This book is the eighth volume of the proceedings of the 4th GeoShanghai International Conference that was held on May 27 - 30, 2018. This book, entitled Ground Improvement and Geosynthetics", presents the latest information on the new technologies and practical applications in various geotechnical engineering projects and advancements on ground improvement and geosynethetics. This volume presents detailed design procedures and examples to demonstrate the applications of the latest ground improvement technologies and innovative geosynethetics in geotechnical engineering. Topics include pile/column technology as foundations, retaining structures, or embankment supports, physical and chemical technologies for soil stabilization and ground improvement, geosynthetic reinforcement for roads, slopes, retaining walls, and foundations. Each of the papers included in this book received at least two positive peer reviews. The editors would like to express their sincerest appreciation to all of the anonymous reviewers all over the world, for their diligent work.

This book is the eighth volume of the proceedings of the 4th GeoShanghai International Conference that was held on May 27 - 30, 2018. This book, entitled Ground Improvement and Geosynthetics", presents the latest information on the new technologies and practical applications in various geotechnical engineering projects and advancements on ground improvement and geosynethetics. This volume presents detailed design procedures and examples to demonstrate the applications of the latest ground improvement technologies and innovative geosynethetics in geotechnical engineering. Topics include pile/column technology as foundations, retaining structures, or embankment supports, physical and chemical technologies for soil stabilization and ground improvement, geosynthetic reinforcement for roads, slopes, retaining walls, and foundations. Each of the papers included in this book received at least two positive peer reviews. The editors would like to express their sincerest appreciation to all of the anonymous reviewers all over the world, for their diligent work.

Stem cell-based regenerative therapy has become a frontier in modern medicine. For the success of both basic research and clinical application of stem cell technology, it is essential to have noninvasive methods to monitor the delivery of transplanted stem cells, track migration/homing of stem cells to the targets, and assess survival and function of the transplanted stem cells at the targets. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represents a promising technology fitting in this necessity. So far, scientists from various disciplines around the world have done outstanding works in developing different MR techniques for in vivo imaging of stem cells, so-called cellular MRI. The aim of this book is to facilitate such translation of advanced cellular MRI techniques from laboratory benches to pre-clinical animal studies, and, ultimately, to clinical practice. The authors are from several continents around the world, with their expertise in the fields of stem cell science, biomedical engineering, medicine, pathology, medical imaging, and interventional radiology. We hope this book will provoke common interests, brainstorming and cooperation among professionals in both stem cell science and medical imaging, and bring regenerative medicine one step closer to benefiting the patients.

The rapid progress of nanoscience and the application of nanotechnology in medicine are changing the foundations of disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. At the core of nanotechnology for modern biomedical imaging and interventions, nano/microparticles offer "3-in-1" primary functions as imaging agents, target-specific probes, and target-specific therapeutic carriers. Nanoparticle-based imaging and interventions have already exhibited exciting potential in probing the bases or "roots" of diseases, such as to identify their altered molecular profiles and/or cellular characteristics prior to the appearance of visual anatomic alterations. As nanoparticle-based imaging and interventions continue to be refined and are increasingly applied to clinical practice, they will certainly have significant impact on global health care in the near future. Scientists from various disciplines around the world have already done outstanding work in developing various nanotechnology-based imaging modalities, such as molecular and cellular imaging with X-ray-based computerised tomography (CT), ultrasound, magnetic resonance (MR), optics, and nuclear medicine. However, clinical applications of these particle-based imaging techniques are still very limited. This can be attributed to a gap existing between basic science and clinical practice, where scientists have no direct access to patient care; meanwhile clinicians are extremely busy with their daily clinical practices and lack the time or means to learn such new technological evolutions. In order to bring the two parties together, a bridge needs to be built between basic science and clinical practice, as termed "translational medicine" by the US National Institute of Health (NIH). The aim of writing this book is to facilitate such translation of nanotechnology-based imaging modalities from laboratory benches to clinical practices. The authors come from several continents around the world, and are experts working in the fields of nanotechnology, material science, biomedical engineering, medicine, pathology, medical imaging, and interventional radiology. We hope this book will provoke common interest, brainstorming and co-operation among professionals in both technology and medicine, and will bring nanomedicine one step closer to improving patient care.

A Hundred Flowers Blossoming is a collection of literary essays written by faculty members of Xi'an International Studies University, China with two distinctive features. The first one is a Chinese perspective on Western literary works, which is normally not found in the scholarship in the West. The second is the feministic stance demonstrated in most articles, as most of the contributors are female. There are four parts in this collection. Part One is titled 'A Room of Her Own' and shows the feminist approach to literary works. Part Two is titled 'Through the Chinese Lens, ' as it presents a Chinese perspective in the analysis of the literary works. 'Form Is Meaning' is the title of Part Three, which approaches literary works from a structuralist perspective. Part Four includes two articles: one exploring the theme of death in Joyce's Dubliners and the other reexamining the images of Faulkner's Trio of Hunting Tales