Rainwater tank systems have been widely adopted across the world to provide a safe local source of water in underdeveloped rural areas, a substitution for mains water for non potable end uses in water stressed urban areas, as well as providing flooding control in monsoonal climates such as Korea, or combined sewer systems such as Germany. The importance of these systems in cities has grown, as water managers seek to provide a range of decentralised solutions to supply constraints of current water supply systems, whilst reducing the impact of urban development on the natural environment, and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change. Rainwater tank systems are now often implemented under integrated urban water management (IUWM) and water sensitive urban design (WSUD) philosophies, which take a holistic view of the urban water cycle. Rainwater Tank Systems for Urban Water Supply is based on a comprehensive, multi-million dollar research program that was undertaken in South East Queensland (SEQ) Australia in response to the Millennium drought when the water supply level in the regions drinking water dams dropped to 17% in July 2007 and the area came close to running out of water. In particular, the book provides insights and detailed analysis of design, modelling, implementation, operation, energy usage, economics, management, health risk, social perceptions and implications for water quality/quantity of roof water runoff. The approaches and methodologies included in Rainwater Tank Systems for Urban Water Supply inform and validate research programs, and provide insights on the expected performance and potential pitfalls of the adoption of rainwater tanks systems including: actual harvested yield and resulting mains water savings, optimal sizing for rainwater storages and roof collection systems, expected water quality and implications for managing public health risks, modelling tools available for decision support, operation and management approaches of a decentralised asset at the household scale and community acceptance. The book is suitable for use at undergraduate and post graduate levels and is of particular interest to water professionals across the globe, who are involved in the strategic water planning for a town, city or a region. It is a valuable resource for developers, civil designers, water planners, architects and plumbers seeking to implement sustainable water servicing approaches for residential, industrial and commercial developments.

This textbook on the applied aspects of soil physics covers introduction to soil physical properties and processes, and their evaluation and management in relation to plant growth. It distinguishes physical properties that directly influence plant growth from those that indirectly affect agricultural productivity. Chapters are also devoted to the concept of soil health and the role of soil physics on preservation of soil health and environmental quality. As such, this book fills a unique knowledge gap for agriculture and agronomy students, course directors as well as field professionals.

Novel drug delivery systems cover the approaches, formulation, technologies, and modes for transporting any pharmaceutical compound throughout the body to safely get the desired effect. A growing area of research is the use of herbal formulations for disease therapy. In combining these two areas of research, that of novel drug delivery systems and that of herbal formulations, the usefulness of herbs is not only proved but its future applications and effectiveness are studied. The move towards herbal-based novel drug delivery systems can benefit society in a multitude of advantageous ways. Enhancing the Therapeutic Efficacy of Herbal Formulations discusses and explores the ways of preparing herbal formulations loaded in novel drug delivery systems and the resultant improvement in efficacy of the effected drugs/herbs already available on the market. The chapters will highlight traditional and herbal formulations, the effects of novel drug delivery systems on herbal formulations, and the safe and effective preparation and effects of herbal formulations as a therapeutic intervention. This book is ideal for pharmacists, doctors, and researchers specializing in herbal therapeutics, along with practitioners, researchers, academicians, and students interested in how herbal-based novel drug delivery systems can benefit society.

Current research on health, nutrition, and preventative care will always be in demand. As the battles against ailments such as diabetes and heart disease continue, medical professionals are seeking to create a healthier society through nutrition and dietary-based tactics. Nutraceutical and Functional Foods in Disease Prevention is a comprehensive publication providing current research on the dynamic fields of pharmaceutical and biomedical science in relation to nutrition. This book examines the interactions and associations between nutritive value and its therapeutic applications in human health. Touching on topics such as the impact of probiotics in human health and disease treatment, recent trends in functional foods for obesity management, and the clinical role of antioxidants in the treatment of diseases, this title proves a valuable resource for academicians, healthcare practitioners, medical researchers, and higher education students preparing for careers as health professionals.

This book presents a timely review of the latest advances in rhizosphere biology, which have been facilitated by the application of omics tools. It includes chapters on the use of various omics tools in rhizosphere biology, focusing on understanding plant and soil microbe interactions. The role of proteomics and metagenomics in research on symbiotic association is also discussed in detail. The book also includes chapters on the use of omics tools for the isolation of functional biomolecules from rhizospheric microorganisms. The book's respective sections describe and provide detailed information on important omics tools, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and meta-epigenomics. In turn, the book promotes and describes the combined use of plant biology, microbial ecology, and soil sciences to design new research strategies and innovative methods in soil biology. Lastly, it highlights the considerable potential of the rhizosphere in terms of crop productivity, bioremediation, ecological engineering, plant nutrition and health, as well as plant adaptation to stress conditions. This book offers both a practical guide and reference source for all scientists working in soil biology, plant pathology, etc. It will also benefit students studying soil microbiology, and researchers studying rhizosphere structure.

