This book addresses the high performance computing of the Discrete Element Model (DEM). It is a comprehensive presentation of parallel implementation of the DEM on three popular parallel computing platforms; the multi-core PC, the GPU computer, and the cluster supercomputer. Featuring accompanying MatLab source this book helps you implement the DEM model for use with high performing technology, for particular implementation of the dynamic failure of solids, granular flow and stress wave propagation through solids.

This book introduces low-noise and low-power design techniques for phase-locked loops and their building blocks. It summarizes the noise reduction techniques for fractional-N PLL design and introduces a novel capacitive-quadrature coupling technique for multi-phase signal generation. The capacitive-coupling technique has been validated through silicon implementation and can provide low phase-noise and accurate I-Q phase matching, with low power consumption from a super low supply voltage. Readers will be enabled to pick one of the most suitable QVCO circuit structures for their own designs, without additional effort to look for the optimal circuit structure and device parameters.

This book introduces low-noise and low-power design techniques for phase-locked loops and their building blocks. It summarizes the noise reduction techniques for fractional-N PLL design and introduces a novel capacitive-quadrature coupling technique for multi-phase signal generation. The capacitive-coupling technique has been validated through silicon implementation and can provide low phase-noise and accurate I-Q phase matching, with low power consumption from a super low supply voltage. Readers will be enabled to pick one of the most suitable QVCO circuit structures for their own designs, without additional effort to look for the optimal circuit structure and device parameters.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Information Processing in Sensor Networks, IPSN 2003, held in Palo Alto, CA, USA, in April 2003. The 23 revised full papers and 21 revised poster papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 73 submissions. Among the topics addressed are wireless sensor networks, query processing, decentralized sensor platforms, distributed databases, distributed group management, sensor network design, collaborative signal processing, adhoc sensor networks, distributed algorithms, distributed sensor network control, sensor network resource management, data service middleware, random sensor networks, mobile agents, target tracking, sensor network protocols, large scale sensor networks, and multicast.

This volume explores the latest techniques used to study the field of tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs). The chapters in this book cover a wide array of topics such as deriving vascular cells from monocytes and induced pluripotent stem cells; engineering vascular grafts using various biomaterials and stem cells, stem cell-derived, or primary vascular cells; biomaterial modification by anticoagulation molecules; vascular bioengineering technologies such as 3D bioprinting; and fabrication of TEVGs with different geometry and multiphase structures. This book also features protocols for grafting and evaluation of vascular grafts in animal models, vascular imaging in animals, and the quantification of blood vessel permeability. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and practical, Vascular Tissue Engineering: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for biomedical engineers, cell biologists, vascular surgeons, doctors, and nurses.

The book details the steps taken by 11 countries across Eastern Europe and Central Asia to strengthen their HIV programs based on the findings, and highlights critical issues for the road ahead.

Very few topics in global health have been as controversial as primary health care. In this book the authors explain what it takes to reimagine primary health care in the 21st century, an era of increased rapidly changing health care needs, population expectations, availability of financial and human resources, and digital technology.

Rocks and soils can behave as discontinuous materials, both physically and mechanically, and for such discontinuous nature and behaviour there remain challenges in numerical modelling methods and techniques. Some of the main discontinuum based numerical methods, for example the distinct element method (DEM) and the discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA), are associated with geomechanics and geoengineering. Discontinuous numerical methods have been widely applied in geoengineering related to civil, mining, hydropower and petroleum engineering. There are many good examples of the use of UDEC/3DEC and DDA in design and forensic of geoengineering projects, in dams, slopes, tunnels, caverns and mines. The discontinuous numerical methods provide good tools to capture the true physical and mechanical behaviours of the geomaterials, and provide the scientific insights enabling for better engineering. Discontinuous numerical methods are indeed very much research and engineering tools of the present, and certainly more in the future. Advances in Discontinuous Numerical Methods and Applications in Geomechanics and Geoengineering is a collection of 55 technical papers presented at the 10th International Conference on Analysis of Discontinuous Deformation (ICADD-10), held 6-8 December 2011, Honolulu, USA. The papers cover a wide scope of discontinuous numerical methods from algorithms and mechanics, to modelling techniques and applications, including the key block theory, the discontinuous deformation analysis, the numerical manifold method, the distinct element method, coupled discontinuum and continuum methods, multi-scale and multi-physics in modelling, applications and case studies of engineering projects.