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This edited book Lanthanides is a collection of research chapters, offering an excellent review of recent applications in our lives. It consists of a number of interesting chapters by scientists and researchers from different parts of the world. The book is divided into six chapters. The first chapter is a short introduction that explains the nature and purpose of the book and the logic and significance of its contents. In the second chapter, Katarzyna Kiegiel et al. introduce novel apparatus solutions, for example membrane contactors in the extraction stage and different types of matrices (uranium ore, phosphorites, etc.). The third chapter by Dariusz Sala and Bogus?aw Bieda from AGH University of Science and Technology, Management Department, Poland, describes the development of the life cycle inventory to rare earth elements (REEs) based on secondary sources, conducted according to ISO 14040 (2006) guidelines. Chapter 4 concentrates on lanthanide soil chemistry and shows how the soil chemistry of REEs may support soil science investigations. Dmitry V. Ladonin in Chapter 5 studies the content of forms of lanthanides in soddy-calcareous soils at different distances from the Cherepovets steel mill (Vologda region, Russia). The author concludes that the individual properties of lanthanides are clearly manifested in their interaction with soil components. The largest part of the fraction, bound to organic matter, contains medium lanthanides, while the heavy lanthanides are bound to Fe and Mn (hydr)oxides. The last chapter discusses ecological and physiological impacts of lanthanides on algae as primary producers in aquatic environments. This book will definitely encourage readers, researchers, and scientists to look further into the frontier topics of lanthanides and opens new possible research paths for further novel development.

To have unimaginably outstanding useful properties (physical, mechanical, electrical, optical, chemical, and magnetic) in a single material design is a highly challenging task in the material science community, which can be achieved through nanocomposites. These nanocomposites can be produced from all conventional materials, which include polymers, metals/alloys, and ceramics, by modifying their internal structures. Due to modification of the structures of all kinds of conventional materials, at either the nano or ultra-fine level, the materials exhibit superior performance, which is a boon for all fields of science. In general, nanocomposite materials can be manufactured by solid-state processing techniques, liquid metallurgy, ex-situ and in-situ powder metallurgy, and other basic science synthesis routes. Furthermore, the possibility of making environmentally friendly materials is also possible with nanotechnology. Therefore, to investigate and demonstrate developments in the field of nanocomposites, this book is targeted at all the scientific personnel working in this field.

The past three decades have been marked with huge enthusiasm from scientists and professionals in an effort to find a cure for glioma disease. Methods to confirm the kinds and grades of glioma have taken a path from classical macro- to microscopic pathohystological confirmation of tumors, through morphological-histological, molecular, and genetic diagnosis. Surgically, progress was made possible with the development and use of technological aids, for example neuronavigation, cortical mapping, electrocorticography, neuromonitoring, functional and intraoperative MRI, magnetoencephalography, etc. Great hope was placed on the extension of tumor resection and popular supratotal resection. Significant progress has been made generally in glioma treatment with the use of modern radiotherapy and new chemotherapeutics. What do we want to see for the future? By way of stem cells, a specific medicine will be produced, individualized for the particular patient, and by using a microcapsule it will be implanted into the brain zone affected by the tumor by way of robot surgery and injection needle. This is not at all an unrealistic expectation in the next decade or two.

In the era of the Internet of Things and Big Data, Cloud Computing has recently emerged as one of the latest buzzwords in the computing industry. It is the latest evolution of computing, where IT recourses are offered as services. Cloud computing provides on-demand, scalable, device-independent, and reliable services to its users. The exponential growth of digital data bundled with the needs of analysis, processing and storage, and cloud computing has paved the way for a cheap, secure, and omnipresent computing framework allowing for the delivery of enormous computing and storage capacity to a diverse community of end-recipients. Clouds are distributed technology platforms that leverage sophisticated technology innovations to provide highly scalable and resilient environments that can be remotely utilized by organizations in a multitude of powerful ways. The term cloud is often used as a metaphor for the Internet and can be defined as a new type of utility computing that basically uses servers that have been made available to third parties via the Internet.

The field of coatings and thin-film technologies is rapidly advancing to keep up with new uses for semiconductor, optical, tribological, thermoelectric, solar, security, and smart sensing applications, among others. In this sense, thin-film coatings and structures are increasingly sophisticated with more specific properties, new geometries, large areas, the use of heterogeneous materials and flexible and rigid coating substrates to produce thin-film structures with improved performance and properties in response to new challenges that the industry presents. This book aims to provide the reader with a complete overview of the current state of applications and developments in thin-film technology, discussing applications, health and safety in thin films, and presenting reviews and experimental results of recognized experts in the area of coatings and thin-film technologies.

Cell culture is one of the major tools used in cellular and molecular biology, delivering an excellent model for studying the normal physiology and biochemistry of cells. This book covers some advanced aspects in cell culture methodologies. The book has four sections discussing different types of cell culture models, including 3D cell culture techniques, their advantages, and limitations in comparison to traditional 2D culturing; cell viability, autophagy, in vitro toxicity tests and live cell imaging; stem cell culture for cell-based therapeutics; and specific applications and methodologies for hybrid cell lines and cancer models. This book provides a comprehensive overview of some of the advanced cell culture methodologies and applications. It serves as a valuable source for scientists, researchers, clinicians and students.

The placenta, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord, and cord blood can often be classified as pregnancy-specific biological substances with enormous applications in regenerative medicine. The Placenta includes eight chapters that provide readers with access to a range of information from basic mechanisms and assays to cutting-edge research investigating concerns for normal placentation. The book presents a comprehensive, translational look at all aspects of abnormal placentation and its effects on maternofetal axis. It follows the relationship between placenta-derived mesenchymal stromal cells and modulation of immunity, gene expression, and inflammation. It also covers additional information concerning the management of placental complications, placental therapy, and biological roles of antiinflammation and regeneration. The Placenta will be of interest to scientists, embryologists, physicians, and lay readers wishing to review recent developments in the field of the placenta.