The study of e-adoption focuses on the implementation and use of the Internet and Internet-based technologies for personal and business activities. This field has become increasingly relevant due to the increased reliance upon the Internet among individuals in both developed and developing countries. E-Adoption and Socio-Economic Impacts: Emerging Infrastructural Effects identifies the multidimensional impact of e-adoption and provides theoretical and practical solutions for policy makers, managers, and researchers in government, industry, and academia. This publication unites research on all aspects of e-adoption with the aim of understanding this phenomenon on both an organizational and individual level.

This book highlights the complexity of spinel nanoferrites, their synthesis, physio-chemical properties and prospective applications in the area of advanced electronics, microwave devices, biotechnology as well as biomedical sciences. It presents an overview of spinel nanoferrites: synthesis, properties and applications for a wide audience: from beginners and graduate-level students up to advanced specialists in both academic and industrial sectors. There are 15 chapters organized into four main sections. The first section of the book introduces the readers to spinel ferrites and their applications in advanced electronics industry including microwave devices, whereas the second section mainly focus on the synthesis strategy and their physio-chemical properties. The last sections of the book highlight the importance of this class of nanomaterials in the field of biotechnology and biomedical sector with a special chapter on water purification.

This book explores a range of important theoretical and practical issues in the field of computational network application tools, while also presenting the latest advances and innovations using intelligent technology approaches. The main focus is on detecting and diagnosing complex application performance problems so that an optimal and expected level of system service can be attained and maintained. The book discusses challenging issues like enhancing system efficiency, performance, and assurance management, and blends the concept of system modeling and optimization techniques with soft computing, neural network, and sensor network approaches. In addition, it presents certain metrics and measurements that can be translated into business value. These metrics and measurements can also help to establish an empirical performance baseline for various applications, which can be used to identify changes in system performance. By presenting various intelligent technologies, the book provides readers with compact but insightful information on several broad and rapidly growing areas in the computation network application domain. The book's twenty-two chapters examine and address current and future research topics in areas like neural networks, soft computing, nature-inspired computing, fuzzy logic and evolutionary computation, machine learning, smart security, and wireless networking, and cover a wide range of applications from pattern recognition and system modeling, to intelligent control problems and biomedical applications. The book was written to serve a broad readership, including engineers, computer scientists, management professionals, and mathematicians interested in studying tools and techniques for computational intelligence and applications for performance analysis. Featuring theoretical concepts and best practices in computational network applications, it will also be helpful for researchers, graduate and undergraduate students with an interest in the fields of soft computing, neural networks, machine learning, sensor networks, smart security, etc.

This two-volume set of IFIP AICT 617 and 618 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the IFIP WG 8.6 International Working Conference "Re-imagining Diffusion and Adoption of Information Technology and Systems: A Continuing Conversation" on Transfer and Diffusion of IT, TDIT 2020, held in Tiruchirappalli, India, in December 2020.The 86 revised full papers and 36 short papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 224 submissions. The papers focus on the re-imagination of diffusion and adoption of emerging technologies. They are organized in the following parts: Part I: artificial intelligence and autonomous systems; big data and analytics; blockchain; diffusion and adoption technology; emerging technologies in e-Governance; emerging technologies in consumer decision making and choice; fin-tech applications; healthcare information technology; and Internet of Things Part II: diffusion of information technology and disaster management; adoption of mobile and platform-based applications; smart cities and digital government; social media; and diffusion of information technology and systems

Technological innovations have become the impetus for continuous developments in medical research. With the assistance of new technologies, effective drug delivery techniques have been improved for optimal patient care. Recent Advances in Drug Delivery Technology is a pivotal reference source for the latest scholarly research on the application of pharmaceutical technology to optimize techniques for drug delivery in patients. Focusing on novel approaches in pharmaceutical science, this book is ideally designed for medical practitioners, upper-level students, scientists, and researchers.

