The b-values calculated for each region.
\r\n\t
",isbn:"978-1-83969-588-9",printIsbn:"978-1-83969-587-2",pdfIsbn:"978-1-83969-589-6",doi:null,price:0,priceEur:0,priceUsd:0,slug:null,numberOfPages:0,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"543783652b9092962a8fa4bed38eeb17",bookSignature:"Dr. Hamadttu El-Shafie",publishedDate:null,coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10739.jpg",keywords:"Pollinators, Decomposers, Agricultural Intensification, Pesticides Application, Global Warming, Insect Fauna, Invasive Species, Native Species, Deforestation, Destruction of Insect Habitats, Botanical Insecticides, Biodiversity",numberOfDownloads:null,numberOfWosCitations:0,numberOfCrossrefCitations:null,numberOfDimensionsCitations:null,numberOfTotalCitations:null,isAvailableForWebshopOrdering:!0,dateEndFirstStepPublish:"February 25th 2021",dateEndSecondStepPublish:"March 25th 2021",dateEndThirdStepPublish:"May 24th 2021",dateEndFourthStepPublish:"August 12th 2021",dateEndFifthStepPublish:"October 11th 2021",remainingDaysToSecondStep:"17 days",secondStepPassed:!1,currentStepOfPublishingProcess:2,editedByType:null,kuFlag:!1,biosketch:"Associate Professor of entomology, appointed head of Department of Crop protection, then deputy dean of academic affairs, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum. At the moment he is the head of the red palm weevil research program, King Faisal University.",coeditorOneBiosketch:null,coeditorTwoBiosketch:null,coeditorThreeBiosketch:null,coeditorFourBiosketch:null,coeditorFiveBiosketch:null,editors:[{id:"192142",title:"Dr.",name:"Hamadttu",middleName:null,surname:"El-Shafie",slug:"hamadttu-el-shafie",fullName:"Hamadttu El-Shafie",profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/192142/images/system/192142.jpg",biography:"Hamadttu Abdel Farag El-Shafie is an associate professor of entomology and senior research entomologist at the Date Palm Research Center of Excellence, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia. He is the head of IPM research program in date palm. El-Shafie obtained his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the University of Khartoum, Sudan in 1988 and 1993, respectively. He received his Ph.D. degree from University of Giessen, Germany in 2001. He was appointed head of Crop Protection Department at University of Khartoum in 2008, and then deputy dean for academic affairs at Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum. He supervised 25 M.Sc. students and 5 Ph.D. students at University of Khartoum. His research interest focuses on management of field crop pests using neem biopesticides, and biology and ecology of date palm pests including mites. He also has interest in control of red palm weevil using semiochemicals. He published 60 research papers in international peer-reviewed journals and 10 book chapters with international publishers such as Springer, John Wiley and IntechOpen, in addition to more than 25 international conferences in the field of entomology. During the last ten years, he has been reviewing manuscripts for 30 renowned international journals.",institutionString:"King Faisal University",position:null,outsideEditionCount:0,totalCites:0,totalAuthoredChapters:"6",totalChapterViews:"0",totalEditedBooks:"1",institution:{name:"King Faisal University",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"Saudi Arabia"}}}],coeditorOne:null,coeditorTwo:null,coeditorThree:null,coeditorFour:null,coeditorFive:null,topics:[{id:"5",title:"Agricultural and Biological Sciences",slug:"agricultural-and-biological-sciences"}],chapters:null,productType:{id:"1",title:"Edited Volume",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"},personalPublishingAssistant:{id:"346794",firstName:"Mia",lastName:"Miskulin",middleName:null,title:"Ms.",imageUrl:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/346794/images/15795_n.png",email:"mia@intechopen.com",biography:"As an Author Service Manager my responsibilities include monitoring and facilitating all publishing activities for authors and editors. From chapter submission and review, to approval and revision, copyediting and design, until final publication, I work closely with authors and editors to ensure a simple and easy publishing process. I maintain constant and effective communication with authors, editors and reviewers, which allows for a level of personal support that enables contributors to fully commit and concentrate on the chapters they are writing, editing, or reviewing. I assist authors in the preparation of their full chapter submissions and track important deadlines and ensure they are met. I help to coordinate internal processes such as linguistic review, and monitor the technical aspects of the process. As an ASM I am also involved in the acquisition of editors. Whether that be identifying an exceptional author and proposing an editorship collaboration, or contacting researchers who would like the opportunity to work with IntechOpen, I establish and help manage author and editor acquisition and contact."}},relatedBooks:[{type:"book",id:"6418",title:"Hyperspectral Imaging in Agriculture, Food and Environment",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"9005c36534a5dc065577a011aea13d4d",slug:"hyperspectral-imaging-in-agriculture-food-and-environment",bookSignature:"Alejandro Isabel Luna Maldonado, Humberto Rodríguez Fuentes and Juan Antonio Vidales Contreras",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/6418.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"105774",title:"Prof.",name:"Alejandro Isabel",surname:"Luna Maldonado",slug:"alejandro-isabel-luna-maldonado",fullName:"Alejandro Isabel Luna Maldonado"}],productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"1591",title:"Infrared Spectroscopy",subtitle:"Materials Science, Engineering and Technology",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"99b4b7b71a8caeb693ed762b40b017f4",slug:"infrared-spectroscopy-materials-science-engineering-and-technology",bookSignature:"Theophile Theophanides",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/1591.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"37194",title:"Dr.",name:"Theophanides",surname:"Theophile",slug:"theophanides-theophile",fullName:"Theophanides Theophile"}],productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"3092",title:"Anopheles mosquitoes",subtitle:"New insights into malaria vectors",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"c9e622485316d5e296288bf24d2b0d64",slug:"anopheles-mosquitoes-new-insights-into-malaria-vectors",bookSignature:"Sylvie Manguin",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/3092.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"50017",title:"Prof.",name:"Sylvie",surname:"Manguin",slug:"sylvie-manguin",fullName:"Sylvie Manguin"}],productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"3161",title:"Frontiers in Guided Wave Optics and Optoelectronics",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"deb44e9c99f82bbce1083abea743146c",slug:"frontiers-in-guided-wave-optics-and-optoelectronics",bookSignature:"Bishnu Pal",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/3161.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"4782",title:"Prof.",name:"Bishnu",surname:"Pal",slug:"bishnu-pal",fullName:"Bishnu Pal"}],productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"72",title:"Ionic Liquids",subtitle:"Theory, Properties, New Approaches",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"d94ffa3cfa10505e3b1d676d46fcd3f5",slug:"ionic-liquids-theory-properties-new-approaches",bookSignature:"Alexander Kokorin",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/72.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"19816",title:"Prof.",name:"Alexander",surname:"Kokorin",slug:"alexander-kokorin",fullName:"Alexander Kokorin"}],productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"1373",title:"Ionic Liquids",subtitle:"Applications and Perspectives",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"5e9ae5ae9167cde4b344e499a792c41c",slug:"ionic-liquids-applications-and-perspectives",bookSignature:"Alexander Kokorin",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/1373.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"19816",title:"Prof.",name:"Alexander",surname:"Kokorin",slug:"alexander-kokorin",fullName:"Alexander Kokorin"}],productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"57",title:"Physics and Applications of Graphene",subtitle:"Experiments",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"0e6622a71cf4f02f45bfdd5691e1189a",slug:"physics-and-applications-of-graphene-experiments",bookSignature:"Sergey Mikhailov",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/57.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"16042",title:"Dr.",name:"Sergey",surname:"Mikhailov",slug:"sergey-mikhailov",fullName:"Sergey Mikhailov"}],productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"371",title:"Abiotic Stress in Plants",subtitle:"Mechanisms and Adaptations",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"588466f487e307619849d72389178a74",slug:"abiotic-stress-in-plants-mechanisms-and-adaptations",bookSignature:"Arun Shanker and B. Venkateswarlu",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/371.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"58592",title:"Dr.",name:"Arun",surname:"Shanker",slug:"arun-shanker",fullName:"Arun Shanker"}],productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"878",title:"Phytochemicals",subtitle:"A Global Perspective of Their Role in Nutrition and Health",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"ec77671f63975ef2d16192897deb6835",slug:"phytochemicals-a-global-perspective-of-their-role-in-nutrition-and-health",bookSignature:"Venketeshwer Rao",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/878.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"82663",title:"Dr.",name:"Venketeshwer",surname:"Rao",slug:"venketeshwer-rao",fullName:"Venketeshwer Rao"}],productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"4816",title:"Face Recognition",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"146063b5359146b7718ea86bad47c8eb",slug:"face_recognition",bookSignature:"Kresimir Delac and Mislav Grgic",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/4816.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"528",title:"Dr.",name:"Kresimir",surname:"Delac",slug:"kresimir-delac",fullName:"Kresimir Delac"}],productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}}]},chapter:{item:{type:"chapter",id:"47843",title:"Dynamical Features of the Seismicity in Mexico by Means of the Visual Recurrence Analysis",doi:"10.5772/59440",slug:"dynamical-features-of-the-seismicity-in-mexico-by-means-of-the-visual-recurrence-analysis",body:'The recurrence, based in the recurrence Poincare theorem, is a fundamental property of dynamical systems that has been exploited to characterize the behavior of dynamical systems in the phase space. Recurrence is defined when an orbit visits a region of phase space that was previously visited [1]. In this context, the so-called recurrence plot (RP), introduced by Eckmann et al in [2], is a powerful tool for the visualization and analysis of the underlying dynamics of the systems in the phase space like determinism, divergence, periodicity, stationarity among others, for instance the lengths of the diagonal line structures in the RP are related to the positive Lyapunov exponent [3]. Methods based in RP have been successfully applied to wide class of data obtained in physiology, geology, physics, finances and others. RP are especially suitable for the investigation of rather short and non-stationary data [4], and complex systems [5]. For deterministic systems the analysis in the phase space is relatively direct because their solutions are represented as time series, nevertheless, for real natural systems like clime, atmosphere, dimetilsulphure production [6], some of their dynamical variables are gathered as punctual processes. Particularly, the representation of a seismic sequence as a time series is one of the most debated questions in Geophysics, nevertheless natural time analysis, introduced by in [7] by Varotsos et al considers sequences of events and, with this methodology has been possible to identify signals with noises [8] and characterize seismic processes from an order parameter properly defined [9]. Taking in consideration that faults and tectonic plates can be considered as dynamical systems which permit to apply techniques derived from the dynamical systems theory and nonlinear analysis like recurrence plots, clustering, entropy, fractality, correlation, memory among other. In this work we studied properties of the seismicity occurred in Mexico in the period 2006-2014, reported by Servicio Sismológico Nacional, (www.ssn.unam.mx), by considering the occurrence of events as sequences of magnitudes (time series) and determining the recurrence plots. Based on the Visual Recurrence Analysis (VRA), it is possible to get dynamical features of the seismicity. The most important seismic region in Mexico is located along the Mexican Pacific coast. In [10] was proposed a division of 19 regions of the seismo tectonic zone. They took into account seismic characteristics of the existing catalogs for the seismicity occurring in Mexico from 1899 to 2007, for details see [9] and references therein. In order to characterize the Mexican seismicity as a dynamical system driven by the tectonic movements in the Pacific edge, we proposed to investigate the qualitative dynamical features for the dispersion zone, Baja California, and for the subduction zone formed by La Ribera and Cocos plates subducting beneath the Northamerica plate. Taking into account the Geophysical structure, the seismic activity and the b-values in the Gutemberg-Richter law, in this work, six selected regions have been considered. These six regions are named: Baja California (Z1), Jalisco-Colima (Z2), Michoacán (Z3), Guerrero (Z4) and Oaxaca (Z5) and Chiapas (Z6), the first one corresponds with a dispersion zone and the other ones are subduction regions, [11]. The analyzed data set in this work correspond with the Mexican catalogue which is complete for magnitudes greater than 3, within the mentioned period. Since a geophysical point of view, the seismic activity should be individually characterized in each region because the underlying dynamics shows particular features, as is described in the next section. First, seismic data are represented as a temporal sequence of magnitudes, then, the phase space is reconstructed, by estimating the time delay and the embedding dimension. In order to distinguish some features of the underlying dynamics of each Mexican region seismic, the aim of this work is to study the recurrence plot behavior based on the visual recurrence analysis, taking into account the sequence of events (magnitudes) in time and, on the other hand, analyzing the inter-events time series. Our analysis shows important differences in the recurrence maps of each region. Our finding suggest that the patterns obtained could be associated with the local geophysical structures of each subduction and dispersion zones driven by their characteristic nonlinear dynamical features of each region.
