Bentham Science Publishers

Smart Home and Industrial IoT Devices: Critical Perspectives on Cyber Threats, Frameworks and Protocols provides an in-depth examination of the Internet of Things (IoT) and its profound impact on smart homes and industrial systems. The book begins by exploring the significance of IoT in smart homes, followed by an analysis of emerging cyber threats targeting smart homes and cyber-physical systems. It presents AI and machine learning-based frameworks for monitoring water quality and managing irrigation in agriculture, highlighting their role in IoT ecosystems. The text also discusses a framework to mitigate cyber-attacks on robotic systems and introduces a multinomial naive Bayesian classifier for analyzing smart IoT devices. Dataflow analysis and modeling experiments are detailed, along with a comparison of IoT communication protocols using anomaly detection and security assessment. The book concludes with a discussion on efficient, lightweight intrusion detection systems and a unique taxonomy for IoT frameworks. This book is ideal for students, researchers, and professionals seeking to understand and secure IoT environments.

With the rapid development of electronic technology, mobile communication and satellite communication, electromagnetic interference (EMI) or Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) has received global scientific attention to ensure unperturbed performance of electronic items and to avoid any adverse effect on human health. EMI is one of the main factors that weaken electronic system performance and is considered as a modern form of environmental pollution.

Many efforts have been made to reduce EMI due to industrial regulations. With the expansion of the IT industry, microwave absorbing materials (MAMs) and EMI shielding materials have received considerable interest to improve the resistance of smart devices to EMI.

This book presents a comprehensive review of the recent developments in EMI shielding and the design of microwave absorbing materials. Chapters cover the basic mechanism of shielding and radiation absorption, measurement procedures, factors affecting the shielding and different materials for shielding and absorption (e.g. MWCNT, conjugated polymers, graphene, MXene based hybrid materials, Carbon foam, graphene based thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposites, carbon-carbon composites, nano ferrite composites and conducting Ferro fluids). An analysis of EMI shielding using fillers composed of different materials is also presented.

In addition, key issues and current challenges to achieve better shielding and absorption performance for various materials are explained, giving the readers a broader perspective of the subject.

The book is suitable as a detailed reference for students in technology, electronics engineering and materials science courses, and professionals working on materials for designing EMI shielding mechanisms.

Smart Polymeric Nanocomposites: Synthesis and Applications explores the fascinating field of smart polymeric nanocomposites, presenting an in-depth understanding of their synthesis, properties, and diverse applications. Designed as a resource for researchers, students, and professionals, it provides a thorough overview of cutting-edge advancements in the field. The book covers various topics, including self-healing materials, shape-memory applications, controlled drug delivery, environmental solutions such as water purification, and innovations in flexible electronic sensing. By integrating theoretical principles with real-world applications, the book serves as both a learning tool and an inspiration for innovation in polymer science and nanotechnology.

Key Features:

- Detailed exploration of synthesis methods and advanced applications.

- Case studies and practical examples.

- Interdisciplinary insights across chemistry, engineering, and environmental science.

A refreshing and useful resource for understanding the multidimensional aspects linking social determinants to health equity and development. The book is written for researchers, students, public health practitioners, health decision makers, health economists, epidemiologists, sociologists, demographers and general public audience with interest in health equity and development. The nine chapters presented are clear and comprehensive, reinforced by several diagrams and real examples illustrating inequity in health. The book is Illustrated with 45 tables and figures, and contain 355 recent references to the literature.

Soft robotics is a subfield of robotics that encompasses the design and fabrication of robots with soft and compliant materials. Soft robots represent components like human prosthetics or biomimicking systems. Soft robotics relies on technically astute designs based on the correct choice of materials to enable a level of dexterity not possible with rigid components alone. The basic prime movers (actuators) and perception (sensors) require control systems capable of accommodating imprecise feedback data and often unpredictable reaction times. Mobility in such robots is more akin to entomological or marine systems than conventional guided vehicles.

This reference is a guide to materials and systems used in soft robotics. If features 6 chapters contributed by robotics experts that review fundamental and applied topics that are important for understanding the requirements of soft robotics design projects and the physics of the polymers involved. Chapters are organized for easy reading and include references.