Providing optimal care to patients is a primary concern in the healthcare field. By utilizing the latest resources and research in biomedical applications, the needs and expectations of patients can be successfully exceeded. Novel Approaches for Drug Delivery is an authoritative reference source for the latest scholarly research on emerging developments within the pharmaceutical industry, examining the current state and future directions of drug delivery systems. Highlighting therapeutic applications, predictive toxicology, and risk assessment perspectives, this book is ideally designed for medical practitioners, pharmacists, graduate-level students, scientists, and researchers.

This two-volume set of IFIP AICT 617 and 618 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the IFIP WG 8.6 International Working Conference "Re-imagining Diffusion and Adoption of Information Technology and Systems: A Continuing Conversation" on Transfer and Diffusion of IT, TDIT 2020, held in Tiruchirappalli, India, in December 2020.The 86 revised full papers and 36 short papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 224 submissions. The papers focus on the re-imagination of diffusion and adoption of emerging technologies. They are organized in the following parts: Part I: artificial intelligence and autonomous systems; big data and analytics; blockchain; diffusion and adoption technology; emerging technologies in e-Governance; emerging technologies in consumer decision making and choice; fin-tech applications; healthcare information technology; and Internet of Things Part II: information technology and disaster management; adoption of mobile and platform-based applications; smart cities and digital government; social media; and diffusion of information technology and systems

This book covers broad areas in the conservation of microorganisms. It addresses the short, medium and long-term preservation of agriculturally important microorganisms, as well as culture collections and their roles. The respective chapters address topics such as conventional approaches to bacterial, fungal and algal preservation, as well as methods and strategies for preserving recalcitrant microorganisms. Readers will also find the latest insights into the preservation of vesicular-arbuscular (VA) fungi and ecology, diversity and conservation of endophytes, and entamopathogenic fungi. Microbes of animal and dairy origin, their preservation and biosafety issues are also explored. Microorganisms are the silent and unseen majority of life on Earth, and are characterized by a high degree of genetic and metabolic diversity. It is well documented that no branch of science or society is unaffected by microbial interventions. Researchers have documented microorganisms from such extreme and unique environments as deserts and hydrothermal vents, and with specific traits that are currently being exploited in agriculture, industry, medicine and biotechnological applications. Such great potential can only be found in microorganisms. The aim of this book - the first entirely devoted to the conservation of microorganisms, and to regulatory mechanisms for access and benefits sharing as per Biological Diversity (BD) Act 2002 - is to promote awareness of our world's microbial wealth, and to introduce readers to strategies and methodologies for the conservation of microorganisms, which could ultimately save human life on Earth.

The Internet has become a new organization tool for innovation, creativity, and competitiveness of all business, educational, and governmental services. With the emergence of new social media networks, organizations are better able to decrease costs and increase capabilities which continue to change the lifestyles and businesses. Adoption of Virtual Technologies for Business, Educational, and Governmental Advancements provides a wide range of coverage on the adoption of technology and aims to provide a better understanding of the topics, research, and discoveries in this significant field. This book aims to cover the emerging issues in e-adoption for researchers, faculty members, and students in hopes of contributing to future discoveries.

This book presents a key solution for current and future technological issues, adopting an integrated system approach with a combination of software engineering applications. Focusing on how software dominates and influences the performance, reliability, maintainability and availability of complex integrated systems, it proposes a comprehensive method of improving the entire process. The book provides numerous qualitative and quantitative analyses and examples of varied systems to help readers understand and interpret the derived results and outcomes. In addition, it examines and reviews foundational work associated with decision and control systems for information systems, to inspire researchers and industry professionals to develop new and integrated foundations, theories, principles, and tools for information systems. It also offers guidance and suggests best practices for the research community and practitioners alike. The book's twenty-two chapters examine and address current and future research topics in areas like vulnerability analysis, secured software requirements analysis, progressive models for planning and enhancing system efficiency, cloud computing, healthcare management, and integrating data-information-knowledge in decision-making. As such it enables organizations to adopt integrated approaches to system and software engineering, helping them implement technological advances and drive performance. This in turn provides actionable insights on each and every technical and managerial level so that timely action-based decisions can be taken to maintain a competitive edge. Featuring conceptual work and best practices in integrated systems and software engineering applications, this book is also a valuable resource for all researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, and management professionals with an interest in the fields of e-commerce, cloud computing, software engineering, software & system security and analysis, data-information-knowledge systems and integrated systems.

