic heart pressure. We learn about cardiomyopathic heart remodeling and its surgical ventricular restoration, theory of ECG and vector cardiogram with medical applications, and heart rate variability signal processing to detect cardiac arrhythmias. In the heart chamber, we witness the amazing intricate intra-ventricular flow patterns. Then, we study pressure pulse wave propagation into the aorta, determination of pulse wave velocity and arterial elasticity as a measure of arteriosclerosis. We climb into the mountainous coronary terrain and look at the fascinating scenery of coronary flows and myocardial perfusion that governs cardiac contractility. Finally, we arrive at coronary bypass grafting and witness the new sequential anastomosis design for enhanced patency.

The entire scope of the BioMEMS field-at your fingertipsHelping to educate the new generation of engineers and biologists, Introduction to BioMEMS explains how certain problems in biology and medicine benefit from and often require the miniaturization of devices. The book covers the whole breadth of this dynamic field, including classical microfabrication, microfluidics, tissue engineering, cell-based and noncell-based devices, and implantable systems. It focuses on high-impact, creative work encompassing all the scales of life-from biomolecules to cells, tissues, and organisms. Brilliant color presentationAvoiding the overwhelming details found in many engineering and physics texts, this groundbreaking book-in color throughout-includes only the most essential formulas as well as many noncalculation-based exercises. Important terms are highlighted in bold and defined in a glossary. The text contains more than 400 color figures, most of which are from the original researchers. Coverage of both historical perspectives and the latest developmentsDeveloped from the author's long-running course, this classroom-tested text gives readers a vivid picture of how the field has grown by presenting historical perspectives and a timeline of seminal discoveries. It also describes numerous state-of-the-art biomedical applications that benefit from "going small," including devices that record the electrical activity of brain cells, measure the diffusion of molecules in microfluidic channels, and allow for high-throughput studies of gene expression.

Polymers have emerged as one of the most innovative classes of materials in modern materials science, leading to new applications in medicine and pharmacy. This book offers a convincing and understandable approach to polymer biomaterial devices being used in various areas related to biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. The polymer materials finding application as biomaterials are discussed and described in detail pertaining to the areas of artificial implants, orthopedics, ocular devices, dental implants, drug delivery systems, burns and wounds.

Red blood cells in humans-and most other mammals-have a tendency to form aggregates with a characteristic face-to-face morphology, similar to a stack of coins. Known as rouleaux, these aggregates are a normally occurring phenomenon and have a major impact on blood rheology. What is the underlying mechanism that produces this pattern? Does this really happen in blood circulation? And do these rouleaux formations have a useful function? The first book to offer a comprehensive review of the subject, Red Blood Cell Aggregation tackles these and other questions related to red blood cell (RBC) aggregates. The book covers basic, clinical, and physiological aspects of this important biophysical phenomenon and integrates these areas with concepts in bioengineering. It brings together state-of-the-art research on the determinants, mechanisms, and measurement and effects of RBC aggregation as well as on variations and comparative aspects. After an introductory overview, the book outlines factors and conditions that affect RBC aggregation. It presents the two hypotheses-the bridging model and the depletion model-that provide potential mechanisms for the adhesive forces that lead to the regular packing of the cells in rouleaux formations. The book also reviews the methods used to quantify RBC aggregation in vitro, focusing on their importance in clinical practice. Chapters discuss the effect of RBC aggregation on the in vitro rheology of blood as well as on tube flow. The book also looks at what happens in the circulation when red blood cells aggregate and examines variations due to physiological and pathophysiological challenges. The concluding chapter explores the formation of red blood cell aggregates in other mammals. Written by leading researchers in the field, this is an invaluable resource for basic science, medical, and clinical researchers; graduate stu

The application of Biotechnology dates back to the early era of civilization, when people first started to cultivate food crops. While the early applications are certainly still relevant, modern biotechnology is primarily associated with molecular biology, cloning and genetic engineering not only to increase the yield and to improve the quality of the crop but also its potential impact has touched upon virtually all domains of human interactions. Within the last 50 years, several key scientific discoveries revolutionized the biological sciences that facilitated the rapid growth of the biotechnology industry. 'Biotechnology and Biological Sciences III' contains the contributions presented at the 3rd International Conference on Biotechnology and Biological Sciences (BIOSPECTRUM 2019, Kolkata, India, 8-10 August 2019). The papers discuss various aspects of Biotechnology such as: microbial biotechnology, bioinformatics and drug designing, innovations in pharmaceutical industries and food processing industries, bioremediation, nano-biotechnology, and molecular-genetics, and will be of interest to academics and professionals involved or interested in these subject areas.

