This book focuses on the design, development, and characterization of a compact magnetic laser scanner for microsurgical applications. In addition, it proposes a laser incision depth controller to be used in soft tissue microsurgeries. The use of laser scanners in soft tissue microsurgery results in high quality ablations with minimal thermal damage to surrounding tissue. However, current scanner technologies for microsurgery are limited to free-beam lasers, which require direct line-of-sight to the surgical site, from outside the patient. Developing compact laser micromanipulation systems is crucial to introducing laser-scanning capabilities in hard-to-reach surgical sites, e.g., vocal cords. In this book, the design and fabrication of a magnetically actuated endoscopic laser scanner have been shown, one that introduces high-speed laser scanning for high quality, non-contact tissue ablations in narrow workspaces. Static and dynamic characterization of the system, its teleoperation through a tablet device, and its control modelling for automated trajectory executions have been shown using a fabricated and assembled prototype. Following this, the book discusses how the laser position and velocity control capabilities of the scanner can be used to design a laser incision depth controller to assist surgeons during operations.

Natural Polysaccharides in Drug Delivery and Biomedical Applications provides a fundamental overview of natural polysaccharides, their sources, extraction methodologies, and characterizations. It covers specific natural polysaccharides and their effective application in drug delivery and biomedical use. Additionally, chapters in the book discuss key topics including the sources and extraction methodologies of natural polysaccharides, their role in tissue engineering applications, polysaccharide-based nanoparticles in biomedical applications, and their role in the delivery of anticancer drugs. Written by industry leaders and edited by experts, this book emphasizes recent advances made in the field. Natural Polysaccharides in Drug Delivery and Biomedical Applications provides academics, researchers, and pharmaceutical health care professionals with a comprehensive book on polysaccharides in pharmaceutical delivery process.

Clinical and Basic Neurogastroenterology and Motility is a state-of-the-art, lucidly written, generously illustrated, landmark publication that comprehensively addresses the underlying mechanisms and management of common adult and pediatric motility disorders. These problems affect 50% of the population and include conditions such as dysphagia, achalasia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastroparesis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gas and bloating, SIBO, constipation and fecal incontinence. The book brings together international experts and clinician scientists, epitomizing their years of wisdom into a concise yet practical text that is delivered in two distinct sections, basic and clinical. It fulfills a large unmet need, and bridges a long-awaited knowledge gap among trainees, clinicians, scientists, nurses and technicians, earnestly engaged in this field.

This book provides a comprehensive guide to the state-of-the-art in cardiovascular computing and highlights novel directions and challenges in this constantly evolving multidisciplinary field. The topics covered span a wide range of methods and clinical applications of cardiovascular computing, including advanced technologies for the acquisition and analysis of signals and images, cardiovascular informatics, and mathematical and computational modeling.

Delivery of Therapeutics for Biogerontological Interventions: From Concepts to Experimental Design provides tactics on how to facilitate planning and research in interventive biogerontology. The book helps create clearer directions for the translation of existing advances in delivery technologies, from lab to practice. It is ideal as a starting point for scientists, clinicians and those interested in the field of biogerontology, biomedicine or nanotechnology, comprehensively discussing how to translate bench works to practicable tactics that retard the aging process. Using support from recent advances reported in literature, this title takes advantage of delivery technologies to develop biogerontological interventions, from concept to experimental design.

This book compiles the fundamentals, applications and viable product strategies of biomimetic lipid membranes into a single, comprehensive source. It broadens its perspective to interdisciplinary realms incorporating medicine, biology, physics, chemistry, materials science, as well as engineering and pharmacy at large. The book guides readers from membrane structure and models to biophysical chemistry and functionalization of membrane surfaces. It then takes the reader through a myriad of surface-sensitive techniques before delving into cutting-edge applications that could help inspire new research directions. With more than half the world's drugs and various toxins targeting these crucial structures, the book addresses a topic of major importance in the field of medicine, particularly biosensor design, diagnostic tool development, vaccine formulation, micro/nano-array systems, and drug screening/development. Provides fundamental knowledge on biomimetic lipid membranes; Addresses some of biomimetic membrane types, preparation methods, properties and characterization techniques; Explains state-of-art technological developments that incorporate microfluidic systems, array technologies, lab-on-a-chip-tools, biosensing, and bioprinting techniques; Describes the integration of biomimetic membranes with current top-notch tools and platforms; Examines applications in medicine, pharmaceutical industry, and environmental monitoring.