To reconstruct the dynamics of the system is necessary to convert the time series in state vectors, being the principal step the phase space reconstruction. Takens [12] showed that it is possible to recreate a topologically equivalent picture of the original multidimensional system behavior by using the time series of a single observable variable. The idea is to estimate a time delay τ, and an embedding dimension m. The parameters, m and τ, must be properly chosen, although there exist some algorithms to do that, appropriated and tested methods are the Mutual Information function to obtain the time delay and, to get the embedding dimension, the False Nearest Neighbors. Once the time delay and the embedding dimension have been approached, the phase space can be reconstructed. For a time series of a scalar variable
the next vector is construct in phase space
where i = 1 to N – (m – 1)τ, τ is time delay, m is the embedding dimension and N – (m – 1)τ is number of states in the phase space. According with the embedding theorem [12] dynamics reconstructed using this formula is equivalent to the dynamics in the phase space in the sense that characteristic invariants of the system are conserved.
Formally, the Mutual Information is defined, for two stochastic variables X and Y, as I(X;Y) = H(Y,X) – H(X|Y) – H(Y|X) where H(Y,X) is the joint entropy, H(X|Y) and H(Y|X) are the conditional entropies. If X represents the sequence x(ti) and Y the respective sequence x(ti + τ) the Mutual Information Function (MIF) is able to calculate the global correlation in a time series taking into account the linear and non linear contributions, being MIF the most frequently used to calculate the time delay and described as follows:
The mutual information I(τ) is a measure of the relative entropy between the joint distribution and the product of distributions P(x(ti)) and P(x(ti + τ)), where P(x(ti), x(ti + τ)) is the joint probability of the signal measured between the times ti and ti + τ. The expressions P(x(ti)) and P(x(ti + τ)) indicates the and marginal probabilities. MIF is a nonlinear generalization of the linear autocorrelation function. According to [13] the suitable value of τ is attained with the first local minimum of I(τ). When the time series is uncorrelated or random, like white noise, the next equality holds
and I(τ) = 0 [14]. Typical cases are white noise, periodic and periodic + noise and Rossler time series. In Figure 1 the MIF behavior for this typical cases are depicted.
MIF behavior for white noise, periodic + noise are uncorrelated signals with a time delay τ = 1. For periodic and Rossler τ = 3 and 13 respectively.
False Nearest Neighbors method (FNN) is an iterative algorithm which estimates the minimal embedding dimension of the system proposed by [15]. The idea is based in the uniqueness theorem of a trajectory in the phase space. A nearest neighbor P of a point Q in a phase space of d-dimensional embedding is labeled false if these points are close only due to the projection from a higher-dimensional (d+1)-dimensional phase space. Thus, the FNNs will separate if the data is embedded in (d+1)-dimensional space, while the true neighbors will remain close. When all the FNNs have been detected, then the minimal sufficient embedding dimension can be identified as the minima dimension needed to achieve zero fractions of the FNNs being the embedding dimension required. For each vector Y(i), its nearest neighbor Y(j) is looked in a m-dimensional space. In order to do a comparison, the distance d((Yi).Y(j)) is calculated. By iteration of points, the condition:
If Mi exceeds a threshold Mth, this vector is marked as a nearest neighbor. When the fraction Mi of vectors that satisfy the condition Mi >Mth, tends to zero the embedding dimension is attained in this case. The FNN is exemplifying with a simple case in Figure 2.
In 1D, B and B’ seem to be nearest neighbors of A, nevertheless in 2D, B’ is a false nearest neighbor.
For the mentioned examples, the false nearest neighbor fraction is calculated as an embedding function and is depicted in the Figure 3. To get the embedding dimension, first was estimated the time delay for each time series by evaluating the respective MIF. For white noise and periodic with noise time series, the embedding dimension is high and for periodic and Rossler signals, the dimension is short.
The fraction of false nearest neighbors, as a function of the embedding dimension, is depicted, for white noise (black), periodic (green), periodic with noise (blue) and Rossler (red) time series.
In [2] Eckmann et al introduced the so-called Visual Recurrence Analysis (VRA) based on a graphical method designed to locate hidden recurrent patterns, nonstationarity and structural changes observed in the phase space of a dynamical system. The aim of the Recurrence Plot (RP) method is to visualize the recurrences of dynamical systems as a function of time. A brief description is as follows: assuming an orbit of the system in the phase space
were
Figure 4 shows examples of RP of the four cases described above: white noise, periodic, periodic with noise and chaotic systems.
In this panel the RP of the cases described above: a) White noise, b) periodic, c) periodic with noise and d) Rossler. Can be observed the different structures of the four examples described above.
We analyzed the whole seismic catalog of the Mexican SSN, (www.ssn.unam.mx) from 2006 to 2014 Due to geophysics features of the Mexican subduction zone, it has been described in [9 and references [20,21,24] therein], sugesting that it can be studied in segments where the six regions are: Baja California (Z1), Jalisco–Colima (Z2), Michoacán (Z3), Guerrero (Z4), Oaxaca (Z5) and Chiapas (Z6), in Figure 5 the six regions are showed.
The six regions are showed in this map. The region Z1 is a dispersion and the regions from Z2 to Z6 the seismicity is driven by subduction regions.
The following panel of Figure 6 displays the seismicity within 2006-2014 periods for each region. It can be observed the seismicity monitored in Region Z1, Peninsula of Baja California where the Pacific–North America plate boundary in southern California and the north side of Baja California peninsula. The seismicity in Region Z2, Jalisco-Colima is a subduction zone located to the west, where the Rivera plate subducts at a steep angle. In the Region Z3 Michoacán, the dip angle of the Cocos plate decreases gradually toward the southeast. For the region Z4, Guerrero is bounded approximately by the onshore projection of the Orozco and O’Gorman fracture zones, the subducted slab is almost horizontal and moves under upper continental plate. The regions Z5, Oaxaca and Z6, Chiapas are located in the southeastern of Mexico, the dip of the subduction zone gradually increases to a steeper subduction in Central America.
Seismicity monitored in the six regions: Z1 Peninsula of Baja California. Z2 Jalisco-Colima. Z3 Michoacán. Z4 Guerrero. Z5, Oaxaca. Z6 Chiapas.
As is showed in Figure 6, the number of earthquakes reported by the SSN in each region is different. Firstly, the seismicity in the region Z1, peninsula of Baja California, shows two periods of time, the fist one from 2006 to 2010 and the second one from 2011 to 2014, in the first period little seismic activity compared to the second is observed, however, a sudden change in the seismic activity is observed, this behavior in the seismic activity before and after 2010 can be observed in the regions Z2 and Z3 corresponding with Jalisco-Colima and Michoacán respectively This situation may be due to system upgrades monitoring stations. As mentioned above, the Z1 region evolve with a process in which the peninsula of Baja California is separated from the continental plate, while in the other regions, the dynamics is driven by subduction between continental plate and plates Rivera and Cocos. Specifically, Jalisco-Colima region (Z2) the subduction is given between La Rivera and The north-America plates where the stress and strain fields determine the direction of movement in which La Rivera subducts being different from the case of the Cocos plate. According with the catalogue, Guerrero (Z4), Oaxaca (Z5) and Chiapas (Z6), are the regions with a high seismic activity. It can be observed that in all regions have occurred earthquakes with magnitudes M ≈ 7. By considering this division of six regions and the seismic activity showing seismic clustering, the b-values in the G-R law were recalculated in each case by using the Aki model [17]:
where <M> is the average magnitude and Mc is the completeness magnitude of the seismic sequence that represents the minimum magnitude over which the frequency-magnitude distribution behaves as the power-law, N~10-bM [18]. The b-values calculated for each region are depicted in Figure 7 and resumed in Table 1.
