Bentham Science Publishers

With the application of the effective stress concept, the strength and volumetric behavior of saturated materials was clearly understood. For the case of unsaturated materials, a universally accepted effective stresses equation is still under debate. However, the use of the effective stress concept to develop constitutive models for unsaturated soils is becoming increasingly popular not only because the hydro-mechanical coupling observed in these materials is implicit in the formulation but also because simpler and more precise models can be established. Towards A Unified Soil Mechanics Theory demonstrates that the same strength and volume change equations used in saturated soil mechanics can be used for the case of unsaturated soils. In other words, the constitutive models developed for saturated soils can be used for unsaturated materials once the effective stress equation has been defined.

In this book, an analytical equation for the effective stress for unsaturated soils is established. This equation requires the knowledge of the superficial area of solids affected by the capillary phenomenon. In other words, we need to know how water distributes in the pores of the soil. This distribution can be modeled using a solid-porous model built on a regular network. However the size of the network required to correctly simulate the structure of a small soil sample cannot be managed with a common PC. For that reason, a probabilistic porous-solid model is developed. This model uses the pore size distribution in the form of a probabilistic function which in addition to the Laplace equation and the principle of continuity can be expressed as the probability of a pore of certain size to be filled or dry at suction during a wetting or drying path, respectively. In this way, the soil-water retention curves can be simulated and the effective stress at any suction during wetting or drying processes can be determined. Based on this approach, it is shown that unsaturated soils behave under the same principles for strength and volumetric behavior as saturated soils.

Towards A Unified Soil Mechanics Theory paves the way for a universal theory of soil mechanics. The volume will be a valuable reference to civil engineers, earth scientists and hydrologists interested in soil mechanics at both academic and professional levels.

Pesticide control involves killing pest organisms or otherwise preventing them from destructive behavior. Pesticides are either natural or synthetic and are applied to target pests in a myriad of formulations (EC,WP, SP, FP, G etc.) and application technology systems (sprays, baits, slow-release diffusion, dust, etc.). In recent years, the bacterial genes coding for insecticidal proteins have been incorporated into various crops that dealt with the mortality of the pests feeding on them. Many other eco-friendly methods for insect pest control such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), use of bio-pesticides etc., are becoming popular. Bio-pesticides and IPM should show good growth in the future, as there is growing concern for the eco-friendly organic agriculture and could be achieved through Good Agriculture Practices (GAP).

Use of pesticides requires a proper understanding of the chemistry, their handling and their use in crop protection or hygiene. These are toxic chemicals and require a good understanding of therapy and antidotes at the time of poisoning. This e-book covers pesticide chemistry, metabolic/degradation pathways, biochemical toxicology, therapy and antidotes, nano-pesticides and terminologies associated with pesticide toxicology. The book should serve as a text book for academia, or as a reference work for agriculturists, environmentalists and industry professionals.

This book serves as a treatise on lesser known ethnic varieties of cheese made in regions ranging from Mesopotamia to Europe and America. Cheese experts from different countries including Brazil, Croatia, Iran, Macedonia, Montenegro and Turkey bring together a rich blend of information about the traditional cheese in each region. The contributors describe the chemical and microbial characteristics, production technology and artisan culture of cheese making for each local variety.

The simple and systematic presentation of the information makes this a useful reference for a wide readership interested in food, dairy technology, and gastronomy, such as producers, consumers, academics and students. The book also represents an effort to bring forth knowledge about a culinary facet of the concrete cultural heritage of local communities which can benefit tourism and sustainability programs that involve the promotion of traditional dairy products.

[Series intro]

Current Developments in Food and Nutrition Research is a reference series intended for a multidisciplinary readership (researchers, students, and general readers) interested in subjects ranging from food science and technology to nutritional biochemistry and gastronomy.

Traditional Medicine in North East Africa: Research on Traditional Healer Preparations and Herbs explores the rich tapestry of traditional healing practices in North East Africa. This comprehensive work compiles the profound knowledge of indigenous herbalists and explores the intricate relationship between traditional healing and medicinal plants.

From combating diseases like cancer and diabetes to managing snakebites and obesity-related conditions, each chapter offers a detailed examination of plant-based remedies. Highlighting the contributions of plants like Moringa oleifera and Citrullus colocynthis, this book bridges the gap between ancient wisdom and modern research, making it essential for academics, researchers, and anyone interested in the healing powers of nature. Join us on this enlightening journey as we celebrate cultural diversity and uncover the enduring legacy of traditional medicine.

Key Features:

- In-depth studies on bioactive compounds and therapeutic properties of key African plants.

- Ethnobotanical insights into traditional healer practices.

- Comprehensive reviews linking traditional plant use to modern medical applications.