Plant endophytes are a potential source for the production of bioactive compounds that can fight against devastating diseases in both plants and humans. Among these endophytic microorganisms, endophytic fungi are one of the dominant group of microorganisms with a potential role in plant growth promotion and the discovery of noble bioactive natural products. Endophytic fungi possess several bioactivities like anticancer, antimicrobial, insecticidal, plant growth stimulants, crop protection, phytoremediation, etc. Presence of modular biosynthetic genes clusters like PKS and NRPS in several endophytic fungi underscores the need to understand and explore such organisms. This volume presents and demonstrates the applied aspects of endophytic fungi. Practical applications of such endophytes are discussed in detail, including studies in pharmaceutical development and agricultural management of important microbial diseases. The beneficial effects that endophytic fungi provide to host plants-enhancing growth, increasing fitness, strengthening tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses through secondary metabolites-are also discussed. The reader is provided with a comprehensive and detailed understanding of such relationships between endophytic fungi and their host.

Stem Cells and Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine addresses the urgent need for a compact source of information on both the cellular and biomaterial aspects of regenerative medicine. By developing a mutual understanding between three separately functioning areas of science-medicine, the latest technology, and clinical economics-the volume encourages interdisciplinary relationships that will lead to solutions for the significant challenges faced by today's regenerative medicine. Users will find sections on the homeostatic balance created by apoptosis and proliferating tissue stem cells, the naturally regenerative capacities of various tissue types, the potential regenerative benefits of iPS-generation, various differentiation protocols, and more. Written in easily accessbile language, this volume is appropriate for any professional or medical staff looking to expand their knowledge with regard to stem cells and regenerative medicine.

The Science of Hormesis in Health and Longevity provides a comprehensive review of mild stress-induced physiological hormesis and its role in the maintenance and promotion of health. Coverage includes the underlying mechanisms of hormesis, including details of stress-response signaling, an enriched environment, positive challenges and dose-response mechanisms, amongst others. Research from top experts is presented to provide suggestions for developing novel therapeutic strategies, along with lifestyle interventions to promote health and homoeostasis. Researchers in aging and physiology, gerontologists, clinicians and medical students will find this a valuable addition for their work.

Implementing Precision Medicine in Best Practices of Chronic Airway Diseases provides a comprehensive overview of the application of precision medicine in airway diseases with a goal of promoting optimal control of disease, higher patient satisfaction and disease prevention. As medical research continues to fund this area, the book highlights the need for implementation of the principles of precision medicine into the bedside management of chronic airway diseases. It is clear that chronic airway diseases are heterogeneous and that a personalized approach is warranted whereby treatment is tailored to the level of the individual patient. Written for basic researchers, medical doctors and other healthcare practitioners this book provides guidance on the implementation of the principles of precision medicine into further research and daily clinical practice.

Cancer Therapy and Diagnosis, Part A, Volume 43 in The Enzymes series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on Mesoporous silica nanoparticle synthesis, Periodic mesoporous organosilica, Nanovalves and other nanomachine-equipped nanoparticles and controlled release, Two-photon light control and photodynamic therapy, Biodegradable PMO nanoparticles, Cationic mesoporous silica and protein delivery, Drug loading, stimuli-responsive delivery and cancer treatment, Animal models and cancer therapy, siRNA delivery and TWIST shutdown for ovarian cancer treatment, and TBC (mesoporous silica nanoparticles and cancer therapy or biodistribution of MSN).

No longer confined to medical devices, medical software has become a pervasive technology giving healthcare operators access to clinical information stored in electronic health records and clinical decision support systems, supporting robot-assisted telesurgery, and providing the technology behind ambient assisted living. These systems and software must be designed, built and maintained according to strict regulations and standards to ensure that they are safe, reliable and secure. Engineering High Quality Medical Software illustrates how to exploit techniques, methodologies, development processes and existing standards to realize high-confidence medical software. After an introductory survey of the topic the book covers global regulations and standards (including EU MDD 93/42/EEC, FDA Title 21 of US CFR, ISO 13485, ISO 14971, IEC 52304, IEEE 1012 and ISO/IEC 29119), verification and validation techniques and techniques, and methodologies and engineering tasks for the development, configuration and maintenance of medical software.