\n\t\t\t\tREGION\n\t\t\t | \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<M"/>\n\t | \n\t\n\t\tb-Value\n\t | \n
Baja California (Z1) | \n\t3.93 | \n\t1.32 | \n
Jalisco- Colima (Z2) | \n\t4.20 | \n\t1.45 | \n
Michoacán (Z3) | \n\t3.98 | \n\t2.41 | \n
Guerrero (Z4) | \n\t3.91 | \n\t2.07 | \n
Oaxaca (Z5) | \n\t3.92 | \n\t1.97 | \n
Chiapas (Z6) | \n\t4.07 | \n\t1.61 | \n
The b-values calculated for each region.
b-value calculation from the Gutenberg-Richter law for the six regions. In Table 1, the values are resumed.
Because geophysics shaping the seismic zone as well as the various mechanisms and processes that take place in each of the regions, the statistical properties associated with the seismicity of each of these are reflected as different values to the parameters of the laws scaling as in the case of the Gutenberg-Richter law. This situation indicates that the local stress fields and stress must drive the interactions between different parts of a complex system, such as the Earth’s crust. So, through a study in the context of dynamic systems, where the seismic activity is considered as a response to the underlying dynamics is possible to observe different characteristics of the system and not observed directly from a statistical point of view. Although seismicity is considered, as a sequence of events whose measurable variable is the magnitude, cannot be put aside the temporal component, that is, the distribution of interevent defined as the time between two earthquakes within a region while. It is noteworthy that there are time series studies interevent by multifractal analysis for seismicity in Italy [19].
The Figure 8 shows the interevent time series of the seismicity studied. For this time series the behavior of the MIF and FNN fraction is calculated.
Interevent time series associated with the seismic activity observed in 2006-2014 period
In this work six seismic sequences and their respective interevent time series were analyzed by means of the RP method. Firstly the phase space is reconstructed for each sequence. The MIF and FNN fraction for the magnitudes sequences are depicted in Figures 9 and 10. In order to reconstruct the phase space, the time delay τ, and the embedding dimension m, were estimated by taking the first minima of the mutual information function and the False Nearest Neighbors algorithms respectively. Then the recurrence matrix is obtained whose matrix elements, Ri j, are the distances Dij, between states Y(ti) and Y(tj) in the reconstructed phase space, to calculate Dij, the Euclidean norm was chosen. The τ–values and m-values are contained in the Table 2. Once the recurrence matrix is obtained the distribution of distances between states computed, in Figure 12 the probability distribution function (pdf) for distances is showed. The rmax-value of the pfd for Z2, Z4, Z5 and Z6 are located around rmax ≈1.2 and rmax < 1 for Z1 and Z3. As has been mentioned, Z1 is a region where the peninsula is separating from the continental plate and Z3 is located where the border between La Rivera and Cocos plates are in contact and subducted into the continental plate. Regarding the shape of PDF in all cases an exponential tail is observed.
REGION | \n\t\t\n\t\t\tτ\n\t\t | \n\t\t\n\t\t\tm\n\t\t | \n\t
Baja California (Z1) | \n\t\t5 | \n\t\t13 | \n\t
Jalisco- Colima (Z2) | \n\t\t2 | \n\t\t12 | \n\t
Michoacán (Z3) | \n\t\t3 | \n\t\t7 | \n\t
Guerrero (Z4) | \n\t\t3 | \n\t\t9 | \n\t
Oaxaca (Z5) | \n\t\t9 | \n\t\t12 | \n\t
Chiapas (Z6) | \n\t\t4 | \n\t\t11 | \n\t
The τ–values and m-values for each region for the case of seismicity sequence.
From the behavior of MIF is possible to identify the correlation in seismic sequences. According to this behavior, the region with the lowest correlation is Z2 (Jalisco-Colima) and the highest correlation is Z5 (Oaxaca), as is showed in Figure 9. However, the behavior of the FNN fraction as function of the embedding dimension of the seismic sequences indicates that all of them are in phase spaces of high dimension being the shorter Z3 with m = 7.
To calculate the recurrence matrix, the distances between pairs of vectors were computed in phase space. By definition this matrix is symmetric because Dij = Dji, and the principal diagonal Dii\n\t\t\t\t= 0. The Recurrence Plot is the graphical representation of the recurrence matrix. The examples of RP depicted in Figure 4, were drawn in black and white because the recurrence matrix was built according to definition given in Eq. (1). In order to take into account all distances computed and perhaps their distribution (Figure 12), a color code allows characterizing qualitatively some features of the dynamics as are displayed, in the panel of Figure 11, the RP of the six seismic sequences. According [5, 20, 21], RP of some cases of different topologies can be distinguished, for instance: Stationary systems display homogeneous RP like white noise, for periodic or cuasi-periodic systems appears recurrent structures as diagonal lines and checkerboard forms, for non-stationary systems drifts are present, abrupt changes in the systems indicates extreme events, vertical (horizontal) lines represent time intervals where a state remains constant or changes very slowly. In general, the RP of the seismicity occurred from 2006 to 2014 are displayed in Figure 11 where, in a first glance, typical patterns, like periodicity or cuasi periodicity and white noise are not observed. Nevertheless, clusters bordered for vertical and horizontal lines are present suggesting slow changes in the system. The color distribution and the clusters in RP of BC(Z1), JC(Z2), and Ch(Z6) suggest drifts indicating non stationary dynamics associated possibly with their geophysical features because in BC, the Pacific–North America plate boundary in southern California and the north of Baja California peninsula where many faults are connected in a complex geometrical pattern, continuing into a divergent tectonic plate in the Gulf of California. In Jalisco–Colima region, the Rivera plate subducts at a steep angle plate in Central America and for Ch, the Cocos plate subducts beneath the coast but two perpendicular faults, Clipperton and Tehuantepec, contribute wlth their local dinamical evolution. More similar RP structures are dysplayed in M, G and O, which seems to show more stability because the respectives RP are more uniform which could be indicating that the dynamics is driven by the interacion between the Cocos plate which subducts in the same direction beneath the North America plate and the dip angle of the Cocos plate decreases gradually. Our findings are consistent with the results reported in [11] where an analysis of non extensive model of the similar regions were studied indicating that JC region is the most unstable seismic zone in Mexico.
MIF behavior for the magnitude seismic sequences of the six regions.
The fraction of false nearest neighbors, as a function of the embedding dimension, is depicted for all regions.
The distribution function associated with the distances between states in phase space allows us to observe the most likely value, and suggest a other possible criterion for determining characteristics distances among all states in the phase space and to determine the ε-value in the definition of the matrix recurrence (Ec. 7). The Figure 12 shows the pdf of the distances for the six sequences of seismic magnitudes. It is observed that the maximum values of the pdf are located in different possitions and possibly this behavior could be associated with the geophysics features of the regions: Z2, Z4, Z5 and Z6 are subduction zones where Z3 is determined by the relative motion between the Rivera plate and the Continental plate, while the other three are determined by the interaction of the Cocos plate subducting under the continental plate. For Z1 the seismic activity is produced by the movement of separation between the peninsula and the continental shelf of North America and the Z3, the seismic activity is determined by the interaction of the plates Rivera in contact with the plate subducting Cocos and both the continental plate.
On the other hand, the results of the interevent time series are showed in Figure 13 for MIF behavior and Figure 14 for FNN fraction. In Table 3 the τ –values and the embeeding dimension m-values are presented. In contrast with the seismic sequences of magnitudes, the interevent time series the correlations are similar, nevertheless the FNN fraction decrese almost monotonically indicanting high embedding dimension. This behavior is similar with the example of periodic with noise time series suggesting that the inerevent time series could be described with a possible detrministic model plus a stochastic process.
Recurrence Plot of Baja California and Jalisco-Colima (upper). Michoacan and Guerrero (middle), Oaxaca and Chiapas (below)
Probability distribution function of the distance between states in the phase space for the six regions
MIF for sequences of interevents.
\n\t\t\tREGION\n\t\t | \n\t\t\n\t\t\tInterev\n\t\t | \n\t\t\n\t\t\tinterev\n\t\t | \n\t
\n\t\t | \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tτ\n\t\t\t\n\t\t | \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tm\n\t\t\t\n\t\t | \n\t
Baja California (Z1) | \n\t\t4 | \n\t\t20 | \n\t
Jalisco- Colima (Z2) | \n\t\t5 | \n\t\t20 | \n\t
Michoacán (Z3) | \n\t\t4 | \n\t\t13 | \n\t
Guerrero (Z4) | \n\t\t5 | \n\t\t20 | \n\t
Oaxaca (Z5) | \n\t\t4 | \n\t\t20 | \n\t
Chiapas (Z6) | \n\t\t4 | \n\t\t20 | \n\t
The τ–values and m-values for each region, in this case for interevent sequence.
The fraction of false nearest neighbors, as a function of the embedding dimension, is depicted for all regions, now for the interevent sequence.
It is well known that the Mexican Pacific is an important seismic region where large earthquakes have occurred with devastating consequences producing significant economic downturns and especially many human losses. Due to interactions between subduction zones and the slow separation of the Baja California Peninsula, this region is considered a complex system that evolves as consequence of many processes that occur in the interior of the Earth as well as in the areas of contact between the surfaces involved. In this context, [10] proposed a division of 19 regions of the seismo tectonic zone taking into account seismic characteristics of the existing catalogs for the seismicity occurring in Mexico from 1899 to 2007 and a seismic historic compilation from previous publications and of some catalogs. In order to distinguish some features of the underlying dynamics of each Mexican region seismic, the aim of this work is to study the recurrence plot behavior based on the visual recurrence analysis, taking into account the sequence of events (magnitudes) in time and, on the other hand, analyzing the inter-events time series. Our analysis shows important differences in the recurrence maps of each region. In a similar way by considering the seismicity monitored by SSN within the period 2006-2014, and identifying clusters of earthquakes that can be associated with the geophysical features of the Mexican Pacific, six regions were considered to study (Figure 5). In this paper we studied dynamical features of the six seismic regions located along Mexican Pacific coast. The analyzed data set corresponds with the Mexican seismic catalogue reported by the SSN. First, sequences of magnitude of earthquakes and the interevent time series were studied. Their analysis was performed by means of the phase state reconstruction and the RP of each region. Our findings indicate a possible correlation between the RP calculated and the geophysical features characteristics in each zone (panel of Figure 11). RP displayed of BC, JC and Ch show non periodicities, correlation (not white noise structure), non stationariety. For M, G and O, RP are more similar and stability is observed. The results for the interevents time series, short correlation and large embedding dimension, suggest the possibility to establish a combination between a detremiistic model plus a stochastic noise. Our finding suggest that the patterns obtained could be associated with the local geophysical structures of each subduction and dispersion zones driven by their characteristic nonlinear dynamical features of each region.