The topics include:

- Aspects of materials processing and engineering for the development of soft robotic devices

- A review on biological gripping principles and their application to robotics

- Information about self-sensing electroadhesive polymer grippers with magnetically controllable surface geometry

- Theoretical and experimental investigations of magnetic hybrid materials

- Modeling and dynamic analysis of a novel rotary soft robotic arm by transfer matrix method

- Design and control of a portable continuum robot for pipe inspection assisted by a rigid manipulator

This book is a suitable reference for scholars and engineers who are seeking knowledge about materials and design principles in soft robotics with its practical applications.

Soil Biology & Ecology: The Basics offers an accessible introduction to the diverse and dynamic world beneath our feet. This book explores soil as a thriving habitat, detailing the rich biodiversity of microorganisms and macroorganisms that sustain essential ecological cycles. It covers the key biochemical cycles in soil, including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, explaining how these processes contribute to soil fertility and ecosystem health. With a focus on ecological relationships like symbiosis and competition, this guide illuminates the vital role of soil in supporting life and agricultural productivity.

Ideal for students, researchers, and nature enthusiasts, the book is a foundational resource for understanding soil's impact on the biosphere and human food production.

Key Features:

- Comprehensive overview of soil as a living ecosystem

- Detailed coverage of soil microbiota, macrobiota, and biochemical cycles

- Insights into ecological relationships and their practical applications

This book encapsulates current information about the science behind solar energy and the solar thermal systems available to meet domestic needs. Several scholars have contributed to the chapters in the text in an effort to distill research-oriented topics for learners.

The book starts with an explainer on the fundamentals of thermodynamics, heat transfer and solar energy in the first 2 chapters. The basics of some solar thermal devices along with their thermal modeling are covered in the next few chapters, along with solar distillation systems. This is followed by information about the design, development and applications of solar cookers along with their thermal modeling. Thermal modeling of semi-transparent PVT systems and their applications are discussed in Chapter 9. Chapter 10 covers the development in solar photovoltaic technology. Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 discusses thermal modeling of greenhouse solar dryers and presents a case study on a hybrid active greenhouse solar dryer. Chapter 13 covers the thermal analysis of photovoltaic thermal (PVT) air heaters employing thermoelectric modules (TEM). The applications of various solar systems in building sectors and the development in this field are covered in Chapter 14. Chapter 15 deals with energy and environ- economics analysis of bio-gas integrated semi-transparent photo-voltaic thermal (Bi-iSPVT) systems for Indian climates.

The book has a broad scope and is intended as a resource for students, researchers and teachers in universities, industries, and national and commercial laboratories to help learn the fundamentals and in-depth knowledge of thermal modeling and recent developments in solar heating systems.

Since the first description by John Scott Russel in 1834, the solitary wave phenomenon has attracted considerable interests from scientists. The most interesting discovery since then has been the ability to integrate most of the nonlinear wave equations which govern solitary waves, from the Korteweg-de Vries equation to the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, in the 1960's. From that moment, a huge amount of theoretical works can be found on solitary waves. Due to the fact that many physical phenomena can be described by a soliton model, applications have followed each other, in telecommunications first, where the propagation of solitons in fiber optics helps in increasing transmission capacity, thanks to their inherent stability, which make long-distance transmission possible without the use of repeaters.

The aim of this book is to present a state of the art theoretical study of solitary waves. Prominent actual works on solitary waves are described.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection represents one of the biggest challenges of current years. However, scientists and physicians still do not have an efficient therapy for preventing or eradicating the virus. The selection of drug-resistant strains as well as side-effects, represent common problems encountered in all anti-viral therapies. However, it has been clearly demonstrated that the potency of early immune responses profoundly regulates levels of HIV, and hence also the generation of virus mutants as well as the velocity of disease progression to AIDS.

A prominent feature of this e-book is the focus on interaction between innate immunity and HIV infection. This topic has been investigated by many authors from the late 80's, and many soluble factors responsible for such activity have been discovered, such as suPAR and HMGB1. At present, these two novel factors are the subject of very intense research on HIV infections.

A key advantage of this e-book is the selection of authors, recognized worldwide as leading experts in their field. Because of the comprehensive coverage, as well as the eminence of the authors, this e-book provides a detailed and high quality description about the role of innate immune responses regulating HIV replication. It should prove to be a useful resource for readers interested in immunology and HIV research.

