This thesis demonstrates a technology that enables pipetting-free high-throughput screening (HTS) on a miniaturized platform, eliminating the need for thousands of one-by-one pipetting and conventional liquid handling systems. This platform enhances accessibility to HTS and enables HTS to be used in small-to-medium scale laboratories. In addition, it allows large-scale combinatorial screening with a small number of valuable cells, such as patients' primary cancer cells. This technique will have a high impact for widespread use of HTS in the era of personalized medicine. In this thesis, the author firstly describes the need and concept of 'partipetting' for pipetting-free HTS platform. It is realized by the one-step pipetting and self-assembly of encoded drug-laden microparticles (DLPs) on the microwells. Next, the technical implementations required for the platform demonstration are described. It includes preparation of encoded DLPs, plastic chip fabrication, and realization of automated system. Lastly, screening of sequential drug combinations using this platform is demonstrated. This shows the potential of the proposed technology for various applications.

Now in its second edition, this comprehensive handbook provides a state-of-the-art overview of recent advances in drug and non-drug therapies for obesity and diabetes. It also addresses major comorbidities, covering topics such as, cardiovascular diseases, renal and neuropsychiatric disorders, appetite control and micro RNAs. Special attention is also devoted to pediatric care, including the latest recommendations for therapy and prevention. Obesity and type 2 diabetes are among the top global health-care budget concerns worldwide and impact professional practice at all levels: in hospitals, clinics and physicians' offices alike. They prominently feature in headlines, and virtually no family, community or country is exempt from their protean, deleterious consequences. Furthermore, given the multiple intersections in their pathways, they often go hand in hand. The good news is that scientific advances in all fields, including genomics, metabolomics, lipidomics and microbiomics, are increasing our understanding of these two disease areas. At the same time, artificial intelligence, machine learning, mobile health and advanced implantable and external devices are rendering prevention and management more available, safe and cost-effective. In addition, bariatric and metabolic surgery has evolved from a niche specialty to an officially endorsed option for several modalities of obesity and diabetes. This book presents the latest lifestyle, pharmacological, surgical and non-surgical treatment options, including endoscopic intervention and cell therapy. Objectively reviewing natural and artificial sweeteners and critically examining issues such as public health initiatives, government mandated taxes for unhealthy foods and environmental planning, no stone is left unturned in gathering the latest practical information. As such, the book will appeal to seasoned specialists, as well as students and healthcare professionals in training.

Smart Homes (SH) offer a promising approach to assisted living for the ageing population. Yet the main obstacle to the rapid development and deployment of Smart Home (SH) solutions essentially arises from the nature of the SH field, which is multidisciplinary and involves diverse applications and various stakeholders. Accordingly, an alternative to a one-size-fits-all approach is needed in order to advance the state of the art towards an open SH infrastructure. This book makes a valuable and critical contribution to smart assisted living research through the development of new effective, integrated, and interoperable SH solutions. It focuses on four underlying aspects: (1) Sensing and Monitoring Technologies; (2) Context Interference and Behaviour Analysis; (3) Personalisation and Adaptive Interaction, and (4) Open Smart Home and Service Infrastructures, demonstrating how fundamental theories, models and algorithms can be exploited to solve real-world problems. This comprehensive and timely book offers a unique and essential reference guide for policymakers, funding bodies, researchers, technology developers and managers, end users, carers, clinicians, healthcare service providers, educators and students, helping them adopt and implement smart assisted living systems.

This book covers the nutritional and nutraceutical profiles of a wide range of popularly consumed vegetables and nuts. The first half of the book focuses on popular vegetables, and describes how higher vegetable consumption reduces the risk of diseases ranging from diabetes to osteoporosis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases and cancer. The book also includes an interesting section on the antioxidant potential of mushrooms. In turn, the second half discusses the nutritional value of various nuts. Nuts are nutrient-dense foods with complex matrices rich in unsaturated fats, high-quality protein, fiber, minerals, tocopherols, phytosterols and phenolics. The respective chapters illustrate how the consumption of nuts could ward off chronic diseases like hypertension, cancer, inflammation, oxidative stress, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease etc. In order to effectively promote vegetable and nut consumption, it is necessary to know and understand the nutritional and nutraceutical profiles of vegetables & nuts. Given its scope, the book will be of interest to students, researchers, food scientists, olericulturists, dietitians and agricultural scientists alike. Those working in the vegetable and nut processing industries, horticultural departments and other agricultural departments will also find the comprehensive information relevant to their work.

This handbook provides a comprehensive and up-to-date survey of a wide range of developmental and clinical issues in pragmatics. Principally, the contributions to this volume deal with pragmatic competence in a native language, in a second or foreign language, and in a selection of language disorders. The topics which are covered explore questions of production and comprehension on the utterance and discourse level. Topics addressed concern the acquisition and learning, teaching and testing, assessment and treatment of various aspects of pragmatic ability, knowledge and use. These include, for example, the acquisition and development of speech acts, implicatures, irony, story-telling and interactional competence. Phenomena such as pragmatic awareness and pragmatic transfer are also addressed. The disorders considered include clinical conditions pertaining to children and to adults. Specifically, these are, among others, autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, and Alzheimer's disease.

Technology has made it possible to bridge such distinct fields as engineering and medicine, creating systems with benefits that people could have never before imagined. Intelligent Medical Technologies and Biomedical Engineering: Tools and Applications helps young researchers and developers understand the basics of the field while highlighting the various developments over the last several years. Broad in scope and comprehensive in depth, this volume serves as a base text for any project or work into the domain of medical diagnosis or other areas of medical engineering.

