This book is a collection of outstanding content written by experts working in the field of multimedia security. It provides an insight about various techniques used in multimedia security and identifies its progress in both technological and algorithmic perspectives. In the contemporary world, digitization offers an effective mechanism to process, preserve and transfer all types of information. The incredible progresses in computing and communication technologies augmented by economic feasibility have revolutionized the world. The availability of efficient algorithms together with inexpensive digital recording and storage peripherals have created a multimedia era bringing conveniences to people in sharing the digital data that includes images, audio and video. The ever-increasing pace, at which the multimedia and communication technology is growing, has also made it possible to combine, replicate and distribute the content faster and easier, thereby empowering mankind by having a wealth of information at their disposal. However, security of multimedia is giving tough time to the research community around the globe, due to ever-increasing and efficient attacks carried out on multimedia data by intruders, eves-droppers and hackers. Further, duplication, unauthorized use and mal-distribution of digital content have become a serious challenge as it leads to copyright violation and is considered to be the principal reason that refrains the information providers in freely sharing their proprietary digital content. The book is useful for students, researchers and professionals to advance their study.

The book covers a variety of topics in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and their impact on innovation and business. The authors discuss various innovations, business and industrial motivations, and impact on humans and the interplay between those factors in terms of finance, demand, and competition. Topics discussed include the convergence of Machine to Machine (M2M), Internet of Things (IoT), Social, and Big Data. They also discuss AI and its integration into technologies from machine learning, predictive analytics, security software, to intelligent agents, and many more. Contributions come from academics and professionals around the world. Covers the most recent practices in ICT related topics pertaining to technological growth, innovation, and business; Presents a survey on the most recent technological areas revolutionizing how humans communicate and interact; Features four sections: IoT, Wireless Ad Hoc & Sensor Networks, Fog Computing, and Big Data Analytics.

This book provides valuable insights into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) through a comprehensive examination of Vision 2030, an ambitious economic plan by the KSA to reinvent and diversify its economy from a heavy dependence on hydrocarbon to knowledge-based resources. Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: Vision 2030 discusses how this initiative will assist the government in achieving its envisioned goals by creating a culture of research, innovation and entrepreneurship. It studies the current state of the field as well as new policies and reforms in Saudi Arabia which encompass education systems, ICT infrastructure and a vibrant innovation landscape that includes academia, the public and private sectors and civil society. The authors present a number of real-life case studies as a model of inspiration for cross-sector development. The book provides a source of inspiration for other nations in studying the KSA's determined and ambitious plans as a country in a transitioning journey, from a natural resources-based economy towards a knowledge-based country with considerable diversification in all sectors. This book is a useful reference for students, researchers and policy and decision-makers in understanding Saudi innovation and the economic diversification ecosystem.

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in the economy and development of Pakistan providing food to consumers, raw materials to industries, and a market for industrial goods. Unfortunately, agricultural production is stagnant due to several barriers including a fixed cropping pattern, reliance on a few major crops, a narrow genetic pool, poor seed quality, and a changing climate. In addition, the high cost of production, weak phytosanitary compliance mechanisms, and a lack of cold chain facilities makes Pakistan agriculturally uncompetitive in export markets. Despite all these issues, agriculture is the primary industry in Pakistan and small farmers continue to dominate the business. Small farmers grow crops for subsistence under a fixed cropping pattern and a holistic approach is required to develop agriculture to improve the livelihoods of the rural populace. This book presents an exhaustive look at agriculture in Pakistan. Chapters provide critical analyses of present trends, inadequacies in agriculture, strategic planning, improvement programs and policies while keeping in view the natural resources, plant- and animal-related agricultural production technologies, input supplies, population planning, migration and poverty, and balanced policies on finance, credit, marketing, and trade.

Biodiesel a fuel substitute produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, or algae is one of the most important renewable natural resources for agrarian countries. The justification for developing biodiesel as an alternate fuel is manifold, and rising crude oil prices and the vulnerability of energy security have made biodiesel necessary and inevitable. The Practical Handbook on Biodiesel Production and Properties has assembled and analyzed the recent trends of biodiesel research, production, and implementation. It includes practical guidance on the identification of plant resources and their distribution, botanical description, palynology, oil extraction, production process, and biodiesel yield. The production and usage of biodiesel will strengthen the agricultural sector, provide energy to remote areas without access to conventional energy, contribute towards economic development, and increase industrial activity. Drawing on both scientific and participatory processes, this book enables the successful utilization and commercialization of biofuel technology.

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in the economy and development of Pakistan providing food to consumers, raw materials to industries, and a market for industrial goods. Unfortunately, agricultural production is stagnant due to several barriers including a fixed cropping pattern, reliance on a few major crops, a narrow genetic pool, poor seed quality, and a changing climate. In addition, the high cost of production, weak phytosanitary compliance mechanisms, and a lack of cold chain facilities makes Pakistan agriculturally uncompetitive in export markets. Despite all these issues, agriculture is the primary industry in Pakistan and small farmers continue to dominate the business. Small farmers grow crops for subsistence under a fixed cropping pattern and a holistic approach is required to develop agriculture to improve the livelihoods of the rural populace. This book presents an exhaustive look at agriculture in Pakistan. Chapters provide critical analyses of present trends, inadequacies in agriculture, strategic planning, improvement programs and policies while keeping in view the natural resources, plant- and animal-related agricultural production technologies, input supplies, population planning, migration and poverty, and balanced policies on finance, credit, marketing, and trade.