Famous Planet Earth Caves - The new series presents important caves or rock shelters in any kind of rock types all over the world. Each book focuses on a single cave presentation covering different and most important disciplines of a cave: Geology (e.g. cave genesis, sedimentology, speleothems) such as Hydrogeology (e.g. speleothems for climate reconstructions, aquifer reconstructions), Paleontology (e.g. cave bear or carnivore dens), Archeology (e.g. Palaeolithic to Medieval camp or burial sites) and modern Biology (e.g. bat caves). The books are scientific chaptered monographs, sometimes of show caves, but often of non- or difficult to access caves. The well-illustrated books are written in a mixed scientific and popular scientific way for a better understanding and larger readership, especially speleologists and natural scientists all over the world.                                        

Sperm-mediated gene transfer (SMGT) represents a novel set of technologies for animal (or in the future, human) genetic modification using the sperm as a vector, as opposed to more traditional established routes such as fertilized eggs or embryonic stem cells.

Studies of sperm-mediated gene transfer (SMGT) indicate that sperm cells possess the ability to be utilized as carriers of exogenous genetic sequences, offering the potential of a novel cost-effective route for germline genetic modification. The fate of transgenes borne by sperm cells has been inconsistent, and analysis of offspring from SMGT experiments has shown a mixed picture in terms of genomic integration of the transgene, suggesting an episomal mode of inheritance. Various distinct steps in transgene uptake by the sperm cell have been described or proposed, including a model based upon endogenous reverse transcriptase activity. Although mature sperm cells are naturally protected against uptake of foreign nucleic acid molecules, certain environmental conditions, for example at key times within the reproductive tract, may reduce this protection, suggesting that SMGT may occasionally take place in nature. If correct, this carries profound implications for evolution and human genetic health. This e-book brings together theoretical and empirical reviews from experts in SMGT, providing comprehensive coverage of the major trends, developments and controversies in this novel field. This e-book is intended as a reference for professional researchers in the field of animal genetic modification (transgenesis) as well as teachers, scientists and physicians interested in medical genetics in general and gene therapy in particular.

Stability of Geotechnical Structures: Theoretical and Numerical Analysis is a comprehensive introduction to the theory and applications of soil mechanics in structural stability. Chapters explain different mathematical methods to calculate structural stability metrics. Topics covered in the book include upper and lower bound methods, kinematic methods, slip line methods, limit analysis, limit equilibrium, and element methods. Additionally, fundamental principles in plasticity formulation are discussed in sufficient details, and sample computer programs are included to aid the readers in learning the presented theoretical material. The book also features worked examples for easy understanding. Theoretical material in the book is based on actual research conducted by the authors, with additional literature reviews and discussions about important topics in geotechnical engineering.

Stability of Geotechnical Structures: Theoretical and Numerical Analysis is suitable for students undertaking advanced foundation or geotechnical engineering courses at undergraduate or postgraduate levels.

Frontiers in Civil Engineering brings scholarly references on all topics related to civil engineering to the fore. Each volume presents thematic information on theoretical frameworks and practical applications in the field, including (but not limited to) soil and rock mechanics, flood control, road and railway engineering, and the construction of large buildings, bridges and dams. The series aims to compile and present useful information in the form of handbooks and monographs for students involved in technical courses in addition to providing updated references for professional engineers about the latest trends in civil engineering.

Energy is vital to global prosperity, yet dependence on fossil fuels as our primary energy source contributes to global climate change, environmental degradation, and health problems. Hydrogen offers tremendous potential as a clean, renewable energy currency. It has the highest gravimetric energy density of any known fuel and is compatible with electrochemical and combustion processes for energy conversion without the carbon emissions. This e-book summarizes the current state of the art and progress in biohydrogen production. Biohydrogen has significant economical since biological processes are much less energy intensive compared with electrolysis and thermo-chemical processes. Topics covered in this reference include progress in hydrogen production by light-driven processes, dark fermentation, hydrogen production from waste materials, the role of molecular engineering for enhanced hydrogen production, and post-production processing such as hydrogen purification and storage.

