With the ever-increasing usage of distance learning programs in academia, the need for well-designed automated systems has become vital to the success of open and distance education. Practical solutions should be discovered and disseminated to meet the software needs of instructors, academic researchers, and software engineers.System and Technology Advancements in Distance Learning meets this need, outlining computational methods, algorithms, implemented prototype systems, and applications of open and distance learning. It is targeted toward academic researchers and engineers who work with distance learning programs and software systems, as well as general participants of distance education.

Special functions are mathematical functions that have established names and notations due to their importance in mathematical analysis, functional analysis, geometry, physics, or other applications. This short text gives clear descriptions and explanations of the Gamma function, the Probability Integral and its related functions, Spherical Harmonics Theory, The Bessel function, Hermite polynomials and Laguerre polynomials. Each chapter finishes with a description of how the function is most commonly applied and a set of examples for the student to work through.

Intensified agrarian and industrial activity has led to earth's soil and groundwater resources becoming polluted with hazardous materials. Bioremediation delivers a green technology using dynamics of living organisms, typically bacteria, fungi, microalgae and also plants to eliminate contaminants from ecosystem. This biological know-how is not only cost-effective compared to conventional physico-chemical approaches, but also very successful and is being employed in the field. This book focuses on important issues for several critical and common environmental pollutants, resulting in a compilation having recent updates on the bioremediation applications towards green and clean environment. This volume also describes updates on various novel approaches of bioremediation including nanotechnology, rhizomicrobiome technology, composting, metagenomics, and biosurfactants-based bioremediation. This volume is a resource for researchers, environmentalists, professionals and policy makers.

In today's world, the use of technology is growing rapidly, and people need effective solutions for their real-life problems. This book discusses smart applications of associated technologies to develop cohesive and comprehensive solutions for the betterment of humankind. It comprehensively covers the effective use of the Internet of Things (IoT), wireless sensor network, wearable sensors, body area network, cloud computing, and distributed computing methodologies. The book comprehensively covers IoT and fog computing sensor supported technologies or protocols including web of things, near-field communication, 6LoWPAN, LoRAWAN, XMPP, DDS, LwM2M, Mesh Protocol, and radio-frequency identification. The book- Discusses smart applications to develop cohesive and comprehensive solutions for real-life problems. Covers analytical descriptions with appropriate simulation and prototype models. Examines the role of IoT and fog computing technologies during global emergency situations. Discusses key technologies including cloud computing, 5G communication, big data, artificial intelligence, control systems, and wearable sensors. The text is primarily written for graduate students, and academic researchers working in diverse fields of electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, electronics and communication engineering, computer engineering, and information technology.

This book describes many novel approaches of microbial bioremediation including conventional and modern approaches, metagenomics, biosurfactants and nano-based bioremediation. Also presents up-to-date knowledge about biodegradation of solid and liquid contaminants in the rhizospheric zone by plant (rhizo)-microbiome interface. It also illustrates communication pathways based on evolving methodologies, bioinformatic tools which provides insights into the functional dynamics of bioremediation process by the host-microbiome interface. The different chapters explain the mechanism and outcomes during the process of bioremediation. The book broadly depicts the following: Advances in bioremediation through nanoremediation, rhizo-remediation, bioremediation of different ecosystems like polluted waters, industrial effluents, bioremediation of metal and organic pollutants, toxic dyes etc. The book is very useful for researchers and students in the fields of applied and environmental microbiology. It is also meant for industry experts and professionals working in the field of bioremediation and waste management.

This book focuses on the application of microorganisms in various aspects of life such as plant protection and improvement, environmental remediation, and the improvement of plant & human health. Various applications of microorganisms are examined in depth, e.g. applied microbiology in agriculture, microbes in the environment, the development of new microbial enzymes, and microbes in human health. In turn, the book shares insights into the diverse microorganisms that have been explored and exploited in the development of various applications for agricultural improvements. It also discusses the detection and exploitation of microorganisms in the diagnosis of human diseases, which offer potential holistic approaches to health. Presenting the latest information and findings on the applications of microbial biotechnology, the book offers a valuable resource.

This book addresses "phyto-microbiome mediated stress regulation". Fundamentally speaking, the microbial community's importance for the survival of plants under stress conditions has already been confirmed. This book focuses on the roles of those rhizospheric microbiomes that are advantageous to plant developmental pathways. Gathering contributions by authors with specialized expertise in plant growth and health under stress conditions, as well as opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, the book reviews the functional aspects of rhizospheric microorganisms and how they impact plant health and disease. It offers a compendium of plant and microbial interactions at the level of multitrophic interactions, and identifies gaps between future demand and present research on plant stress. In closing, the authors highlight several directions for reshaping rhizosphere microbiomes in favor of microorganisms that are beneficial to plant growth and health.