This book is a collection of outstanding content written by experts working in the field of multimedia security. It provides an insight about various techniques used in multimedia security and identifies its progress in both technological and algorithmic perspectives. In the contemporary world, digitization offers an effective mechanism to process, preserve and transfer all types of information. The incredible progresses in computing and communication technologies augmented by economic feasibility have revolutionized the world. The availability of efficient algorithms together with inexpensive digital recording and storage peripherals have created a multimedia era bringing conveniences to people in sharing the digital data that includes images, audio and video. The ever-increasing pace, at which the multimedia and communication technology is growing, has also made it possible to combine, replicate and distribute the content faster and easier, thereby empowering mankind by having a wealth of information at their disposal. However, security of multimedia is giving tough time to the research community around the globe, due to ever-increasing and efficient attacks carried out on multimedia data by intruders, eves-droppers and hackers. Further, duplication, unauthorized use and mal-distribution of digital content have become a serious challenge as it leads to copyright violation and is considered to be the principal reason that refrains the information providers in freely sharing their proprietary digital content. The book is useful for students, researchers and professionals to advance their study.

Biodiesel-a fuel substitute produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, or algae-is one of the most important renewable natural resources for agrarian countries. The justification for developing biodiesel as an alternate fuel is manifold, and rising crude oil prices and the vulnerability of energy security have made biodiesel necessary and inevitable. The Practical Handbook on Biodiesel Production and Properties has assembled and analyzed the recent trends of biodiesel research, production, and implementation. It includes practical guidance on the identification of plant resources and their distribution, botanical description, palynology, oil extraction, production process, and biodiesel yield. The production and usage of biodiesel will strengthen the agricultural sector, provide energy to remote areas without access to conventional energy, contribute towards economic development, and increase industrial activity. Drawing on both scientific and participatory processes, this book enables the successful utilization and commercialization of biofuel technology.

This book provides valuable insights into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) through a comprehensive examination of Vision 2030, an ambitious economic plan by the KSA to reinvent and diversify its economy from a heavy dependence on hydrocarbon to knowledge-based resources. Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: Vision 2030 discusses how this initiative will assist the government in achieving its envisioned goals by creating a culture of research, innovation and entrepreneurship. It studies the current state of the field as well as new policies and reforms in Saudi Arabia which encompass education systems, ICT infrastructure and a vibrant innovation landscape that includes academia, the public and private sectors and civil society. The authors present a number of real-life case studies as a model of inspiration for cross-sector development. The book provides a source of inspiration for other nations in studying the KSA's determined and ambitious plans as a country in a transitioning journey, from a natural resources-based economy towards a knowledge-based country with considerable diversification in all sectors. This book is a useful reference for students, researchers and policy and decision-makers in understanding Saudi innovation and the economic diversification ecosystem.

Computational Intelligence in Cancer Diagnosis: Progress and Challenges provides insights into the current strength and weaknesses of different applications and research findings on computational intelligence in cancer research. The book improves the exchange of ideas and coherence among various computational intelligence methods and enhances the relevance and exploitation of application areas for both experienced and novice end-users. Topics discussed include neural networks, fuzzy logic, connectionist systems, genetic algorithms, evolutionary computation, cellular automata, self-organizing systems, soft computing, fuzzy systems, and hybrid intelligent systems. The book's chapters are written by international experts from both cancer research, oncology and computational sides to cover different aspects and make it comprehensible for readers with no background on informatics.

This book introduces the most recent research and innovative developments regarding the new strains of COVID-19. While medical and natural sciences have been working instantly on deriving solutions and trying to protect humankind against such virus types, there is also a great focus on technological developments for improving the mechanism – momentum of science for effective and efficient solutions. At this point, computational intelligence is the most powerful tools for researchers to fight against COVID-19. Thanks to instant data-analyze and predictive techniques by computational intelligence, it is possible to get positive results and introduce revolutionary solutions against related medical diseases. By running capabilities – resources for rising the computational intelligence, technological fields like Artificial Intelligence (with Machine / Deep Learning), Data Mining, Applied Mathematics are essential components for processing data, recognizing patterns, modelling new techniques and improving the advantages of the computational intelligence more. Nowadays, there is a great interest in the application potentials of computational intelligence to be an effective approach for taking humankind more step away, after COVID-19 and before pandemics similar to the COVID-19 many appear.

ABSTRACT Limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is a heterogeneous genetically determined group of skeletal muscle disorders. Among the 24 reported subtypes of LGMD, limb- girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A (LGMD2A) is caused by mutations in the calpain 3 (CAPN3) gene. In Pakistan, consanguineous marriages are common due to social, ethnic and traditional customs which is a leading cause of calpainopathy. In the present study, two families (A, B) showing clinically distinct autosomal recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A were evaluated genetically. Any other abnormality was not observed in both families. Technique of homozygosity mapping was used to track the gene responsible for autosomal recessive LGMD2A in both families. In homozygosity mapping with polymorphic microsatellite markers, linkage in family A and B with LGMD2A was established to CAPN3 gene on chromosome 15q15.1-q21.1. Subsequently, sequence analysis of all 24 exons of CAPN3 was performed but no disease causing DNA sequence variant was found in these exons suggesting the presence of mutation in the regulatory sequences or any other genes present in this region.

Pakistan and Human Rights consists of a series of innovative and carefully chosen chapters by leading experts and specialists in the field of human rights law. With insightful contributions from a number of young emerging scholars, many of whom based in Pakistan itself, the volume provides a critical perspective on the legal ordering of human rights issues, at a time when the legitimacy and politics of national regulatory governance over the lives of people is in question as never before in that troubled country. into three sections.