Stem Cell Delivery Routes: From Preclinical Models to Clinical Applications covers current knowledge about stem cell delivery for cell-based therapeutics. Starting with an introduction to stem cell technology, the book provides information about the main mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) delivery routes and the cell carrier materials used for delivering the cells. The main delivery routes include the liver, the kidney and the ocular surface. This introductory information is followed up with general information about stem cell based therapeutics, covering relevant topics such as the secretome and optimal delivery strategies in cell-based therapeutics. The book then progresses into the topic of in vivo cell tracking methods in preclinical and clinical studies with specific emphasis on the liver, ocular surface and kidney while also covering factors that affect the residence time, viability, and homing of MSCs with respect to the targeted location. The discussions in these chapters are accompanied by key descriptions of MSC-based therapeutic applications in rodent models and human clinical studies. The advantages and bottlenecks in clinical MSC application, and ways to improve the therapeutic efficacy of transplanted cells are also presented, rounding up the contents of the book.

Key Features:

- A comprehensive summary of stem cell delivery for cell-based therapeutics, suitable for a broad range of readers

- 10 sequential chapters that enhance the reader’s understanding on the subject

- An Introduction to stem cell technology

- Coverage of 3 key stem cell transplantation routes (liver, kidney and eye)

- Coverage of in vivo stem cell tracking

- Inclusion of basic information about MSC delivery and methods of clinical applications

- Discussions about preclinical mouse models

- A perspective on stem cell bottlenecks and recent advances in biomedical engineering that enhance the clinical application of MSCs

The contents are adapted to suit readers learning about advanced stem cells therapies at all academic levels, including undergraduates, lecturers, as well as those who are curious to understand more about the importance of stem cells, and their application in cell-based therapeutics. Professionals involved in allied fields in clinical research, and biomedical engineering will also gain a substantial understanding about regenerative medicine and cell transplantation.

Experts in the field of cellular biology have shown that the reactivation of pluripotency inherent in all cells can allow us to reprogram cells into a specific cell line. This reprogramming paradigm is steadily enhancing our understanding of cell differentiation processes and cellular identity. Consequently, new prospects for cellular therapies of diseases and in vivo regeneration have risen.

Stem Cells Between Regeneration and Tumorigenesis focuses on organ specific molecular pathways that trigger two opposite ways that a stem cell can grow (regeneration and neoplasia). Chapters provide a balanced set of information about tissue regeneration and tumorigenesis in several tissues and biological systems (the nervous, circulatory, oral, skin, digestive and endocrine systems). Additional reviews of the immunological role in regulating the two stem cell growth processes and the role of genomics and proteomics in understanding these processes round up the contents of this monograph.

Readers of this book will gain the following key benefits:

-an insight into the complexity and controversy surrounding the established dual stem cell behavior paradigm (regeneration versus tumorigenesis)

-an understanding of the intricate cellular processes such as stem cells maintenance

-background knowledge of optimizing tailored therapy in personalized and regenerative medicine

Stem Cells Between Regeneration and Tumorigenesis is a useful resource for advanced graduates and researchers undertaking courses in molecular biology and personalized medicine, as well as interns involved in stem cell research programs.

Steroids are an important class of biomolecules with diverse roles and functions. Besides being important as structural and signaling molecules, these molecules hold promise against numerous disorders, including cardiovascular conditions, cancer, inflammation and autoimmune disorders. Many investigations have demonstrated that steroidal frameworks may provide lipid solubility, receptor selectivity or membrane binding properties to non-steroidal pharmacophores. However, the therapeutic use of steroids can be dangerous when they're used incorrectly. Additionally, misconceptions about steroids among athletes or recreational users can lead to steroid abuse and poor health outcomes. Steroids and their Medicinal Potential discusses the classification, distribution, biosynthesis, chemical synthesis and semi-synthesis of different steroids. The medicinal potential of each class is exhaustively discussed in different chapters. The latest advances and developments in steroid-based drug discovery are also discussed thoroughly. The book aims to address general questions and concerns about steroids, providing readers a useful resource on the subject. Key Features

-Provides comprehensive coverage on all aspects of steroids including steroid chemistry, biochemistry, medicinal potential, drug discovery and advances in target-binding interactions of steroid-based drugs

-Includes chapters dedicated to anabolic steroids and their abuse

-Designed as an accessible source of information for understanding steroidal drugs with structured chapters

-Includes references for advanced readers

When environmental conditions deviate from the optimal range, stress ensues. Stress response is a set of reactions that allow the organism to adjust and survive adverse conditions. Stress can be physical, such as extreme temperature, radiation, injury, or psychological, caused by perceived danger or deprivation. Every living cell has biochemical mechanisms to cope with physical stress. These mechanisms show a degree of similarity among several types of living organisms.