Robotic animals are nowadays developed for various types of research, such as bio-inspired robotics, biomimetics and animal behavior studies. More specifically, in the case of collective animal behavior research, the robotic device can interact with animals by generating and exploiting signals relevant for social behavior. Once perceived by the animal society as conspecific, these robots can become powerful tools to study the animal behaviors, as they can at the same time monitor the changes in behavior and influence the collective choices of the animal society. In this book, we present novel robotized tools that can integrate shoals of fish in order to study their collective behaviors. We used the current state of the art on the zebrafish social behavior to define the specifications of the robots, and we performed stimuli analysis to improve their developments. Bio-inspired controllers were designed based on data extracted from experiments with zebrafish for the robots to mimic the zebrafish locomotion underwater. Experiments involving mixed groups of fish and robots qualified the robotic system to be integrated among a zebrafish shoal and to be able to influence the collective decisions of the fish. These results are very promising for the field of animal-robot interaction studies, as we showed the effect of the robots in long-duration experiments and repetitively, with the same order of response from the animals.

This book discusses the methods synthesizing various carbon materials, like graphite, carbon blacks, carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, and graphene. It also details different functionalization and modification processes used to improve the properties of these materials and composites. From a geometrical-structural point of view, it examines different properties of the composites, such as mechanical, electrical, dielectric, thermal, rheological, morphological, spectroscopic, electronic, optical, and toxic, and describes the effects of carbon types and their geometrical structure on the properties and applications of composites.

Health Data Processing: Systemic Approaches focuses on the design of health information systems and touches on the main themes of medical informatics and public health. The book is written for health professionals in practice or training, and is especially useful for decision-makers or future decision-makers in the field of health information systems. Users will find sections on the question of reusing data for other purposes, protection of individual liberties that this data and technologies make more acute, and the irruption of large masses of genetic data and its related problems. This book develops the methodological and conceptual aspects related to these issues.

Integrated Nano-Biomechanics provides an integrated look into the rapidly evolving field of nanobiomechanics. The book demystifies the processes in living organisms at the micro- and nano-scale through mechanics, using theoretical, computational and experimental means. The book develops the concept of integrating different technologies along the hierarchical structure of biological systems and clarifies biomechanical interactions among different levels for the analysis of multi-scale pathophysiological phenomena. With a focus on nano-scale processes and biomedical applications, it is shown how knowledge obtained can be utilized in a range of areas, including diagnosis and treatment of various human diseases and alternative energy production. This book is based on collaboration of researchers from a unique combination of fields, including biomechanics, computational mechanics, GPU application, electron microscopy, biology of motile micro-organisms, entomological mechanics and clinical medicine. The book will be of great interest to scientists and researchers involved in disciplines, such as micro- and nano-engineering, bionanotechnology, biomedical engineering, micro- and nano-scale fluid-mechanics (such as in MEMS devices), nanomedicine and microbiology, as well as industries such as optical devices, computer simulation, plant based energy sources and clinical diagnosis of the gastric diseases.

Stimuli Responsive Polymeric Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery Applications, Volume One: Types and Triggers discusses, in detail, the recent trends in designing biodegradable and biocompatible single-responsive polymers and nanoparticles for safe drug delivery. Focusing on the most advanced materials and technologies, evaluation methods, and advanced synthesis techniques stimuli-responsive polymers, the book is an essential reference for scientists with an interest in drug delivery vehicles. Sections focus on innovation, development and the increased global demand for biodegradable and biocompatible responsive polymers and nanoparticles for safe drug delivery.

Titanium in Medical and Dental Applications is an essential reference book for those involved in biomedical materials and advanced metals. Written by well-known experts in the field, it covers a broad array of titanium uses, including implants, instruments, devices, the manufacturing processes used to create them, their properties, corrosion resistance and various fabrication approaches. Biomedical titanium materials are a critically important part of biomaterials, especially in cases where non-metallic biomedical materials are not suited to applications, such as the case of load-bearing implants. The book also covers the use of titanium for implants in the medical and dental fields and reviews the use of titanium for medical instruments and devices.