This work was supported by the Irreversible Processes Physics Research Area of Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, México. ARR, LRMT and RTPH thanks to Basic Sciences Department of UAM. IRR thanks UPIITA-IPN México. ARR thanks the bilateral Project CNR (Italy) and CONACyT (México).
In recent years, the attention of specialists is increasingly focused on the assessment of motor functions in the preschool period. One of the reasons is the growing number of children with delayed motor development, whose symptoms can be either leading (Developmental dyspraxia, Developmental Coordination Disorder) or part of other neurodevelopmental syndromes (Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). In any case, the incomplete formation of motor skills is accompanied by cognitive, language, and emotional disorders that have a negative impact on children’s school readiness.
The objective analysis of the observed deficits is directly related to the differential diagnostic and prognostic aspects of child development. The latter are the subject of child neuropsychology, whose methodological tools are aimed at analyzing the formation of higher mental functions (gnosis, praxis and language) and their relationship with the maturation of different brain regions. The complex neurophysiological organization of these functions and the individual rates of development of the child’s brain are a prerequisite for separating the neuropsychology of individual differences (differential neuropsychology). Developments in the field outline the natural stages and patterns of formation of higher mental functions, their sensitive periods and age norms.
The range of age norms, which determines the registration of developmental disorders, is related to the tendency to “go” beyond the traditional framework of pathology and draws attention to the stages and patterns of typical ontogenesis. The diagnosis of any mental function is based on the notions of its normative meanings and is important for identifying so-called “soft” developmental abnormalities [1]. Along with the general characteristics of the functions, the researchers’ interest is focused on the variability and peculiarities of neuropsychological development, referred to as the “typology of the norm”. This explains the increasing emphasis on the cases of the “low” child norm, defined as a risk for the development of specific learning difficulties [2].
The active inclusion of neuropsychological methods in the study of the child population is associated with new trends in the analysis of mental development - from purely diagnostic to prognostic; from finding isolated deficits to describing syndromes and developing adequate treatment strategies [3]. The changes also reflect the idea of replacing the static approach with a dynamic one, in which the analysis focuses on the interaction between brain structures and mental functioning in the context of social conditions [4].
Chronology and normative diversity in the development of praxis functions are one of the least developed units in child neuropsychology. These functions have a complex brain organization, including processes of spatial orientation, coordination, programming and recoding of motor models, which is why their assessment has important prognostic value for child development. The fact is that, unlike established tools for language and cognitive functions, the diagnosis of motor development has not yet developed a gold standard assessment tool [5]. One of the explanations is that the early developments on the problems of motor development are mainly in the field of psychology and refer to the first half of the 20th century. By the 1960s, the subject of research has shifted from the biology of children’s motor behavior in the direction of language and cognitive development as genetically related to learning [6].
Scientific developments in recent decades are an example of compensating for this discrepancy and show increased interest in the laws of motor ontogenesis and its neurophysiological organization. This is largely due to the recognition that the level of motor development is a determining factor for growth and behavior [7]. This is a reason to assume that the identification of deficits in complex motor (practical) functions during the preschool period allows timely support and optimization of cognitive and emotional-behavioral development of children.
Gabbard and co-authors [7] consider motor development as a change in motor behavior influenced by the interaction of biological factors and the influence of the environment (training and education). Discussions on the subject correspond to the theory of dynamic systems, according to which man is a dynamic and self-organizing unit, consisting of a large number of systems (nervous, muscular, cognitive, etc.), each of which has different levels of organization. From this position, development is seen as a process of constant change in behavioral patterns under the influence of the environment and tasks. The theory outlines three main variables - individual, task and environment, the interaction between which generates spontaneous adaptive behavior. According to the cited authors, dynamic systems should be considered as part of the global (general) development systems, which approach gives a broader perspective in the study and understanding of development. Attempts are also made to integrate the theory of dynamic systems in the process of motor therapy in some forms of pathology - Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Coordination Disorder, post-stroke conditions [6].
By accepting the stimulating role of the environment as leading to development, the theory of dynamic systems differs significantly from the older neuronal theory of maturation, which emphasizes the role of the nervous system [8]. According to the neuronal maturation theory, the stimulating effect of the environment is limited by the genetically set stages of maturation of the nervous system. From this point of view, training and therapy can lead to changes in the development of a function only after the associated nerve structures reach a certain degree of maturity.
A compromise between the first two is the Neuronal Group Selection Theory, which views development as the result of a complex intertwining of information from genes and environment. It defines variability as a basic principle of typical ontogenesis, relating to all its parameters - duration of stages of development, motor, language and cognitive skills. Neuronal Group Selection Theory postulates the initial existence of complex vertical connections between a huge number of neurons at the cortical and subcortical level, united in dynamically changing network systems (neuronal groups) with the character of functional units. The structural and functional organization of neuronal groups varies and is selected depending on the stage of development, afferent information and behavioral requirements (in [8]).
Similar ideas are shared by the theory of neural modular organization of the central nervous system [9, 10], which considers the structural development of the cortex as related to the formation of neural ensembles (neural centers) underlying mental ontogenesis. Those of them, which have the same type of functions, are provided in a larger structure - modules, with the nature of the basic units for information processing. Neural ensembles in all parts of the cortex are in a process of constant change. Although they obey a single mechanism, they have uneven dynamics over time. The rate of brain transformation is heterochronous, and developmental changes are faster the smaller the child.
The last two theories correspond closely with the leading principle in child neuropsychology for heterochronous formation of higher mental functions [11, 12, 13]. According to him, the functional organization of mental development is subject to a certain chronological sequence, in which each function is distinguished by its chronological formula and cycle of development, specifically related to the stimuli of the environment. The uneven formation of the functions explains the differences in their sensitive periods and the anticipatory development of some of them. The combination of genetically determined heterochrony and environmental influences determine the variety of individual (phenotypic) variants of development, often located at both extremes of the age norm - high and low [14]. Phenotypic diversity is among the leading goals of differential neuropsychology, related to the analysis of variants in the formation of cortical–subcortical brain systems and partial retardation in the development of individual higher functions (gnostic, practical, linguistic) within the typical development [11].
The syndrome analysis has a direct connection with the regularities in the development, the main task of which is the assessment of the individual neuropsychic profile. Except in cases of neurodevelopmental disorders, it also applies to the variety of cases within the typical child development. In this regard, some authors [13] use the term “positive developmental syndrome” as a combination of functions that have reached a certain level of development (positive symptoms). Due to the rapid changes in cerebral functional systems in early childhood, the derivation of regulatory trends should cover close age periods.
At the same time, the objective assessment of each individual case requires consideration of the dynamics of developmental changes related to the analysis of the beginning and direction of the developmental trajectory of the specific phenotype [15]. It should be taken into account that the initial phase of brain development is very different from the final one [16, 17, 18]. The reason is that in the beginning the normal children’s cortex is strongly interconnected and the functioning modules are not independent, which explains the cascading effects of any early impairment on the formation and dynamics of new habits [16]. Its transformation into more and more specialized and localized as functions takes place gradually and under the influence of the constantly incoming information.
The ontogenesis of motor functions has a very early onset in childhood development. Like other higher functions, they depend on the dynamics of the physiological maturation of the brain in its three dimensions: vertical, horizontal and lateral, subject to the principles of heterochrony and systemicity. According to morphological studies, in the first years of postnatal ontogenesis the system of vertical connections (crust - subcortex) develops most actively, and the period of 5–6 years is a time of intensive formation of horizontal connections (intrahemispheric and interhemispheric). The levels of the projection and associative zones of the cortex also reach maturity at different time periods [19].
The formation of practical functions is determined by the stages and dynamics of motor development and its main components such as accuracy, speed and coordination. Like other higher cortical functions, they have a complex brain organization based on neural networks between a large number of sensory and motor regions of the cortex and subcortex. Despite the variety of forms, each type of praxis presupposes the execution of purposeful and consciously controlled movements with the character of automatisms. Their development at an early age is a condition for the acquisition of social habits and school skills (in particular, graphomotor). The importance of visual-motor integration and fine motor control for the formation of skills and quality of writing has been proven [5, 20, 21]. There is a large amount of evidence for the importance of visual-motor integration and fine motor control in the formation of skills and quality of writing [5, 20, 21]. Leading role in the formation of complex coordinated movements has different structures of the frontal and parietal lobes. Their maximum connectivity is the basis for the acquisition and implementation of motor habits [22].
Compared to other organs, the brain reaches adult size at a much earlier stage. Compared to other organs, the brain reaches adult size at a much earlier stage. The maturation of the cortical areas regulates the sequence and stages of development of the mental functions and abilities associated with these areas. For example, between 3 and 12 months, the increasing number of synapses in the auditory and visual cortex corresponds to the accelerated development of the child’s auditory and visual perceptions. Apart from being a sensitive period for the sensory base of mental functions, the first year is associated with the active development of the motor (precentral) and kinesthetic (postcentral) areas of the cortex [23, 24].
The maturation of the leading structures for the motor functions of the frontal lobe (motor, premotor and prefrontal areas) is subject to the principle of heterochronous development. Data from neurophysiological studies show that in the first two years of life the motor areas develop most actively, and in the period 2–4 years their neuronal organization approaches that of adults. Structurally and functionally, the premotor area is close to the mature brain at 7 years of age. In the slowest maturing prefrontal cortex, several stages of significant changes in the neuronal ensemble organization are observed, which relate to the time 1 year, 3 years, 5–6 years, 9 years, and 12–14 years [25, 26, 27]. Although they do not have motor functions, the fields of the prefrontal cortex are crucial for the regulation of motor behavior. This is due to their close connection with the posterior associative cortex, the premotor cortex, the basal ganglia and the cerebellum.