Together, the nano explosion and the genomic revolution are ushering in a new frontier in drug delivery. In recent years we've seen how polymers can play a crucial role in controlling the rate of drug release, enhancing solubility and uptake, and limiting degradation and toxicity. In the very near future, they may well be used to deliver gene therapy. While Polymers in Drug Delivery offers much new insight for the veteran specialist, this work has been compiled with the non-specialist in mind. It includes contributions from many of the world's leading drug delivery specialists, yet avoids jargon and presents background information that initiates the next generation of scientists into the amazing work going on at the frontiers of this rapidly evolving science. Targeting specific issues at the forefront of drug delivery today, this engaging volume- * Outlines the issues that must be considered when selecting a polymer for fabricating a drug delivery agent or other medical devices * Explains the more commonly used methods by which polymers may be characterized prior to use * Profiles polymer matrices that have been used in the formulation of solid oral dosage forms, drug delivery scaffolds, and hydrogels * Examines the issues surrounding the encapsulation of biologics within microspheres * Explores the use of nanoparticulates, especially solid nanoparticles and nanocapsules prepared from largely-water-insoluble cyanoacrylate polymers * Discusses polymeric micelles and investigates the potential of soluble polymer prodrugs and polymer nanomedicines * Details the contribution made by polymers and dendrimers to the gene delivery effort, which may one day lead to effective treatments for largely incurable diseases Noting a dramatic paradigm shift that is bridging the gap between materials science and life science, the editor's have compiled this volume to paint an interdisciplinary portrait of drug delivery that will challenge young scientists to turn their attention and effort towards this critical branch of biomedicine. Containing state-of-the-art information for drug delivery scientists, it is also a great choice for medical and pharmaceutical students and others seeking an in-depth introduction to the field.

Colloidal systems occur everywhere in soils, seawater, foodstuff, pharmaceuticals, paints, blood, biological cells, and microorganisms. Colloids and Interfaces in Life Sciences and Bionanotechnology, Second Edition, gives a concise treatment of physicochemical principles determining interrelated colloidal and interfacial phenomena.

New in the Second Edition

• New topics, including phase separations in polymer systems, electrokinetics of charged permeable surface coatings, and polymer brush coatings to control adsorption and adhesion of particles
• Emphasis on inter-particle interactions and surface phenomena in (bio)nanotechnology
• More than 100 new or updated exercises
• Full solutions to the exercises are presented in the Appendix

Focusing on physicochemical concepts that form the basis of understanding colloidal and interfacial phenomena rather than on experimental methods and techniques this book is an excellent primer for students and scientists interested in colloidal and interfacial phenomena, their mutual relations and connections, and the fascinating role they play in natural and man-made systems.

From the discovery of x-rays in 1895 through the emergence of computed tomography (CT) in the 1970s and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the 1980s, non-invasive imaging has revolutionized the practice of medicine. While these technologies have thoroughly penetrated clinical practice, scientists continue to develop novel approaches that promise to push imaging into entirely new clinical realms, while addressing the issues of dose, sensitivity, or specificity that limit existing imaging approaches. Emerging Imaging Technologies in Medicine surveys a number of emerging technologies that have the promise to find routine clinical use in the near- (less than five years), mid- (five to ten years) and long-term (more than ten years) time frames. Each chapter provides a detailed discussion of the associated physics and technology, and addresses improvements in terms of dose, sensitivity, and specificity, which are limitations of current imaging approaches. In particular, the book focuses on modalities with clinical potential rather than those likely to have an impact mainly in preclinical animal imaging. The last ten years have been a period of fervent creativity and progress in imaging technology, with improvements in computational power, nanofabrication, and laser and detector technology leading to major new developments in phase-contrast imaging, photoacoustic imaging, and optical imaging.

Highly recommended by CHOICE, Oct 2018 Extremophiles are nature's ultimate survivors, thriving in environments ranging from the frozen Antarctic to abyssal hot hydrothermal vents. Their lifeforms span bacteria to fishes, and are categorized as halophiles from hypersaline environments, acidophiles from acidic waters, psychrophiles from cold habitats, and thermophiles from warm waters. Extremophiles: From Biology to Biotechnology comprehensively covers the basic biology, physiology, habitats, secondary metabolites for bioprospecting, and biotechnology of these extreme survivors. The chapters focus on the novel genetic and biochemical traits that lend these organisms to biotechnological applications. Couples studies of marine extremophile biology/genomics and extremophile culture for biotechnological applications with the latest advances in bio-prospecting and bio-product development Includes practical experiments that a laboratory can use to replicate extreme habitats for research purposes Presents latest advances in extremophile genomics to give the reader a better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of extremophiles Offers insights into the production of commercially important extremozymes, carotenoids, bioactive compounds and secondary metabolites of medicinal value. This unique guide serves as a resource for biotechnologists who wish to explore extremophiles for their commercial potential, as well as a valuable reference for teaching undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students.

