This first book on nanocellulose and nanohydrogels for biomedical applications is unique in discussing recent advancements in the field, resulting in a comprehensive, well-structured overview of nanocellulose and nanohydrogel materials based nanocomposites. The book covers different types of nanocellulose materials and their recent developments in the drug delivery and nanomedicine sector, along with synthesis, characterization, as well as applications in the biotechnological and biomedical fields. The book also covers the current status and future perspectives of bacterial cellulose and polyester hydrogel matrices, their preparation, characterization, and tissue engineering applications of water soluble hydrogel matrices obtained from biodegradable sources. In addition, the chitosan-based hydrogel and nanogel matrices, their involvement in the current biofabrication technologies, and influencing factors towards the biomedical sector of biosensors, biopharmaceuticals, tissue engineering appliances, implant materials, diagnostic probes and surgical aids are very well documented. Further, the history of cellulose-based and conducting polymer-based nanohydrogels, their classification, synthesis methods and applicability to different sectors, the challenges associated with their use, recent advances on the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins are also included. The recent developments and applications in the drug delivery sector gives an overview of facts about the nanofibrillated cellulose and copoly(amino acid) hydrogel matrices in the biotechnology and biomedicine field. This book serves as an essential reference for researchers and academics in chemistry, pharmacy, microbiology, materials science and biomedical engineering.
This book presents programming by demonstration for robot learning from observations with a focus on the trajectory level of task abstraction Discusses methods for optimization of task reproduction, such as reformulation of task planning as a constrained optimization problem Focuses on regression approaches, such as Gaussian mixture regression, spline regression, and locally weighted regression Concentrates on the use of vision sensors for capturing motions and actions during task demonstration by a human task expert
The relationship between technological and pedagogical innovation has recently created a new field of research at the crossroads between Psychology, Educational Sciences and Artificial Intelligence: Educational Robotics (ER). Through analysis of the achievable educational goals based on the technological status and specific learning modes of different types of robots, it is possible to define three pedagogical paradigms: learning robotics, learning with robotics, and learning by robotics. In this book we address these three paradigms through three themes: human representations of robots, the acceptance and trust shown when interacting with a humanoid, and learning favored by the development and programming of robots in an educational context. These themes allow the authors to fully explore, define and delimit this novel field of research for future application in educational and social contexts. Finally, the book discusses contributions and limitations which have emerged from different methodologies of research, potential educational applications, and concepts of human–robot interaction for the development of the above paradigms.
This book is the first of its kind to discuss error estimation with a model-based approach. From the basics of classifiers and error estimators to distributional and Bayesian theory, it covers important topics and essential issues pertaining to the scientific validity of pattern classification. Error Estimation for Pattern Recognition focuses on error estimation, which is a broad and poorly understood topic that reaches all research areas using pattern classification. It includes model-based approaches and discussions of newer error estimators such as bolstered and Bayesian estimators. This book was motivated by the application of pattern recognition to high-throughput data with limited replicates, which is a basic problem now appearing in many areas. The first two chapters cover basic issues in classification error estimation, such as definitions, test-set error estimation, and training-set error estimation. The remaining chapters in this book cover results on the performance and representation of training-set error estimators for various pattern classifiers. Additional features of the book include: • The latest results on the accuracy of error estimation • Performance analysis of re-substitution, cross-validation, and bootstrap error estimators using analytical and simulation approaches • Highly interactive computer-based exercises and end-of-chapter problems This is the first book exclusively about error estimation for pattern recognition. Ulisses M. Braga Neto is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University, USA. He received his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Braga Neto received an NSF CAREER Award for his work on error estimation for pattern recognition with applications in genomic signal processing. He is an IEEE Senior Member. Edward R. Dougherty is a Distinguished Professor, Robert F. Kennedy ’26 Chair, and Scientific Director at the Center for Bioinformatics and Genomic Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University, USA. He is a fellow of both the IEEE and SPIE, and he has received the SPIE Presidents Award. Dr. Dougherty has authored several books including Epistemology of the Cell: A Systems Perspective on Biological Knowledge and Random Processes for Image and Signal Processing (Wiley-IEEE Press).