The seventh edition of this popular and well-established textbook offers nurses, medical students, doctors, and other health professionals a method of learning neonatology.

This groundbreaking annual review has provided nearly three decades of knowledge, insight, and research on topics critical to the field of nursing. The 33rd volume delivers the most current research on traumatic brain injury (TBI) with a focus on its implications for improving health and wellbeing. The book examines promising new interventions for individuals suffering from TBI with supporting research about their efficaciousness. Invited experts--highly respected nurse scientists working in a variety of TBI-related arenas--stress outcomes and symptom development post-TBI. The Review encompasses current military research on TBI along with animal models in TBI research. It addresses the relationship of sleep disorders to TBI-related PSTD; biomarkers related to recovery from TBI; genomics, transciptomics, and epigenomics; cerebral perfusion pressure and intracranial pressure in TBI; and an informatics system for TBI research. Also covered are TBI in pediatrics and in caregiver research. Additionally, the Review also provides a unique literature review of under-reported research. Key Topics Military Research on TBI Animal Models in TBI Research PSTD and Sleep Post-TBI Biomarkers Related to Recovery Post-TBI Genomics, Transcriptomics, and Epigenomics in TBI Research Common Data Elements and Federal Interagency Traumatic Brain Injury: Research Informatics System for TBI Research Cerebral Perfusion Pressure and Intracranial Pressure in TBI TBI in Pediatrics TBI in Caregiver Research

Exploring the Psychology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Neurogenic Communication Disorders is written for those seeking an advanced examination of these oftentimes devastating disorders. Whether the reader is a student, clinician, or a family member of the patient, this book provides current, relevant, and important information about aphasia, apraxia of speech, dysarthria, and the communication disorders associated with traumatic brain injury. This text also examines important psychological aspects of these disorders including depression, anxiety, psychosis, loss, grief, and impaired psychological defense mechanisms and coping styles which occur in many patients. This book is the culmination of more than three decades of research, teaching, and clinical management of neurogenic communication disorders. Neurogenic communication disorders are often controversial clinical entities, sometimes passionate topics of discussion, and never unimportant to students, scientists, clinicians, and family members of the patient. By bringing together the important scientific and clinical issues in one text, the reader will be stimulated, educated, and enlightened about these communication disorders which can have dramatic effects on quality of life for patients and their families.

A contemporary and vibrant Deaf culture is found within Deaf communities, including Deaf Persons of Color and those who are DeafDisabled and DeafBlind. Taking a more people-centered view, the second edition of Deaf Culture: Exploring Deaf Communities in the United States critically examines how Deaf culture fits into education, psychology, cultural studies, technology, and the arts. With the acknowledgment of signed languages all over the world as bona fide languages, the perception of Deaf people has evolved into the recognition and acceptance of a vibrant Deaf culture centered around the use of signed languages and the communities of Deaf peoples. Written by Deaf and hearing authors with extensive teaching experience and immersion in Deaf cultures and signed languages, Deaf Culture fills a niche as an introductory textbook that is more inclusive, accessible, and straightforward for those beginning their studies of the Deaf-World. New to the Second Edition * A new co-author, Topher Gonzalez Avila, MA * Two new chapters! o Chapter 7 "Deaf Communities within the Deaf Community" highlights the complex variations within this community o Chapter 10 "Deaf People and the Legal System: Education, Employment, and Criminal Justice" underscores linguistic and access rights * The remaining chapters have been significantly updated to reflect current trends and new information, such as: o Advances in technology created by Deaf people that influence and enhance their lives within various national and international societies o Greater emphasis on different perspectives within Deaf culture o Information about legal issues and recent political action by Deaf people o New information on how Deaf people are making breakthroughs in the entertainment industry o Addition of new vignettes, examples, pictures, and perspectives to enhance content interest for readers and facilitate instructor teaching. o Introduction of theories explained in a practical and reader-friendly manner to ensure understanding o An updated introduction to potential opportunities for professional and informal involvement in ASL/Deaf culture with children, youth, and adults Key Features * Strong focus on including different communities within Deaf cultures * Thought-provoking questions, illustrative vignettes, and examples * Theories introduced and explained in a practical and reader-friendly manner * PluralPlus companion website with a test bank and digital slides/presentations for instructors

This book highlights emerging trends in terahertz engineering and system technologies, mainly, devices, advanced materials, and various applications in THz technology. It includes advanced topics such as terahertz biomedical imaging, pattern recognition and tomographic reconstruction for THz biomedical imaging by use of machine learning and artificial intelligence, THz imaging radars for autonomous vehicle applications, THZ imaging system for security and surveillance. It also discusses theoretical, experimental, established and validated empirical work on these topics and the intended audience is both academic and professional.

This book covers the latest research development in heart valve biomechanics and bioengineering, with an emphasis on novel experimentation, computational simulation, and applications in heart valve bioengineering. The most current research accomplishments are covered in detail, including novel concepts in valvular viscoelasticity, fibril/molecular mechanisms of tissue behavior, fibril kinematics-based constitutive models, mechano-interaction of valvular interstitial and endothelial cells, biomechanical behavior of acellular valves and tissue engineered valves, novel bioreactor designs, biomechanics of transcatheter valves, and 3D heart valve printing. This is an ideal book for biomedical engineers, biomechanics, surgeons, clinicians, business managers in the biomedical industry, graduate and undergraduate students studying biomedical engineering, and medical students.