Informatics in Medical Imaging provides a comprehensive survey of the field of medical imaging informatics. In addition to radiology, it also addresses other specialties such as pathology, cardiology, dermatology, and surgery, which have adopted the use of digital images. The book discusses basic imaging informatics protocols, picture archiving and communication systems, and the electronic medical record. It details key instrumentation and data mining technologies used in medical imaging informatics as well as practical operational issues, such as procurement, maintenance, teleradiology, and ethics. Highlights Introduces the basic ideas of imaging informatics, the terms used, and how data are represented and transmitted Emphasizes the fundamental communication paradigms: HL7, DICOM, and IHE Describes information systems that are typically used within imaging departments: orders and result systems, acquisition systems, reporting systems, archives, and information-display systems Outlines the principal components of modern computing, networks, and storage systems Covers the technology and principles of display and acquisition detectors, and rounds out with a discussion of other key computer technologies Discusses procurement and maintenance issues; ethics and its relationship to government initiatives like HIPAA; and constructs beyond radiology The technologies of medical imaging and radiation therapy are so complex and computer-driven that it is difficult for physicians and technologists responsible for their clinical use to know exactly what is happening at the point of care. Medical physicists are best equipped to understand the technologies and their applications, and these individuals are assuming greater responsibilities in the clinical arena to ensure that intended care is delivered in a safe and effective manner. Built on a foundation of classic and cutting-edge research, Informatics in Medical Imaging supports and updates medical physicists functioning at the intersection of radiology and radiation.

This is a book about how global unionism was born in the maritime shipping sector. It argues that the industrial structure of shipping, and specifically the interconnected nature of shipping production chains, facilitated the globalization of union bargaining strategy, and the transnationalization of union structures for mobilizing industrial action. This, in turn, led to global collective bargaining institutions and effective union participation in global regulatory politics. This study uses a variety of source and analytical techniques, relying heavily on interviews with union official and other maritime industry people in many countries.

With a DVD of color figures, Clustering in Bioinformatics and Drug Discovery provides an expert guide on extracting the most pertinent information from pharmaceutical and biomedical data. It offers a concise overview of common and recent clustering methods used in bioinformatics and drug discovery. Setting the stage for subsequent material, the first three chapters of the book introduce statistical learning theory, exploratory data analysis, clustering algorithms, different types of data, graph theory, and various clustering forms. In the following chapters on partitional, cluster sampling, and hierarchical algorithms, the book provides readers with enough detail to obtain a basic understanding of cluster analysis for bioinformatics and drug discovery. The remaining chapters cover more advanced methods, such as hybrid and parallel algorithms, as well as details related to specific types of data, including asymmetry, ambiguity, validation measures, and visualization. This book explores the application of cluster analysis in the areas of bioinformatics and cheminformatics as they relate to drug discovery. Clarifying the use and misuse of clustering methods, it helps readers understand the relative merits of these methods and evaluate results so that useful hypotheses can be developed and tested.

The Synthetic Biology Handbook explains the major goals of the field of synthetic biology and presents the technical details of the latest advances made in achieving those goals. Offering a comprehensive overview of the current areas of focus in synthetic biology, this handbook: Explores the standardisation of classic molecular bioscience approaches Addresses the societal context and potential impacts of synthetic biology Discusses the use of legacy systems as tools for new product development Examines the design and construction of de novo cells and genetic codes Describes computational methods for designing genes and gene networks Thus, the Synthetic Biology Handbook provides an accurate sense of the scope of synthetic biology today. The handbook also affords readers with an opportunity to scrutinize the underlying science and decide for themselves what aspects of synthetic biology are most valuable to their research and practice.

Broadly tunable lasers continue to have a tremendous impact in many and diverse fields of science and technology. From a renaissance in laser spectroscopy to Bose-Einstein condensation, the one nexus is the tunable laser. Tunable Laser Applications describes the physics and architectures of widely applied tunable laser sources. Fully updated and expanded to address important advances in the science and technology, this Third Edition: Contains new chapters on tunable laser microscopy and tunable laser atomic vapor laser isotope separation Offers extended coverage of optical parametric oscillators and their application to atmospheric sensing, biomedicine, defense counter measures, microscopy, and spectroscopy Discusses exciting new applications in astronomy, defense R&D, medicine, and more Featuring fresh contributions from internationally recognized experts-including 100+ new pages and extensive reference listings-Tunable Laser Applications, Third Edition provides a timely account of the most promising tunable laser applications to date.

