Bøger udgivet af IntechOpen

Consumer product acceptance and market success are dependent on the product's aroma/flavour. Flavours can be produced through chemical synthesis, microbial biocatalysis or by extraction from plants and animal sources. In recent times, chemical synthesis is not as desirable as this is not eco-friendly. So, in the food industry, natural ingredients are added to preparations for efficiency, softness or emotional appeal. Microbiology, bioengineering and biochemistry have enabled the elucidation of metabolic pathways; genetic engineering is expected to help in identifying metabolic blockages and creating novel high-yielding strains, while proteomics help in the application of analytical techniques. All these sciences, old and new, will lead to innovative ideas in the quest for better, sustainable and consumer-approved flavours and aromas.

This book offers remarkable coverage of liver cancer from etiology to prevention and treatment. It provides an updated and new vision of this major cancer that continues to affect hundreds of thousands of people and remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths around the world. To ensure the high quality of this book, important insights are included and rigorously discussed in a simple and authentic way. The book includes detailed and updated descriptions of the main causes of liver cancer and also the prevention and treatment of this disease. This book is a relevant source of knowledge, very useful for researchers, medical doctors, medical residents, students, healthcare providers, public health decision makers, and all individuals interested in the prevention of this disease.

The human hypothalamus, a small structure at the base of the brain, has strategic importance for the harmonic function of the human body. It controls the autonomic nervous system, neuroendocrine function, circadian and circannual rhythms, somatic activities, and behavior, and is situated at the borders between the brain and the body and the brain and the soul, meeting points for mind and body. The hypothalamus is involved in a wide range of higher mental functions, including attention, learning and reinforcement of mnemonic processes, emotional control, mood stability, and cognitive-emotional interactions. It also has a role to play in behavioral disorders, panic reactions, cluster headache, gelastic epilepsy, mental deficiency, periodic disorders, depression, autism, and schizophrenia, and in a substantial number of neurodegenerative diseases. It enlarges greatly the dimensions of the hypothalamic contribution in controlling psychosomatic equilibrium and retaining internal unity of the human existence.

Plasmonics gives researchers in universities and industries and designers an overview of phenomena enabled by artificially designed metamaterials and their application for plasmonic devices. The purpose of this book is to provide a detailed introduction to the basic modeling approaches and an overview of enabled innovative phenomena. The main research agenda of this book is aimed at the study of modeling techniques and novel functionalities such as plasmonic enhancement of solar cell efficiency, plasmonics in sensing, etc. The topics addressed in this book cover the major strands: theory, modeling and design, applications in practical devices, fabrication, characterization, and measurement. It is worthwhile mentioning that the strategic objectives of developing new artificial functional materials require close cooperation of the research in each subarea.

Since their discovery in 1973 by Zanvil Cohn and Ralph Steinman (Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine, 2011), dendritic cells (DCs) continue to intrigue research scientists as their new markers, subpopulations and properties are being detected and the relevant literature is being doubled each year. This book combines the most comprehensive reviews of several critical aspects of DC biology and function written by a group of international experts in the field. The first section briefly discusses recent advances in DC subtypes, phenotypes, and functions in different diseases. The following sections look closely at DC phenotyping, DC-NK cell interplay, and roles of DC in bone loss and repair and parasitic infections. The final section on DC and cancer includes perspectives on DC vaccination based on modifications and therapeutic applications.

Occupational therapy is a health care specialty with a deep focus on client-centered and holistic rehabilitation to improve the individual's occupational performance, quality of life and well-being through participation in meaningful and purposeful activities. This new book presents the importance of the therapeutic and creative use of activity in different populations, which is one of the core components of occupational therapy. Rehabilitation, rehabilitation delivery and outcomes are affected by recent changes in the meaning of health and social values. This resulted in an increasing necessity for therapeutic therapy, as well as creative use of activity in occupational therapy. This book focuses on recent advances in occupational therapy and reviews current practical guidelines. It introduces updated knowledge and skills for children, adults and the communities, including physical, mental, social, sensory, behavioral, environmental and community-based interventions to prevent, promote and improve activity use. The book will be relevant to occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physical therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and all the members of interdisciplinary rehabilitation team care workers.

The coastal environment is deteriorating at an alarming rate and is currently a great societal concern. This book provides a selected collection of papers on coastal environmental change, coastal disasters, and coastal infrastructure due to global warming, with a focus on the coasts of the rapidly developing country China. What makes the book distinctly different from others is its diversity, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of coastal problems. With contributions from over 30 authors, the book is a comprehensive account of diverse topics, such as coastal upwelling, estuarine processes, coastal pollution, sea level rise, meteorological and atmospheric problems, urbanization and the heat island effect, and coastal infrastructure, to name just a few, from theoretical study and phenomenological description, to methodological development. This book is expected to serve as a relatively comprehensive reference for coastal researchers, graduate students, as well as policymakers and coastal resource managers.

Classical magnesium alloys are a combination of aluminium, magnesium, manganese and zinc. Magnesium combined with lithium forms ultralight alloys that have many uses. Since it is a reasonable material, it offers great possibilities and is constantly tested at various angles of applications and properties. Magnesium, previously used for military purposes, seems to fit perfectly to the requirements of the currently prevailing technology. Low density with appropriate mechanical properties (strength, high operating temperature), good foundry properties (high castability and low shrinkage), vibration damping ability and cost-effectiveness of recycling seem to be an ideal response to market needs. All things considered, magnesium alloys are the perfect material used in various industries starting from the automotive industry, through sport, electronics up to the space industry and defence. This book is written by experts in various areas of magnesium science and technology. It gives a general idea of modern advancements in theory and practical purposes of magnesium alloys. The book reports fundamental aspects of corrosion types and details about magnesium alloys designed to work in elevated temperatures and superplastic behaviour. Fundamentals, broad experience, theory as well as complex technological aspects make this work helpful for engineers and scientists from all over the world.

Phytochemicals provides original research work and reviews on the sources of phytochemicals, and their roles in disease prevention, supplementation, and accumulation in fruits and vegetables. The roles of anthocyanin, flavonoids, carotenoids, and taxol are presented in separate chapters. Antioxidative and free radicle scavenging activity of phytochemicals is also discussed. The medicinal properties of Opuntia, soybean, sea buckthorn, and gooseberry are presented in a number of chapters. Supplementation of plant extract with phytochemical properties in broiler meals is discussed in one chapter. The final two chapters include the impact of agricultural practices and novel processing technologies on the accumulation of phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables. This book mainly focuses on medicinal plants and the disease-preventing properties of phytochemicals, which will be a useful resource to the reader.

This book on organic Rankine cycle technology presents nine chapters on research activities covering the wide range of current issues on the organic Rankine cycle. The first section deals with working fluid selection and component design. The second section is related to dynamic modeling, starting from internal combustion engines to industrial power plants. The third section discusses industrial applications of waste heat recovery, including internal combustion engines, LNG, and waste water. A comprehensive analysis of the technology and application of organic Rankine cycle systems is beyond the aim of the book. However, the content of this volume can be useful for scientists and students to broaden their knowledge of technologies and applications of organic Rankine cycle systems.