Of the areas of parietal lobe, gyrus angularis and gyrus supramarginalis are those that are crucial for the development of the most complex mental functions. There is evidence for their connection with the integrative function of speech for spatially organized and visually controlled subject actions, as well as for the periods of the most significant morphofunctional changes in these regions. These periods refer to 2 and 7 years of age and coincide with a qualitative complication of the child’s activities [10]. Some authors [22] consider the left supramarginal gyrus as a structure directly involved in the formation of praxis, in particular in the acquisition of motor habits, graphomotor and speech skills.
Dowell and co-authors [28] comment on the complex neurophysiological organization of praxis functions and present the structural-functional mechanism associated with the realization of learned movements. It is based on literature data, according to which the mechanism is based on the interaction of the areas of the frontal and parietal lobes. The analysis presents gyrus angularis and gyrus supramarginalis as a place for storage of spatio-temporal notions of learned movements. Due to their close connection with the structures of the premotor cortex, they have a stimulating effect on its programming functions. As a result, the premotor divisions recode the visual motor representations into motor programs and direct them to the motor cortex for execution. This leads to the conclusion that praxis functions have a universal organization, including the following main components: formation of ideas for the somatospatial and temporal characteristics of the movement (parietal cortex) and recoding of the visual image in the motor programs (premotor areas of the frontal cortex).
Because the development of praxis is based on the coding of visually perceived movement with subsequent motor imitation, a number of researchers emphasize its connection with the work of the mirror nervous system. Both forms of imitation - for known and unknown movements are related to the mechanism of comparing the currently perceived motor information with the respective motor representations. Summary data from fMRI study [29, 30] show the importance of the mirror nervous system for the early imitative behavior of children and emphasize the role of “core circuit” for imitation. It is based on the connections between three regions: the superior temporal sulcus (visual description of the action), the parietal parts of the mirror system (motor components of the action) and the frontal parts of the same (purpose of the action). Separate studies [31] have also linked gestural imitation processes to the cortical neural network of the lower frontal, anterior lower parietal and posterior upper temporal lobes, raising the idea of its bilateral organization. The latter is commented by a number of authors [32, 33], according to which, despite its bilateral organization, the imitation of the gesture has a more pronounced lateralization in the area of the left parietal cortex.
The analysis of the literature outlines the period of middle childhood (4–6 years) as sensitive to neuropsychological development. Peculiarities of motor functioning in children with typical development have important diagnostic and prognostic significance for learning readiness. However, the assessment of praxis functions during this period remains poorly developed within child neuropsychology. Systematic research in this direction faces the following tasks: outlining age trends and deriving standards for the development of praxis; development of differential diagnostic criteria for assessment of children at risk of learning disabilities; formulation of methods and approaches for preventive therapy in case of delayed formation of praxis functions. Some of these tasks we try to solve in the presented analysis of our own research.
The main goal of the study is to analyze the state of two types of praxis with similar brain mechanisms - dynamic and spatial postural praxis in children of preschool age (4–6 years) with typical development. The additional comparative analysis of the results aims to outline the state of the fronto-parietal neural connectivity and the developmental tendencies of the complex practical functions in the indicated age period.
Two neuropsychological samples adapted for childhood were used to study the praxis functions - a sample for dynamic praxis and a sample for spatial postural praxis. The samples are included in the Neuropsychological Diagnostic Battery for Children [34] and are described below.
It is from the group of samples for serial (successive) organization of movements. The application of the sample allows studying the following praxis components: mastering of a motor program according to a sample and automation of the program (model) with switching of the movements. Given the early age of the children, the sample includes two consecutive programs with increasing difficulty: the first alternates two elements (fist - “side”), and the second alternating elements are three (fist - “side” - palm). The movements are demonstrated by the researcher three times at a moderate pace. The instruction requires the child to memorize and repeat them six times as quickly as possible. In case of incorrect implementation, three levels of assistance are offered: first degree - re-demonstration; second degree - simultaneous performance (together with the child); third degree - simultaneous performance with verbal comment (naming the movements).
The evaluation of the performance of the two series is similar and is based on the following criteria:
After the first demonstration - 4 points;
After first aid (re-demonstration) - 3 points;
After the second level of assistance (joint implementation) - 2 points;
After the third degree of assistance (with verbal comment) - 1 point;
Failure and after all levels of assistance - 0 points.
The analysis of the mechanisms of the dynamic praxis sample outlines its complex nature, based on the involvement of different cortical areas. Performance depends on both the development of executive functions and the acquisition of consciously controlled movements (frontal cortex) and the ability to mimic movements (lower frontal, anterior lower parietal and upper temporal lobes), deficits in which are the leading symptom in cases of developmental dyspraxia [31, 32]. Experimental data show qualitative changes in executive functions during preschool and early school age, associated with progressive growth of posterior and anterior associative fields and increased density of neural groups in the regions of the forehead [35, 36]. This defines the study of dynamic praxis as a way to assess the condition and development of the fronto-parietal nerve connections. At the same time, the heterochronous nature of neuropsychic ontogenesis hypothesizes differences in the ability to learn motor programs among typically developing children. This has great prognostic value, as it allows separating the cases of low normative performances related to the risk of learning difficulties.
The sample was proposed by H. Head in the early 20th century to evaluate ideomotor practice for new movements in cases of local brain damage. The variant we use was modified by Luria and defined by him as a “spatial practice of posture.” Like the first, the Head test is also complex. What is specific about it is a more pronounced emphasis on the visual–spatial organization of the movements of the hand in the coordinate space of the face (horizontal, frontal, sagittal). The defining role in its implementation is played by the ideas about one’s own body (body scheme) and the processes of spatial synthesis (spatial recoding), directly related to the work of the lower parietal areas. At the same time, the gestural-imitative nature of the tasks connects its neurophysiological mechanisms with bilateral fronto-parietal activity, more pronounced in the area of the left parietal cortex [28, 31].
In order to evaluate as objectively as possible, we used the sensitized version of the sample. In it, the researcher sits opposite the child and demonstrates different poses with both hands. The child should repeat them, focusing on the parts of his own body. The instruction pays special attention to the requirement that what the adult does with his right or left hand, the child must do with his right or left hand. Before the beginning of the demonstration, the child’s right and left orientation on his own body and on the person sitting opposite is checked.
The demonstrated movements are divided into two groups on the principle of increasing difficulty. The first group includes 10 movements with one hand, and the second group includes 3 movements with both hands simultaneously. Bimanual movements are demonstrated only if the child completes the last three tasks of the first part (8, 9 and 10).
First group of movements:
The palm of the right hand on the right cheek;
The nape of the left hand on the left cheek;
The palm of the left hand on the right cheek;
Right hand (palm forward) rests right cheek;
The dorsal part of the right hand rests the chin (fingers forward);
The fingers of the left hand to the chin;
Right hand in front of the forehead (palm pointing down);
The palm of the left hand in front of the forehead (vertical position, facing to the right);
Right hand in a fist under the chin;
10.Left hand in a fist to the left cheek.
The second group of movements:
Left hand (palm) on the right cheek, the back of the right hand rests the left elbow;
The nape of the left hand is placed on the right, clenched into a fist;
The left hand holds the right ear; the back of the right hand is on the left cheek.
In both movements, the initial assessment is formed on the basis of the following criteria:
Proper performance - 2 points;
Mirror performance (spatial error type) - 1 point;
Wrong performance (somatotopic error) - 0 points.
Despite some differences, the imitative nature of the samples for dynamic praxis and spatial postural praxis determines the common elements of their neurophysiological mechanisms. As mentioned, they are related to the formation and dynamics of complexes of the fronto-parietal nerve connections. Both samples involve preserving the spatio-temporal characteristics of visually perceived motor patterns (lower parietal divisions with more pronounced left hemispheric activity), recoding the representational images in appropriate motor programs (premotor divisions of the frontal lobe) and directing them to the motor cortex for execution. The specificity and tendencies of the performance of tasks by typically developing children in preschool age are indirect evidence of the dynamics of maturation of the cerebral mechanisms of complex praxis functions.
365 typically developing children without motor impairment signs participated in the study. All children are 4–6 years old, attend state children’s schools and have Bulgarian as their mother tongue. The study considers the influence on the development of the praxis functions of three factors - age, demographic conditions (type of settlement) and gender. The following groups were formed in this connection: three age groups: 4-year-olds (116 children), 5-year-olds (128 children) and 6-year-olds (121 children); three demographic groups: - 195 children from the capital (1,500,000 inhabitance), 90 children from the big city (80,000 inhabitance) and 80 children from the small town (11,000 inhabitance). The proportion according to gender is 173 male and 192 female.
The following statistical methods were used to process the results: three-factor analysis of variance for independent variables (F-criterion) and Post-Hoc analysis (Duncan test) to check the differences between the compared averages in the dispersion complex. The use of three-factor analysis of variance is explained by the specifics of the sample of subjects, which requires the separation of 3 independent factors - age, demographic conditions (type of settlement) and gender. For the needs of qualitative interpretation of the data, the analysis was supplemented by the percentage of types of incorrect answers when performing the tasks.
The data from the statistical processing of the results will be presented separately for each of the samples.
The results of the analysis of variance showed a statistically significant influence on the state of the dynamic (serial) organization of movements and of all three factors. Statistically strongest influence was the factor age (F = 15.62; p < 0.00000), followed by the influence of the demographic factors (F = 9.82; p < 0.00007) and gender (F = 3.89; p < 0.0493). The interaction between age and demographic factors was also statistically significant (F = 4.033; p < 0.003), as was the triple interaction between age * settlement * gender (F = 4.91; p < 0.00073).
The profile of the age factor shows a regular increase in the scores of the test in the observed age period. The most significant increase is in the transition from 5 to 6 years; the differences in the average scores of children aged 4 and 5 are insignificant (Figure 1).
Effect of age factor on the results of dynamic praxis.
The data from the statistical check of the influence of the age factor are also confirmed by the Duncan test. It shows significant differences between the results of 6-year-olds and those of the other two age groups (Table 1).