Stress Response and Immunity: Links and Trade Offs explores the functional and evolutionary connections between stress response and immunity. The book introduces the reader to the concept of stress and subsequently examines the connection between stress response and immunity at various evolutionary stages of living organisms - from bacteria to humans. The book also features chapters dedicated to the role of tumor suppressor genes and the immune system of the brain.

The information presented in this reference demonstrates the profound effects of physical and psychological stress on human health. Readers with basic knowledge of molecular biology will learn about the interesting facets of stress responses and the evolutionary trade offs observed in different life forms.

Drug discovery is still a process which involves screening of a large number of chemical compounds against a defined biological target. However, this approach is now being gradually replaced by more rational and knowledge-based approaches, such as in sillico screening and target based drug development. Increase in the cost of development of NME (New Molecular Entities) and productivity crises in pharmaceutical industry are catalyzing this change.

Spectacular advances in the field of use of NMR spectroscopy in drug discovery and development have been triggered by a greater understanding of the disease process at the molecular level.

While NMR is generally valued as an important tool for structure determination and more recently as a non-invasive diagnostic technique, its potential in drug discovery is based on its capacity to map molecular interactions at the atomic level. Chemical shifts, cross relaxation, and exchange of protons are among the NMR parameters which are highly sensitive to the exact molecular environments , and therefore yield information about how a small molecule (candidate compound) binds to a target protein (receptor) or to other macromolecules. These NMR parameters are also used to exactly map the part of the macromolecular target to which the ligand is bound. As a result, NMR is now extensively used as an efficient tool in the drug (ligand) discovery and optimization process or for the assessment of target drug ability. Recent advances in NMR hardware and methodology have provided a fresh impetus in the area of pharmaceutical innovation and productivity. This book is aimed to present recent cutting edge knowledge, practices and experiences in this important field.

The book comprises seven scholarly written articles . Mailavaram and Devarakonda in their introductory review skillfully summarize the broad approaches of NMR-based drug discovery . Park and Kim focus on the use of NMR spectroscopic techniques in the study of drug delivery, drug release and other pharmaceutic parameters. Roberto and Marina provide a chronological account of fragment-based drug discovery by using NMR-based screening methods. Specific utilization of NMR-based techniques in the discovery and development of anticancer drugs is reviewed by Solomon and Lee. Ramalho et al. review another fascinating application of NMR in understanding the behavior and radio sensitizing properties of bioreductive drugs. Zoppetti comprehensively reviews the application of NMR spectroscopy in the study of host-guest cyclodextrin complexes, particularly their use as drug delivery vehicles. A concise review is contributed by Nhat and Hong on recent advances in the field of application of NMR in structure-activity relationship study of nanostructure drugs. These contributions of outstanding group of experts make this a very useful treatise of highly readable articles. Our felicitations and gratitude goes to them. The book will hopefully fulfill an important need of the scientific community by providing comprehensive reviews on cutting edge topics written by leading experts in the field.

We extend our warmest thanks to the staff of Bentham Science Publishers, particularly, to Mr. Mahmood Alam (Director), Ms. Taqdees Malik (Editorial Assistant) and Ms. Sadaf Idrees Khan (Composer) for undertaking the important task of closely coordinating with the contributors and preparing the content lists, index, etc.

Substance and Non substance Related Addiction Disorders: Diagnosis and Treatment is an accessible handbook about the two main types of addiction disorders. It is divided into three sections which cover 1) the scientific underpinnings of addiction disorders (neurobiology, addiction neural reward pathways, genetic and psychosocial basis of addiction, screening and treatment), 2) information about substances commonly used by addicts (pharmacology, diagnostics and treatment considerations) and 3) current understandings of the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral problems (such as gambling), respectively.