Minimally invasive medicine has the goal of providing health care with minimal trauma. When minimally invasive surgery is utilized, it reduces the length of hospital stays, lowers costs, lowers pain, and reduces blood loss. Other minimally invasive techniques minimize radiation exposure, tissue damage, and drug side effects. Collecting contributions from workers in various fields within the sphere of minimally invasive medical technology, this book provides essential information for those involved with researching, designing, and using minimally invasive devices and systems. It emphasizes the technology required to accomplish minimally invasive medicine. The book will be of interest to biomedical engineers, medical physicists, and health care providers who want to know the technical workings of their devices and instruments.

Microbiological matters continue to exercise considerable influence on product quality. In both the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, products of greater sophistication, along with evolving regulatory requirements, are elevating the challenges related to maintaining microbiological integrity.
Updated to reflect technological and regulatory changes, the Guide to Microbiological Control in Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, Second Edition covers thoseprincipal aspects of microbiology that arerelevant to the preformulation, formulation, manufacturing, and license application stages involved with the production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
In recognition of the diverse disciplines involved in pharmaceutical and medical device production, this work provides a brief introduction to microbiology geared towards the nonmicrobiologist. Covering good manufacturing practice in the control of contamination, the text explores quality control, the preservation of formulations, and principles of sterilization, including microbiological-specific considerations for biotechnological products and other medical devices. It also provides additional materials on package integrity and contamination risks in clean rooms.
The editors have produced a companion text, the Handbook of Microbiological Quality Control in Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices ("see reverse"), which when paired with the Guide offers a complete theoretical and practical treatment of microbiological control.
This book provides a comprehensive distillation of information concerning methodology and regulations that would otherwise remain scattered throughout the literature. It allows scientists frommany fields to address potential problems in advance and implement suitable strategies at the earliest stages of development.

This dissertation examines the cultural and educational history of central Missouri between 1820 and 1860, and in particular, the issue of master-slave relationships and how they affected education (broadly defined as the transmission of Southern culture). Although Missouri had one of the lowest slave populations during the Antebellum period, Central Missouri - or what became known as Little Dixie - had slave percentages that rivaled many regions and counties of the Deep South. However, slaves and slave owners interacted on a regular basis, which affected cultural transmission in the areas of religion, work, and community. Generally, slave owners in Little Dixie showed a pattern of paternalism in all these areas, but the slaves did not always accept their masters' paternalism, and attempted to forge a life of their own.

Fluorescence-based sensing is a significant technique used in prominent fields such as fluorescence-activated cell sorting, DNA sequencing, high-throughput screening, and clinical diagnostics. Fluorescence Sensors and Biosensors emphasizes the most recent developments and emerging technologies with the broadest impacts.

The text begins with the development of aptamers (oligoribonucleotides) and biorecognition techniques based on periplasmic binding proteins. The following chapters review the molecular beacon approach for DNA recognition, describe resonance energy transfer (FRET) in sensing, and present the use of carbonic anhydrase recognition platform for metal ion determination and imaging. The book explores the advantages of fluorophores, fluorescent labels, sensor and assay construction, metal-enhanced fluorescence, phosphorescent labels, and lab-on-a-chip applications. It also describes new anion-selective fluorescent probes used as analytes in clinical determinations.

The final chapters highlight the application of fluorescence sensing technology to several practical problems, such as the development of planar waveguide biosensors for clinical diagnostics and the adaptation of fluorescence-based sensing approaches for biochemical production by fermentation. The book also discusses the measurement of analytes, such as free zinc ions, at ultratrace levels in biological specimens. Written by internationally renowned authors in their fields, Fluorescence Sensors and Biosensors provides an up-to-date account of fluorescence-based sensors focused on practical applications in biotechnology, analytical chemistry, and biomedicine.

The microfluidic lab-on-a-chip allows scientists to conduct chemical and biochemical analysis in a miniaturized format so small that properties and effects are successfully enhanced, and processes seamlessly integrated. This microscale advantage translates into greater sensitivity, more accurate results, and better information. Microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip for Chemical and Biological Analysis and Discovery focuses on all aspects of the microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technologies and offers an overview of the available technology, its limitations, and its breakthroughs over the years. It emphasizes analytical applications of microfluidic technology and offers in-depth coverage of micromachining methods, microfluidic operations, chemical separations, sample preparation and injection methods, detection technology, and various chemical and biological analyses. Other topics of interest include the use of polymeric chips, fluid flow valve and control, single-cell analysis, DNA and RNA amplification techniques, DNA hybridization, immunoassays and enzymatic assays. Originally conceived as a single chapter published in Ewing's Analytical Instrumentation, this book is a gateway to the vast literature and conference proceedings on the topic. Microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip for Chemical and Biological Analysis and Discovery expands upon its roots to present a comprehensive treatment of microfluidic lab-on-a-chip methods and applications for novices and advanced researchers alike.