Today, there is an intense interest for bio natural language processing (NLP) creating a need among researchers, academicians, and practitioners for a comprehensive publication of articles in this area. ""Information Retrieval in Biomedicine: Natural Language Processing for Knowledge Integration"" provides relevant theoretical frameworks and the latest empirical research findings in this area according to a linguistic granularity. As a critical mass of advanced knowledge, this book presents original applications, going beyond existing publications while opening up the road for a broader use of NLP in biomedicine.

Self-assembling biomaterials: molecular design, characterization and application in biology and medicine provides a comprehensive coverage on an emerging area of biomaterials science, spanning from conceptual designs to advanced characterization tools and applications of self-assembling biomaterials, and compiling the recent developments in the field. Molecular self-assembly, the autonomous organization of molecules, is ubiquitous in living organisms and intrinsic to biological structures and function. Not surprisingly, the exciting field of engineering artificial self-assembling biomaterials often finds inspiration in Biology. More important, materials that self-assemble speak the language of life and can be designed to seamlessly integrate with the biological environment, offering unique engineering opportunities in bionanotechnology. The book is divided in five parts, comprising design of molecular building blocks for self-assembly; exclusive features of self-assembling biomaterials; specific methods and techniques to predict, investigate and characterize self-assembly and formed assemblies; different approaches for controlling self-assembly across multiple length scales and the nano/micro/macroscopic properties of biomaterials; diverse range of applications in biomedicine, including drug delivery, theranostics, cell culture and tissue regeneration. Written by researchers working in self-assembling biomaterials, it addresses a specific need within the Biomaterials scientific community.

This volume explores how ionic liquids are used in different areas of biotechnology. It also provides insights on the interaction of ionic liquids with biomolecules and biomaterials. Ionic liquids have become essential players in the fields of synthesis, catalysis, extraction and electrochemistry, and their unique properties have opened a wide range of applications in biotechnology. Readers will discover diverse examples of the application of ionic liquids as solvents for biomaterials extraction and pretreatment, in enzymatic and whole cell catalysed reaction, and as activation agents for biocatalysis. Particular attention is given to the biologically functionalized ionic liquids employed in medical and pharmaceutical applications. Although ionic liquids are considered "green solvents", the contributing authors will also explore their environmental impact when applied to biotechnology. Chemical, biological and medical scientists interested in ionic liquids and biotechnology will find this work instructive and informative.

Inorganic Frameworks as Smart Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery brings together recent research in the area of inorganic frameworks for drug delivery. Different types of nanocarriers are presented and discussed in detail, providing an up-to-date overview on inorganic nanoparticles with pharmaceutical applications. Written by a diverse range of international academics, this book is a valuable reference resource for researchers in biomaterials, the pharmaceutical industry, and those who want to learn more about the current applications of inorganic smart nanocarriers.

Oxidants, Antioxidants and Impact of the Oxidative Status in Male Reproduction is an essential reference for fertility practitioners and research and laboratory professionals interested in learning about the role of reactive oxygen species in sperm physiology and pathology. The book focuses on unravelling the pathophysiology of oxidative stress mediated male infertility, recruiting top researchers and clinicians to contribute chapters. This collection of expertise delves into the physico-chemical aspects of oxidative stress, including a new focus on reductive stress. Furthermore, the inclusion of clinical techniques to determine oxidative stress and the OMICS of reductive oxidative stress are also included. This is a must-have reference in the area of oxidative stress and male reproductive function.

Smart Wheelchairs and Brain-Computer Interfaces: Mobile Assistive Technologies combines the fields of neuroscience, rehabilitation and robotics via contributions from experts in their field to help readers develop new mobile assistive technologies. It provides information on robotics, control algorithm design for mobile robotics systems, ultrasonic and laser sensors for measurement and trajectory planning, and is ideal for researchers in BCI. A full view of this new field is presented, giving readers the current research in the field of smart wheelchairs, potential control mechanisms and human interfaces that covers mobility, particularly powered mobility, smart wheelchairs, particularly sensors, control mechanisms, and human interfaces.

This edited volume presents fundamentals as well as applications of oculomotor methods in industrial and clinical settings. The topical spectrum covers 1.) basics and background material, 2.) methods such as recording techniques, markov models, Levy flights, pupillometry and many more, as well as 3.) a broad range of applications in clinical and industrial settings. The target audience primarily comprises research experts and practitioners, but the book may also be beneficial for graduate students.