This book covers power electronics, in depth, by presenting the basic principles and application details, which can be used both as a textbook and reference book. Introduces a new method to present power electronics converters called Power Blocks Geometry (PBG) Applicable for courses focusing on power electronics, power electronics converters, and advanced power converters Offers a comprehensive set of simulation results to help understand the circuits presented throughout the book
Mechanical oscillators in Lagrange's formalism – a thorough problem-solved approach This book takes a logically organized, clear and thorough problem-solved approach at instructing the reader in the application of Lagrange's formalism to derive mathematical models for mechanical oscillatory systems, while laying a foundation for vibration engineering analyses and design. Each chapter contains brief introductory theory portions, followed by a large number of fully solved examples. These problems, inherent in the design and analysis of mechanical systems and engineering structures, are characterised by a complexity and originality that is rarely found in textbooks. Numerous pedagogical features, explanations and unique techniques that stem from the authors’ extensive teaching and research experience are included in the text in order to aid the reader with comprehension and retention. The book is rich visually, including numerous original figures with high-standard sketches and illustrations of mechanisms. Key features: Distinctive content including a large number of different and original oscillatory examples, ranging from simple to very complex ones. Contains many important and useful hints for treating mechanical oscillatory systems. Each chapter is enriched with an Outline and Objectives, Chapter Review and Helpful Hints. Mechanical Vibration: Fundamentals with Solved Examples is essential reading for senior and graduate students studying vibration, university professors, and researchers in industry.
This book deals with the mechanics and physics of fractures at various scales. Based on advanced continuum mechanics of heterogeneous media, it develops a rigorous mathematical framework for single macrocrack problems as well as for the effective properties of microcracked materials. In both cases, two geometrical models of cracks are examined and discussed: the idealized representation of the crack as two parallel faces (the Griffith crack model), and the representation of a crack as a flat elliptic or ellipsoidal cavity (the Eshelby inhomogeneity problem). The book is composed of two parts: – The first part deals with solutions to 2D and 3D problems involving a single crack in linear elasticity. Elementary solutions of cracks problems in the different modes are fully worked. Various mathematical techniques are presented, including Neuber-Papkovitch displacement potentials, complex analysis with conformal mapping and Eshelby-based solutions. – The second part is devoted to continuum micromechanics approaches of microcracked materials in relation to methods and results presented in the first part. Various estimates and bounds of the effective elastic properties are presented. They are considered for the formulation and application of continuum micromechanics-based damage models.
An in-depth review of the current scientific knowledge on food allergens testing, covering the major methodologies and techniques used to detect food allergens. Food allergens are a series of agents, mainly proteins, which cause various unpleasant and sometimes clinical symptoms in humans through consumption of foods. Perhaps surprisingly, there are no treatments against food allergies which have been found to be 100% effective. The scope for individual difference in terms of how a person reacts to a given allergen is massive, making it incredibly difficult and complex to try and medicate against allergies. Food Allergens Testing takes a thorough look at modern molecular biology and immunochemical techniques used to detect food allergens. The eleven chapters constitute an in-depth review of the current scientific knowledge on food allergens, covering the major methodologies and techniques used in validated analytical approaches. The book is aimed at scientists and technical staff in the food industry and analytical laboratories who need an up-to-date treatment of both fundamental and applied research goals on food allergens, as well as a report on the validated methods currently in use for food allergens testing.
For centuries we have known that fruit is important for health, but we are only just beginning to fully understand why. Bioactives in Fruit: Health Benefits and Functional Foods aims to summarise some of our current knowledge on the bioactive compounds that are associated with the health benefits of specific fruits with a strong emphasis on the validation of health benefits by human intervention trials. Reflecting the current interest in food and health, the book includes strategies to retain and enhance the bioactives in fruit through breeding, growing conditions, fruit storage, processing into ingredients and production of functional foods. To accomplish this task authors with expertise in biology, chemistry, pharmacology, food science, nutrition, medicine, and horticulture have contributed. They come from universities, government and industry funded research institutes and biotechnology and food companies in Europe, the United States, Asia and New Zealand to give the book a broad perspective. This book, describing fruit bioactives, their health benefits when consumed as a food and related topics regarding their development into fresh or processed functional foods, will be of use to postgraduate students, researchers, functional food product developers, food regulators and anyone who has curiosity about why fruit is good for you. The information contained within will provide plant breeders with new targets for the development of value-added horticultural products, and will also provide nutritionists and dieticians with a useful resource for developing strategies to assist in preventing or slowing disease onset or severity. Bioactives in Fruit: Health Benefits and Functional Foods is a major resource which will be required reading for anyone working in the fields of health and functional foods.
The imaging of moving organs such as the heart, in particular, is a real challenge because of its movement. This book presents current and emerging methods developed for the acquisition of images of moving organs in the five main medical imaging modalities: conventional X-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear imaging and ultrasound. The availability of dynamic image sequences allows for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of an organ’s dynamics, which is often linked to pathologies.