The main theme of this book is to critically survey the role of two recognized protein molecules (i.e., transcription factors) in processes of human memory. In addition, authors provided recent data from their own labs and provided a perspective relevant to specific neurological diseases and potential drug targets. Historically, the transcription factor cAMP response element-binding (CREB) has been the most well documented transcription factor shown to play a role in memory. CREB has several functions, but its most notable function has to do with the formation of long-term memories. More recently, other transcription factors, such as C/EBP, Egr protein, AP-1, and NF-κB have been implicated in memory as well. Of these, scientific literature on NF-κB's theorized role in synaptic plasticity and memory is growing rapidly. Interestingly, in some recent studies CREB and NF-κB have also been shown to interact with each other where both contribute in a cooperative fashion to the initiation of gene expression.

Animal models of diseases play a pivotal role in drug discovery and development, not only for proof of the concept studies of efficacy, PK/PD relationship but also for drug safety assessment. Since considerable differences in variables exist between animal models and human models (such as genetics, physiology, anatomy, gene expression, heterogeneity of disease conditions, etc.), not all the preclinical models are able to represent the pathophysiological conditions in human diseases. Therefore, partly due to the lack of congruency between animal and human disease models, several proposed therapeutic agents in the past decades have been demonstrated to be effective in preclinical models but failed in clinical studies. This e-book focuses on animal models of diseases from a translational perspective and highlights the key advantages and limitations of each model described to facilitate drug discovery and development. A unique feature of the volume is that it contains a selection of details disease models in various therapeutic niches with significant unmet medical needs, including inflammation, neurological diseases, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and oncology.

This e-book is, therefore, of considerable value to researchers and clinicians involved in drug discovery and development as well as pathology.

This e-book presents recent advances in research in the field of particulate systems. A comprehensive background on operations involving particulate materials with a didactic approach is illustrated. Fundamentals and applications in a variety of multi-phase flow reactors are explained with a clear focus on the analysis of transport phenomena, experimental techniques and modeling. The volume spans 10 chapters covering different aspects of transport phenomena including fixed and fluidized systems, spouted beds, electrochemical and wastewater treatment reactors. This e-book will be valuable for students, engineers and researchers aiming to keep updated on the latest developments on particulate systems.

Trauma-informed care is designed to assist persons who have experienced adversity and focuses on change at the clinical and organizational level. Its goals center around prevention, intervention, and treatments that are evidence-based, encourage resilience, and enhance coping.

This textbook is designed to give a comprehensive overview of trauma-informed care to students and faculty involved in nursing care programs.

Key features:

· Explains the skill sets to assess and care for persons who have experienced trauma.

· Emphasizes key principles of trauma-informed care

· Includes the use of client-centered, person-centered, and resilience-based tools to deal with trauma

· Recommends trauma recovery from a positive psychology and post-traumatic growth perspective

· Utilizes a caring pedagogy intended to foster resilience and help offset the secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue experienced by student and practicing nurses.

· Communicates the value of fostering psychological safety, compassion satisfaction, and joy in work

· Includes narrative case studies and learning activities in all chapters to help the reader to actively engage with the subject matter.

· Presents self-care strategies to enhance physical and emotional well-being.

This reference explains hybrid-Trefftz finite element method (FEM). Readers are introduced to the basic concepts and general element formulations of the method. This is followed by topics on non-homogeneous parabolic problems, thermal analysis of composites, and heat conduction in nonlinear functionally graded materials. A brief summary of the fundamental solution based-FEM is also presented followed by a discussion on axisymmetric potential problems and the rotordynamic response of tapered composites. The book is rounded by chapters that cover the n-sided polygonal hybrid finite elements and analysis of piezoelectric materials.

Key Features

- Systematic presentation of 9 topics

- Covers FEMs in two sections: 1) hybrid-Trefftz method and 2) fundamental FEM solutions

- Bibliographic references

- Includes solutions to problems in the numerical analysis of different material types

- Includes solutions to some problems encountered in civil engineering (seepage, heat transfer, etc).

This reference is suitable for scholars involved in advanced courses in mathematics and engineering (civil engineering/materials engineering). Professionals involved in developing analytical tools for materials and construction testing can also benefit from the methods presented in the book.

Fish and other seafood have always been considered as an important part of human diet and have also long been recognized as a health-promoting food for human nutrition. However, managing aquatic food resources remains a challenge as the human population is expanding and overfishing poses a threat to fishing reserves in several areas. Aquaculture is the alternative solution for food production from the sea. According to the FAO, aquaculture is probably the fastest growing food-producing sector and can be a sustainable solution for fish production. In order to maximize marine food production and achieving sustainable management of the aquatic environment, knowledge about aspects of fisheries and aquatic animal health is very important.

Trends in Fisheries and Aquatic Animal Health covers some basic and applied topics in fishery management and fish health with a focus on European regions. The textbook is a combination of reviews and research articles. Topics covered in the book include challenges in fishery management, environmental impacts on fisheries, fish health (pharmacology, histopathology, stress response), telemetry techniques in fisheries research, and specific case studies of regional marine species in localized fisheries. This textbook is a useful resource for graduates and professionals involved in advanced training courses for aquaculture and fishery management.