Ages | {1} - 5.3043 | {2} - 5.5984 | {3} - 6.5574 |
---|---|---|---|
4 years | 0.163378 | 0.000011 | |
5 years | 0.163378 | 0.000014 | |
6 years | 0.000011 | 0.000014 |
Significance of differences in the average scores of each age group in the dynamic praxis sample.
The graph outlining the influence of the demographic factor shows the highest average results for children from large cities and much lower ones for children from the capital and small cities (Figure 2). The fact is confirmed by Duncan’s test, according to which there are significant differences between the average scores in the big city and those in other settlements. There are no significant differences between the average results of the children from the capital and the small town (Table 2). This means that the statistically significant influence of the demographic factor is due to the very high results of the children from the big city.
Effect of demographic factor on the results of dynamic praxis.
Settlement | {1} - 5.6237 | {2} - 6.4667 | {3} - 5.6000 |
---|---|---|---|
the capital | 0.000216 | 0.916957 | |
big city | 0.000216 | 0.000210 | |
small town | 0.916957 | 0.000210 |
Significance of the differences in the average scores between the children from the different settlements on the sample for dynamic praxis.
The statistical influence of the gender factor is determined by the significant differences in the average results of boys and girls, where girls show better achievements in learning and performing motor programs (Figure 3).
Effect of gender factor on the results of dynamic praxis.
The additional distribution of the results according to the different evaluation criteria outlines the trends in the development of the dynamic praxis in the period 4–6 years and supports the qualitative interpretation of the data (Table 3). Note that in all tables the highest values are indicated in bold.
Naturally, the weakest development of dynamic praxis is observed in children at 4 years of age. It is confirmed by the fact of the lowest performance after the first demonstration in both programs. In the two-element program, the highest results of the 4-year-olds (40%) are based on re-demonstration, and the highest in the three-element program (33%) are based on joint implementation. More than half of the 5-year-old children (56%) master the two-element program after the first demonstration, and here too the largest number (27%) is those who master the three-element program after joint implementation. Confirmation of the positive dynamics of this type of practice in both age groups gives the implementation of the program of three elements after the first demonstration: such is registered in 13% of children at 4 years and in 23% of children at 5 years. For comparison, in the group of 6-year-olds the performance of the sample after the first demonstration was respectively: 76% (in the two-element program) and 36% (in the three-element program).
Program of 2 elements | Program of 3 elements | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ages | 1stdemonstration | 2nddemonstration | joint implementation | with a verbal comment | 1stdemonstration | 2nddemonstration | joint implementation | with a verbal comment | wrong execution |
4 years | 37% | 40% | 20% | 3% | 13% | 28% | 33% | 23% | 3% |
5 years | 56% | 24% | 12% | 9% | 23% | 22% | 27% | 19% | 9% |
6 years | 76% | 16% | 5% | 3% | 36% | 33% | 22% | 7% | 2% |
Distribution of the results according to the performance criteria of the dynamic praxis test.
In the sample for spatial postural (ideomotor) praxis, the values of the F-criterion show a statistically significant influence of the same factors: age (F = 23.44; p < 0.000), demographic conditions (F = 8.142; p < 0.000) and gender (F = 6640; p < 0.010). The double interaction age * settlement is also significant (F = 6766; p < 0.000). Similar to the previous one, in this sample the profile of the age factor has the greatest influence. It shows a gradual increase in the total score in the period 4–6 years, with a sharp rise in values in 6-year-old children (Figure 4).
Effect of age factor on the total score for spatial postural praxis ((ideomotor) praxis).
According to Duncan’s test, statistically significant differences are observed between the mean scores of each of the two age groups (Table 4).
Age | {1} - 8.8696 | {2} - 11.276 | {3} - 16.000 |
---|---|---|---|
4 ages | 0.011307 | 0.000011 | |
5 ages | 0.011307 | 0.000009 | |
6 ages | 0.000011 | 0.000009 |
Significance of differences in the average scores of each age group for spatial postural (ideomotor) praxis.
In both the dynamic praxis test and the ideomotor praxis test, the statistically significant influence of the demographic factor is due to the higher scores of children in the big city, followed by children in the small town and children in the capital (Figure 5).
Effect of the demographic (settlement) factor on the total score for spatial postural praxis (ideomotor) praxis).
This explains the existence of statistically significant differences between the results of children from the capital and the big city and children from the capital and the small town (Table 5). Due to the close results, there are no significant differences between the average scores of children from a big city and a small town.
Settlement | {1} - 15.402 | {2} - 17.700 | {3} - 16.912 |
---|---|---|---|
The capital | 0.001127 | 0.027192 | |
Big city | 0.001127 | 0.249477 | |
Small town | 0.027192 | 0.249477 |
Significance of differences in the average scores for spatial postural praxis between children from different settlement.
Similarly to the first sample, the influence of the sex factor turned out to be, which in the sample for spatial postural praxis is again due to the higher average score of the girls (Figure 6).
Effect of the gender factor on the total score for spatial postural praxis (ideomotor) praxis).
In parallel with the cases of correct performance, in all age groups of children were analyzed the cases of mirror performance (echopraxic) and incorrect performance of the stimuli in the sample (Table 6). The following age trend in the distribution of the ways of performing the sample is outlined: in children at the age of 4 the cases of correct, mirror and wrong performance are distributed almost evenly (34% - 36% - 30%), with a slight predominance of the mirror performance; in children aged 5 and 6, the cases of correct implementation prevail against the background of the reduction of the wrong, most typical for 6-year-olds, respectively: the distribution of cases of correct, mirror and wrong performance in children at 5 years is 44% - 35% - 21%, and in children at 6 years it is 63% - 23% - 14%.
Age | Proper performance | Mirror performance | Wrong performance |
---|---|---|---|
4 ages | 34% | 36% | 30% |
5 ages | 44% | 35% | 21% |
6 ages | 63% | 23% | 14% |
Distribution of the types of performance of the sample for spatial postural practice in all groups of children.
The results of the study of the two types of praxis functions will be commented both sequentially and comparatively. The purpose of such a presentation is to derive the features and general trends in their development.
As mentioned, although they have their own specifics, dynamic and ideomotor practice has a similar neurophysiological organization associated with their imitative nature. Their implementation implies preservation of the spatial and temporal characteristics of the visually perceived movements (lower parts of the parietal lobe), their recoding in motor programs (premotor areas of the frontal lobe) and subsequent reproduction (motor lobes of the frontal lobe).
Statistical analysis of the data from the dynamic praxis sample showed a significant influence on the performance of three independent factors: age (F = 15.62; p < 0.00000), demographic conditions (F = 9.82; p < 0.00007) and gender (F = 3.89; p < 0.0493), as well as the interaction of some of them. The age factor has the strongest influence on the performance of the tasks, which is confirmed by the results of the Duncan test (Table 1). There were no significant differences between the groups of children aged 4 and 5, which indicates a close level of skills to perform consecutive movements. Significant differences in the results are registered between each of the indicated groups and the group of 6-year-old children, respectively: 4- and 5-year-olds (p ≤ 0.163378), 4- and 6-year-olds (p ≤ 0.000011) and 5- and 6-year-olds (p ≤ 0.000014).
The data objectify the conclusion that in children with typical development the period of 4–6 years coincides with the beginning of the formation of the manual dynamic praxis. Due to the sharp improvement in praxis skills, the age of 6 years should be considered critical for the development and control of successive motor programs and the brain departments responsible for them.
Information about the dynamics in the mechanisms and stages of formation of the dynamic praxis is presented by the data from Table 3. They reflect the quantitative distribution of the ways of performing the tasks and the age changes in them. The conclusion that dynamic praxis is least developed in 4-year-old children is confirmed, most of whom (39%) perform the two-component program after the second demonstration, and one third (33%) master the program of three movements only in conditions of joint implementation. The positive changes in 5-year-olds are mainly related to the improved implementation of the two-element program, as more than half of the children (56%) implement this program after the first demonstration. At the same time, the three-element program continues to be dominated by the joint implementation criterion (27%). Despite the fact that at the age of 5 the number of children who mastered the three-element program after the first demonstration increased, the results of the criterion for joint implementation still prevailed. Significant changes in the state of dynamic praxis are registered after the age of 6, which is confirmed by the growing number of performances after the first demonstration: 76% implementation of the two-element program and 36% implementation of the three-element program. There is also a significant reduction in cases of joint implementation (5%) and especially the performance with verbal comment (3%).
The presented data provide indirect information about the stage of formation of the functional system of dynamic praxis. They show that at the age of 4 years the brain structures associated with the realization of motor series are organized on a generalized principle, which after the age of 5 begins to be replaced by a process of gradual specialization. The significant change in the results during the period 6–7 years is a reason to consider this age as sensitive for the development of the dynamic praxis and the formation of the bilateral fronto-parietal neural complexes.
According to the influence of the demographic factor, the best development of the dynamic praxis is shown by the children from a big city, significantly ahead of those from the capital and the small town (Table 2). To some extent, this did not confirm the expectation of a leading place for children from the capital in terms of neuropsychological development. Although the facts need further study, it can be assumed that in contrast to the moderately populated, places with a very high concentration of population do not have the necessary stimulating effect on the cerebral ontogenesis of motor and executive functions of children. In our opinion, the causes are complex, including a variety of factors with different effects on early cerebral ontogenesis. This corresponds to the cited theories of the specific interaction of biological and social factors and the impact of the environment on the exposure to genetically determined heterochrony, leading to a variety of individual variants of development.
Although less pronounced, the statistically significant influence of the gender factor is due to the higher results of girls, and their presence indicates the connection of this factor with the development of complex praxis functions. This conclusion is complemented by the similar influence of gender on the performance of the sample for spatial postural praxis. Therefore, the fronto-parietal nerve connections and the mirror nervous system of girls undergo faster development, the effect of which may have preferences for various manual activities.
Qualitative analysis of the results leads to the following conclusions: available for children at 4 years is the shortened version of the sample for dynamic practice, while the implementation of the three-element version is associated with many gaps and motor perseverations; 5-year-olds do better with the complex version of the test, but the transcoding of spatio-temporal representations in motor programs is slow, movements are stiff and require maximum concentration; in children at the age of 6 the recoding of motor representations is significantly improved, the performance becomes more accurate, there is an opportunity for self-control and correction of errors.