Key features:

-covers both substance abuse and behavioral problems

-uses a reader friendly format with a patient education handout style

-includes key learning points listed in each chapter

-includes clinical vignettes which outline brief history, evaluation, diagnostic considerations with successful pharmacological, psychological and social interventions

-includes references in each chapter

The handbook meets the information needs of medical students and professionals (family physicians, nurses, addiction therapists, psychiatry residents, and other health care professionals) interested in the primary care of patients afflicted with addiction disorders.

"Suicide and Predicament: the medical model of suicide is incomplete" takes a broad view of suicide. It argues that a large proportion of people who suicide do not have a mental disorder, and therefore it is essential to know about the predicaments of people. The book draws on sociology and takes issue with the medicalization of distress and suicide. It discusses genetics and draws attention to the importance of alcohol in suicide. It takes as examples, 127 suicide cases found in public record. Unique features include 1) predicament model, 2) pathways model, 3) typology of suicide, and 4) prevention initiatives.

The theory of summability has many uses throughout analysis and applied mathematics. Engineers and physicists working with Fourier series or analytic continuation will also find the concepts of summability theory valuable to their research.

The concepts of summability have been extended to the sequences of fuzzy numbers and also to the theorems of ergodic theory. This ebook explains various aspects of summability and demonstrates applications in a coherent manner. The content can readily serve as a useful series of lecture notes on the subject.

This ebook comprises of 8 chapters starting from classical sequence spaces and covering matrix transformations and fuzzy numbers. An accompanying bibliography with extensive references makes this a valuable source of information for readers interested in summability theory as well as other branches of science.

The considerable increase in numbers of students required to complete undergraduate dissertations as part of their curricula demonstrates a clear need for supporting academic staff from a wide variety of disciplines in this area. There has been limited research published in the realm of undergraduate supervision. Therefore, supervision of academic dissertations in an undergraduate setting still remains to be addressed in a comprehensive manner. The overarching theme of this reference work is the convergence of shared understandings, strategies and reflections of undergraduate supervisors from around the world, from many different subject disciplines. There is also a need today for a mapping of the current landscape of undergraduate supervision.

This text is presented through a series of case studies from a wide variety of subject disciplines in the sciences and arts and is enlightened by research perspectives; it comprises of a focus on development needs for supervisors of undergraduate students, using updated information, modeling exercises and interaction in the form of a series of individual activities, along with a selection geared at programme team development in preparing supervisors for their role, choice key readings, and exploration of online resources. This eBook is intended as a guide for academic staff across various disciplines who are involved with dissertation supervision. It is valuable to those in the early stages of their career who may be supervising for the first time; equally, it provides support, guidance and affirmation to those who have supervised over a number of years.

Inorganic materials have been used for biomedical applications since many decades. They have been utilized successfully because of easy and economic methods for bulk preparation and industrial manufacturing.

Surface modifications significantly improve the success of these materials and enable us to exploit their application in many innovative fields such as tissue engineering, dentistry, nanocarriers for drugs, medical diagnosis and antifouling technologies. This e-book provides comprehensive information on technologies for development and characterization of successful functionalized materials for biomedical applications relevant to surface modification. It is a suitable reference for advanced students and researchers interested in biomaterials science and medical applications of inorganic substances.

Campus activities for sustainable development are an effective way of learning and implementing sustainability in surrounding communities and industry. A college campus is an ideal place to practice and test new ideas and to learn valuable lessons from the results and mistakes. Sustainability Practice and Education on University Campuses and Beyond showcases many ideas and endeavors pursued on college campuses in the form of case studies. These case studies include past, current and projected activities to green college campuses.

Specific topics covered in this book include student-driven and college-driven environmental sustainability programs in undergraduate and graduate classes, issues in teaching environmental sustainability, the LEED certification of universities, issues of shrinking cities, and a comparison of sustainable military bases with college campuses.

Readers will be able to clearly understand the concept of sustainable development through a textbook approach to ‘crazy’ ideas presented in the book. In addition, the pedagogical challenges in sustainability education mentioned in the book address key issues arising due to the multidisciplinary nature of sustainability curricula.

Sustainability Practice and Education on University Campuses and Beyond is a good resource on sustainability in environmental science courses for college students, faculty and sustainability-related researchers. Decision makers in government and industry positions looking for ideas for promoting sustainable development can also benefit from the contents of this book.