This book provides an approach toward the applications and principle theory of digital signal processing in modern intelligent systems, biological engineering, telecommunication, and information technology. Assuming the reader already has prior knowledge of signal processing theory, this book will be useful for finding novel methods that fit special needs in digital signal processing (DSP). The combination of signal processing and intelligent systems in hybrid structures rather than serial or parallel processing provide the best mechanism that is a better fit with the comprehensive nature of human. This book is a practical reference that places the emphasis on principles and applications of DSP in digital systems. It covers a broad area of digital systems and applications of machine learning methods including convolutional neural networks, evolutionary algorithms, adaptive filters, spectral estimation, data compression and functional verification. The level of the book is ideal for professional DSP users and useful for graduate students who are looking for solutions to their design problems. The theoretical principles provide the required base for comprehension of the methods and application of modifications for the special needs of practical projects.

Cities are the places where the greatest technological advances will take place in the near future, and important efforts are being directed towards autonomy and independence for each and every citizen. However, these efforts are rarely coordinated or integrated among governments, citizens, and private firms. In this book, assistive technology solutions are approached considering the smart cities scenario. The book discusses how assistive technologies can be adapted to this new reality. In fact, several challenges arise, stimulating the evolution of current technologies, relying on ubiquitous sensing, big data, and anytime/anywhere access and control. The book presents research under development, not necessarily with consolidated results. Even though the idea of smart cities is still not a recognized concept in most countries, its relevance and application are spreading rapidly.

The book contains four chapters discussing dystonia from a new perspective. Dystonia may result from either diffuse or localized pathology of the cerebral cortex, brain stem, or spinal cord. Management of dystonia is challenging, and specific goals should be identified. Dystonia is considered one of the most disabling conditions in the pediatric age group, which may remain until adulthood; treatment is usually unsatisfactory. Meige's syndrome, or "oromandibular dystonia," may be misdiagnosed as temporomandibular joint or psychogenic disorder, which will alter management and delay proper treatment. Dystonia with non-motor disorders includes sleep, cognitive, pain, sensory, and psychiatric disorders, and their pathophysiological and biochemical mechanisms and specific treatment are discussed. This book will be of interest to GPs, neurologists, family physicians, and internal medicine specialists.

In the coming years, farmers will face difficult challenges throughout the world in terms of climate change, water scarcity, and environmental issues caused by conventional agricultural technologies. Effective management of natural resources can be encouraged by orienting the common agricultural practices towards the functional biodiversity concept in designing and implementing sustainable and eco-friendly cropping systems. In the framework of polycrop science, this book provides basic principles and several case studies of polycrop utilization in various regions of the world as a method of functional biodiversity amplification through species associations that maximize the productivity per unit of land area, suppress the growth and development of weeds, and reduce the amount of harmful pests and insects.

In the field of computers and with the advent of the internet, the topic of secure communication has gained significant importance. The theory of cryptography and coding theory has evolved to handle many such problems. The emphases of these topics are both on secure communication that uses encryption and decryption schemes as well as on user authentication for the purpose of non-repudiation. Subsequently, the topics of distributed and cloud computing have emerged. Existing results related to cryptography and network security had to be tuned to adapt to these new technologies. With the more recent advancement of mobile technologies and IOT (internet of things), these algorithms had to take into consideration the limited resources such as battery power, storage and processor capabilities. This has led to the development of lightweight cryptography for resource constrained devices. The topic of network security also had to face many challenges owing to variable interconnection topology instead of a fixed interconnection topology. For this reason, the system is susceptible to various attacks from eavesdroppers. This book addresses these issues that arise in present day computing environments and helps the reader to overcome these security threats.

Nowadays, social media are amongst the most frequently used entertainment and information sources, offering the most recent news. National, international and global issues of social media journalism involve a wide spectrum of complex questions related to the production, distribution and reception of media contents, as well as a plethora of social, cultural, economic, legal and ethical aspects to consider. The publication you are holding in your hands is an attempt to provide various theoretical and empirical frameworks that may help us better understand social media journalism from different points of view and in diverse contexts. The individual chapters are written by authors with various scholarly affiliations working in international academic circles. Even though the methods they use and problems they discuss vary, they all pursue the same objective - to find out more about the implications of the existence and popularity of social media, especially social media journalism.

Sintering technology is an old and extensive technology in many areas, and it has been used especially in ceramic fabrication. This book covers many fields, for example, the development of different sintering technologies in recent years, such as spark plasma sintering, flash sintering, microwave sintering, reaction and laser sintering, and so on, and also some special ceramic material fabrication methods and applications, such as carbon nanotubes mixed with alumina and zirconia ceramics, pure and doped zirconia, ZnO ceramic varistors, and so on.

The stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability across the globe. We have evolved from a sense of frustration and helplessness to proactive and effective management in the hyperacute and acute phase of a stroke. The aim is to salvage the ischemic brain and turn it again into a viable and functional one. Advances in imaging and newer therapeutic strategies of this devastating illness have changed our outlook. The modern management of an ischemic stroke involves intravenous thrombolysis within a window period of four and half hours. Endovascular management with newer stent retrievers has a higher rate of recanalization with an extended therapeutic window. A new era has emerged in the management of ischemic stroke treatment. This book, written by experts, aims to improve the understanding of stroke medicine for postgraduate medical students in medicine and neurology who have an interest in stroke care.