The adoption of technology has provided opportunities for increased participation in global affairs both at an individual and organizational level. As a discipline, e-adoption focuses on the requirements, policies, and implications of widespread technology use in developed and developing countries. E-Adoption and Technologies for Empowering Developing Countries: Global Advances reviews the impact technology has had on individuals and organizations whose access to media and resources is otherwise limited. With overviews of topics including electronic voting, electronic delivery systems, social Web applications, and online educational environments, this reference work provides a foundation for understanding the interplay between technology and societal growth and development.

This book presents a detailed discussion on the direct interactions of plants and microorganisms in the rhizosphere environment. It includes fifteen chapters, each focusing on a specific component of plant-microbe interactions, such as the influence of plants on the root microbiome, and the downstream effects of rhizosphere microbial dynamics on carbon and nutrient fluxes in the surroundings. As such, the book helps readers gain a better understanding of diversity above the ground, and its effect on the microbiome and its functionality.

This book compiles the latest research in the area of Trichoderma Rhizosphere Biology. It covers topics such as microbial interaction, crosstalk between plants and microbes, interactions with abiotic and biotic factors, and advances in biocontrol agents, biofertilizers and biostimulants. The respective chapters describe innovative ways of adapting fungal communities to improve their survival in highly dynamic environments and agroecosystems. In closing, the book discusses the use of Trichoderma as a bio-growth enhancer and biostimulant for organic agriculture.

This volume provides an overview of recent developments and scope in the use of flow chemistry in relevance to heterocyclic synthesis. The heterocyclic ring is the most prominent structural motif in the vast majority of natural products as well as pharmaceutical compounds since this facilitates tuneable interactions with the biological target besides conferring a degree of structural and metabolic stability. In recent times, flow chemistry has heralded a paradigm shift in organic synthesis as it offers several unique advantages over conventional methods like drastic acceleration of sluggish transformations, enhanced yields, cleaner reactions etc and is gradually gaining a lot of attention among organic chemist worldwide. Given the importance of heterocycles in natural products, medicinal chemistry and pharmaceuticals, this is a well warranted volume and complements the previous volume of Topics in Organometallic Chemistry 'Organometallic Flow Chemistry'. This volume offers a versatile overview of the topic, besides discussing the recent progress in the flourishing area of flow chemistry in relevance to heterocyclic chemistry; it will also help researchers to better understand the chemistry behind these reactions. This in turn provides a platform for future innovations towards the designing of novel transformations under continuous flow. Thus, this volume will appeal to both the novices in this field as well as to experts in academia and industry.

Over the past 50 years the volume of wastewater has grown exponentially as a result of the increasing world population and the expansion of industrial developments. Researchers all over the world have been trying to address this issue suitably in order to fight water scarcity; yet, it is only recently that wastewater recycling has caught their attention as an effective and responsible solution.
Wastewater is a resource that can be adequately treated to successfully satisfy most water demands as well as decreasing wastewater discharges and preventing pollution. This book presents the studies of some of the most prestigious international scientists and gathers them in three different sections: Wastewater Management and Reuse, Wastewater Treatment options and Risk Assessment. The result is an insightful analysis of waste water management, its treatments, and the processes that have been studied, optimized and developed so far to sustain our environment.
"Wastewater Reuse and Management" represents a valuable resource to academic researchers, students, institutions, environmentalists, and anyone interested in environmental policies aimed at safeguarding both the quality and the quantity of water."

The current state of the art of several aspects of minerals and petroleum is presented in this volume. It documents the proceedings of the Internationl symposium on Particle Technology and Surface Phenomena in Minerals and Petroleum sponsored by the Fine Particle Society (FPS). This meeting was held in San Diego, California, August 21-25, 1990. The symposium upon which this volume is based was organized in five sessions emphasizing various basic and applied aspects of research on minerals and petroleum technology. Major topics discussed involve surface phenomena in minerals, mineral flotation, characterization of aspaltenes, theoretical aspects of reservoir simulation, porosity, permeability, residual water saturation, hydrocarbon and gas potential in north slope Alaska, polymer/alkaline flooding, surfactant flooding and foam flooding for enhanced oil recovery. This edition includes eighteen selected papers presented in the symposium. These papers are divided in four broad categories: (1) Asphaltene Aggregation and Characterization, (2) Theoretical Aspects and Reservoir Characterization, (3) Colloidal Dispersions in Minerals/Petroleum, and (4) Surface Phenomena and Petroleum Recovery. Several mineral and oil recovery processes using various chemicals with special reference to surface phenomena and particle technology are described in these sections.