Statistical analysis of the ideomotor praxis sample showed a significant influence of the same three independent factors: age (F = 23.44; p < 0.000), demographic conditions (F = 8.142; p < 0.000) and gender (F = 6640; p < 0.010). The leading influence of the age factor is again related to the gradual improvement of the results of the tasks and to the presence of statistically significant differences between each of the two age averages (Table 4). This is complemented by the quantitative distribution of data on the individual criteria for sample performance: Proper performance, Mirror performance and Wrong performance (Table 6).
The observed age trend is associated with a transition from a predominant mirror performance in children at 4 years (34%) to proper performance in children on 5 and 6 years. The close percentage results of the three types of performance at the age of 4 years speak of a generalized principle of organization of the brain mechanisms, characteristic in the performance of the test for dynamic praxis. It is replaced by processes of gradual specialization of the motor areas related to motor imitations (parietal and frontal) and leads to an increased number of proper performance in the next two age periods (44% in children at 5 years and 63% in children at 6 years). It can be assumed that the reduction of the cases of mirror and wrong execution is directly related to the active maturation of the lower parietal departments as responsible for the spatial synthesis and the ideas about one’s own body. The age dynamics in the skills of children to imitate movements gives grounds to consider the age of 6 years as a sensitive period for the development of spatial postural (ideomotor) praxis.
Valuable information about age-related changes in visual-spatial orientation and ideomotor practice is provided by the comparison of each of the two age groups according to the criteria for correct, mirror and wrong performance, conducted by Student’s t-test. The data show that according to the criterion for correct performance significant differences are registered between each of the two age groups: 4- and 5-year-olds (p ≤ 0.001); 4- and 6-year-olds (p ≤ 0.001) and 5- and 6-year-olds (p ≤ 0.001), and their presence indicates a uniform and gradual formation of the mechanisms of spatial postural praxis in the considered age period.
According to the criterion for mirror (echopraxical) performance, the picture of the results is different due to the lack of significant differences between the groups of 4- and 5-year-olds (p ≥ 0.05). There are significant differences in the cases of mirror performance of tasks between children aged 4 and 6 (p ≤ 0.001), as well as between children aged 5 and 6 (p ≤ 0.001). This means that only after the age of 6 do most of the children become able to perform mental spatial recoding of the motor image and adequate spatial synthesis of the observed movements. As the mirror performance is explained by underdevelopment of the spatial orientation, the close values according to this criterion in the first two age groups (4 and 5 years) confirm the sensitive nature of the 6-year-old age and for the development of the spatial function.
Similar to the first criterion, significant differences in the criterion for incorrect (wrong) performance of the sample are registered between each of the two age groups, respectively: between children aged 4 and 5 (p ≤ 0.001), between children aged 4 and 6 (p ≤ 0.001) and between children aged 5 and 6 (p ≤ 0.001). Although it decreases with age, the presence of these cases indicates an incomplete process of formation of the scheme of the body (somatognosis), directly related to the spatial orientation in its parts (on oneself and on others). The presence of such somatotopic errors is more global in nature and is a serious indicator of future learning difficulties.
Qualitative changes in the analyzed executive functions in the period 4–6 years are explained in some neuroanatomical data showing increased growth of the posterior and anterior associative fields and increased density of neural groups (ensembles) in areas of the frontal lobe, in particular in the premotor cortex [35, 36]. Developmental changes in the bioelectrical activity of the child’s brain, related to the predominant alpha rhythm and improvement of its spatial organization, are also indicated as a sign of maturation of the cerebral departments [37]. The age periods 6–7 and 9–10 years are indicated as transient for the dynamics of the alpha rhythm, which supports the conclusion about the importance of 6 years of age in the development of praxis functions.
The demographic factor has a significant impact on ideomotor praxis, which again is due to the highest average score for children from a large city and the lowest for children from the capital. Statistically significant on the Duncan test are the differences between the averages of the children from the capital and from a big city (p ≤ 0.001127), as well as children from a small town and a big city (p ≤ 0.027192). The similar results for the influence of the demographic factor on the two types of praxis functions in the considered period confirm the need for more in-depth research on the relationship of social factors and neuropsychological development in childhood.
The results for the influence of gender on the spatial orientation and ideomotor praxis are similar to those in the dynamic praxis sample and confirm the conclusion for faster maturation of the mirror nervous system and fronto-parietal neural ensembles in girls.
The specificity of the samples confirms the action of the heterochronous principle of neuropsychic development. The main evidence for this is the different dynamics of the formation of the studied functions, related to the faster development of the neurophysiological organization of the spatial postural praxis in comparison with that of the dynamic praxis. One of the reasons is the slower maturation of the structures of the frontal lobe, responsible for recoding and realization of the spatio-temporal parameters of the complex serial movements. This is confirmed by the results for correct performance of the two groups of tasks in in children at 6 years: 63% for ideomotor praxis and 36% for the complicated variant of dynamic praxis.
The observed age trend shows the variety of individual differences in children with typical development, as well as the fact that a large part of them enter school with insufficiently developed praxis skills.
The state of praxis functions in preschool has important diagnostic and prognostic significance for child development. Their implementation involves preserving the spatial parameters of visually perceived motor models with subsequent recoding in motor programs, which makes it an objective criterion for the formation and dynamics of fronto-parietal neural networks and structures of the mirror nervous system. The formation of complex praxis functions is influenced by three independent factors - age, demographic conditions and gender. The leading role of the age factor proves the determining effect of neurobiological changes on the neuropsychological development of the child. The leading role of the age factor proves the determining effect of the dynamics of neurophysiological changes on the neuropsychological development of the child. The heterochronous principle to which this development is subject explains the uneven nature of the formation of praxis functions, in particular those of dynamic and spatial postural praxis. Another reflection of it is the great variability and diversity in the rate of maturation of the brain departments responsible for the realization of these functions.
The influence of the age factor is related to qualitative changes in the motor skills of children, most pronounced at the age of 6 years, which defines it as critical for the formation of complex praxis functions. The variability and individual dynamics of neuropsychological development determine the differences in the functioning of the practice and objectify the need for its inclusion in the complex assessment of children. The registration of cases of delayed formation of praxis functions in the preschool period will lead to the development of stimulant therapy and overcoming future learning difficulties.
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
You have been successfully unsubscribed.
",metaTitle:"Unsubscribe Successful",metaDescription:"You have been successfully unsubscribed.",metaKeywords:null,canonicalURL:"/page/unsubscribe-successful",contentRaw:'[{"type":"htmlEditorComponent","content":""}]'},components:[{type:"htmlEditorComponent",content:""}]},successStories:{items:[]},authorsAndEditors:{filterParams:{sort:"featured,name"},profiles:[{id:"6700",title:"Dr.",name:"Abbass A.",middleName:null,surname:"Hashim",slug:"abbass-a.-hashim",fullName:"Abbass A. Hashim",position:null,profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/6700/images/1864_n.jpg",biography:"Currently I am carrying out research in several areas of interest, mainly covering work on chemical and bio-sensors, semiconductor thin film device fabrication and characterisation.\nAt the moment I have very strong interest in radiation environmental pollution and bacteriology treatment. The teams of researchers are working very hard to bring novel results in this field. I am also a member of the team in charge for the supervision of Ph.D. students in the fields of development of silicon based planar waveguide sensor devices, study of inelastic electron tunnelling in planar tunnelling nanostructures for sensing applications and development of organotellurium(IV) compounds for semiconductor applications. I am a specialist in data analysis techniques and nanosurface structure. I have served as the editor for many books, been a member of the editorial board in science journals, have published many papers and hold many patents.",institutionString:null,institution:{name:"Sheffield Hallam University",country:{name:"United Kingdom"}}},{id:"54525",title:"Prof.",name:"Abdul Latif",middleName:null,surname:"Ahmad",slug:"abdul-latif-ahmad",fullName:"Abdul Latif Ahmad",position:null,profilePictureURL:"//cdnintech.com/web/frontend/www/assets/author.svg",biography:null,institutionString:null,institution:null},{id:"20567",title:"Prof.",name:"Ado",middleName:null,surname:"Jorio",slug:"ado-jorio",fullName:"Ado Jorio",position:null,profilePictureURL:"//cdnintech.com/web/frontend/www/assets/author.svg",biography:null,institutionString:null,institution:{name:"Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais",country:{name:"Brazil"}}},{id:"47940",title:"Dr.",name:"Alberto",middleName:null,surname:"Mantovani",slug:"alberto-mantovani",fullName:"Alberto Mantovani",position:null,profilePictureURL:"//cdnintech.com/web/frontend/www/assets/author.svg",biography:null,institutionString:null,institution:null},{id:"12392",title:"Mr.",name:"Alex",middleName:null,surname:"Lazinica",slug:"alex-lazinica",fullName:"Alex Lazinica",position:null,profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/12392/images/7282_n.png",biography:"Alex Lazinica is the founder and CEO of IntechOpen. After obtaining a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, he continued his PhD studies in Robotics at the Vienna University of Technology. Here he worked as a robotic researcher with the university's Intelligent Manufacturing Systems Group as well as a guest researcher at various European universities, including the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). During this time he published more than 20 scientific papers, gave presentations, served as a reviewer for major robotic journals and conferences and most importantly he co-founded and built the International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems- world's first Open Access journal in the field of robotics. Starting this journal was a pivotal point in his career, since it was a pathway to founding IntechOpen - Open Access publisher focused on addressing academic researchers needs. Alex is a personification of IntechOpen key values being trusted, open and entrepreneurial. Today his focus is on defining the growth and development strategy for the company.",institutionString:null,institution:{name:"TU Wien",country:{name:"Austria"}}},{id:"19816",title:"Prof.",name:"Alexander",middleName:null,surname:"Kokorin",slug:"alexander-kokorin",fullName:"Alexander Kokorin",position:null,profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/19816/images/1607_n.jpg",biography:"Alexander I. Kokorin: born: 1947, Moscow; DSc., PhD; Principal Research Fellow (Research Professor) of Department of Kinetics and Catalysis, N. Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.\r\nArea of research interests: physical chemistry of complex-organized molecular and nanosized systems, including polymer-metal complexes; the surface of doped oxide semiconductors. He is an expert in structural, absorptive, catalytic and photocatalytic properties, in structural organization and dynamic features of ionic liquids, in magnetic interactions between paramagnetic centers. The author or co-author of 3 books, over 200 articles and reviews in scientific journals and books. He is an actual member of the International EPR/ESR Society, European Society on Quantum Solar Energy Conversion, Moscow House of Scientists, of the Board of Moscow Physical Society.",institutionString:null,institution:{name:"Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics",country:{name:"Russia"}}},{id:"62389",title:"PhD.",name:"Ali Demir",middleName:null,surname:"Sezer",slug:"ali-demir-sezer",fullName:"Ali Demir Sezer",position:null,profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/62389/images/3413_n.jpg",biography:"Dr. Ali Demir Sezer has a Ph.D. from Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Marmara (Turkey). He is the member of many Pharmaceutical Associations and acts as a reviewer of scientific journals and European projects under different research areas such as: drug delivery systems, nanotechnology and pharmaceutical biotechnology. Dr. Sezer is the author of many scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and poster communications. Focus of his research activity is drug delivery, physico-chemical characterization and biological evaluation of biopolymers micro and nanoparticles as modified drug delivery system, and colloidal drug carriers (liposomes, nanoparticles etc.).",institutionString:null,institution:{name:"Marmara University",country:{name:"Turkey"}}},{id:"61051",title:"Prof.",name:"Andrea",middleName:null,surname:"Natale",slug:"andrea-natale",fullName:"Andrea Natale",position:null,profilePictureURL:"//cdnintech.com/web/frontend/www/assets/author.svg",biography:null,institutionString:null,institution:null},{id:"100762",title:"Prof.",name:"Andrea",middleName:null,surname:"Natale",slug:"andrea-natale",fullName:"Andrea Natale",position:null,profilePictureURL:"//cdnintech.com/web/frontend/www/assets/author.svg",biography:null,institutionString:null,institution:{name:"St David's Medical Center",country:{name:"United States of America"}}},{id:"107416",title:"Dr.",name:"Andrea",middleName:null,surname:"Natale",slug:"andrea-natale",fullName:"Andrea Natale",position:null,profilePictureURL:"//cdnintech.com/web/frontend/www/assets/author.svg",biography:null,institutionString:null,institution:{name:"Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia",country:{name:"United States of America"}}},{id:"64434",title:"Dr.",name:"Angkoon",middleName:null,surname:"Phinyomark",slug:"angkoon-phinyomark",fullName:"Angkoon Phinyomark",position:null,profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/64434/images/2619_n.jpg",biography:"My name is Angkoon Phinyomark. I received a B.Eng. degree in Computer Engineering with First Class Honors in 2008 from Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand, where I received a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering. My research interests are primarily in the area of biomedical signal processing and classification notably EMG (electromyography signal), EOG (electrooculography signal), and EEG (electroencephalography signal), image analysis notably breast cancer analysis and optical coherence tomography, and rehabilitation engineering. I became a student member of IEEE in 2008. During October 2011-March 2012, I had worked at School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom. In addition, during a B.Eng. I had been a visiting research student at Faculty of Computer Science, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain for three months.\n\nI have published over 40 papers during 5 years in refereed journals, books, and conference proceedings in the areas of electro-physiological signals processing and classification, notably EMG and EOG signals, fractal analysis, wavelet analysis, texture analysis, feature extraction and machine learning algorithms, and assistive and rehabilitative devices. I have several computer programming language certificates, i.e. Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform 1.4 (SCJP), Microsoft Certified Professional Developer, Web Developer (MCPD), Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, .NET Framework 2.0 Web (MCTS). I am a Reviewer for several refereed journals and international conferences, such as IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, Optic Letters, Measurement Science Review, and also a member of the International Advisory Committee for 2012 IEEE Business Engineering and Industrial Applications and 2012 IEEE Symposium on Business, Engineering and Industrial Applications.",institutionString:null,institution:{name:"Joseph Fourier University",country:{name:"France"}}},{id:"55578",title:"Dr.",name:"Antonio",middleName:null,surname:"Jurado-Navas",slug:"antonio-jurado-navas",fullName:"Antonio Jurado-Navas",position:null,profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/55578/images/4574_n.png",biography:"Antonio Jurado-Navas received the M.S. degree (2002) and the Ph.D. degree (2009) in Telecommunication Engineering, both from the University of Málaga (Spain). He first worked as a consultant at Vodafone-Spain. From 2004 to 2011, he was a Research Assistant with the Communications Engineering Department at the University of Málaga. In 2011, he became an Assistant Professor in the same department. From 2012 to 2015, he was with Ericsson Spain, where he was working on geo-location\ntools for third generation mobile networks. Since 2015, he is a Marie-Curie fellow at the Denmark Technical University. His current research interests include the areas of mobile communication systems and channel modeling in addition to atmospheric optical communications, adaptive optics and statistics",institutionString:null,institution:{name:"University of Malaga",country:{name:"Spain"}}}],filtersByRegion:[{group:"region",caption:"North America",value:1,count:5774},{group:"region",caption:"Middle and South America",value:2,count:5239},{group:"region",caption:"Africa",value:3,count:1721},{group:"region",caption:"Asia",value:4,count:10411},{group:"region",caption:"Australia and Oceania",value:5,count:897},{group:"region",caption:"Europe",value:6,count:15810}],offset:12,limit:12,total:118377},chapterEmbeded:{data:{}},editorApplication:{success:null,errors:{}},ofsBooks:{filterParams:{topicId:"7"},books:[{type:"book",id:"10753",title:"Taxes",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"9dc0293dca676c8e873312737c84b60c",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10753.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"10757",title:"Agricultural Value Chain",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"732ee82bf579a4bc4c5c929ceba2db26",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10757.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"10818",title:"21st Century Approaches to Management and Accounting Research",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"dd81bc60e806fddc63d1ae22da1c779a",slug:null,bookSignature:"Dr. Sebahattin Demirkan and Dr. Irem Demirkan",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10818.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:[{id:"336397",title:"Dr.",name:"Sebahattin",surname:"Demirkan",slug:"sebahattin-demirkan",fullName:"Sebahattin Demirkan"}],productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"10917",title:"Next Generation Entrepreneurship",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"fdff4e37288b56add7f7e3414f091e6a",slug:null,bookSignature:"Dr. Burak Erkut and Dr. Vildan Esenyel",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10917.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:[{id:"336103",title:"Dr.",name:"Burak",surname:"Erkut",slug:"burak-erkut",fullName:"Burak Erkut"}],productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"10918",title:"Digital Economy",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"dbdfd9caf5c4b0038ff4446c7bc6a681",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10918.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"10919",title:"Consumer Behavior",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"51700695578f48743b0514ba6d8735b2",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10919.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}}],filtersByTopic:[{group:"topic",caption:"Agricultural and Biological Sciences",value:5,count:18},{group:"topic",caption:"Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology",value:6,count:5},{group:"topic",caption:"Business, Management and Economics",value:7,count:2},{group:"topic",caption:"Chemistry",value:8,count:8},{group:"topic",caption:"Computer and Information Science",value:9,count:6},{group:"topic",caption:"Earth and Planetary Sciences",value:10,count:7},{group:"topic",caption:"Engineering",value:11,count:20},{group:"topic",caption:"Environmental Sciences",value:12,count:2},{group:"topic",caption:"Immunology and Microbiology",value:13,count:4},{group:"topic",caption:"Materials Science",value:14,count:5},{group:"topic",caption:"Mathematics",value:15,count:1},{group:"topic",caption:"Medicine",value:16,count:25},{group:"topic",caption:"Neuroscience",value:18,count:2},{group:"topic",caption:"Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science",value:19,count:3},{group:"topic",caption:"Physics",value:20,count:3},{group:"topic",caption:"Psychology",value:21,count:4},{group:"topic",caption:"Robotics",value:22,count:1},{group:"topic",caption:"Social Sciences",value:23,count:3},{group:"topic",caption:"Technology",value:24,count:1},{group:"topic",caption:"Veterinary Medicine and Science",value:25,count:1}],offset:12,limit:12,total:6},popularBooks:{featuredBooks:[{type:"book",id:"9521",title:"Antimicrobial Resistance",subtitle:"A One Health Perspective",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"30949e78832e1afba5606634b52056ab",slug:"antimicrobial-resistance-a-one-health-perspective",bookSignature:"Mihai Mareș, Swee Hua Erin Lim, Kok-Song Lai and Romeo-Teodor Cristina",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9521.jpg",editors:[{id:"88785",title:"Prof.",name:"Mihai",middleName:null,surname:"Mares",slug:"mihai-mares",fullName:"Mihai Mares"}],equalEditorOne:{id:"190224",title:"Dr.",name:"Swee Hua Erin",middleName:null,surname:"Lim",slug:"swee-hua-erin-lim",fullName:"Swee Hua Erin Lim",profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/190224/images/system/190224.png",biography:"Dr. Erin Lim is presently working as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi Women\\'s College, Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and is affiliated as an Associate Professor to Perdana University-Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Selangor, Malaysia. She obtained her Ph.D. from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2010 with a National Science Fellowship awarded from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia and has been actively involved in research ever since. Her main research interests include analysis of carriage and transmission of multidrug resistant bacteria in non-conventional settings, besides an interest in natural products for antimicrobial testing. She is heavily involved in the elucidation of mechanisms of reversal of resistance in bacteria in addition to investigating the immunological analyses of diseases, development of vaccination and treatment models in animals. She hopes her work will support the discovery of therapeutics in the clinical setting and assist in the combat against the burden of antibiotic resistance.",institutionString:"Abu Dhabi Women’s College",position:null,outsideEditionCount:0,totalCites:0,totalAuthoredChapters:"3",totalChapterViews:"0",totalEditedBooks:"0",institution:{name:"Perdana University",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"Malaysia"}}},equalEditorTwo:{id:"221544",title:"Dr.",name:"Kok-Song",middleName:null,surname:"Lai",slug:"kok-song-lai",fullName:"Kok-Song Lai",profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/221544/images/system/221544.jpeg",biography:"Dr. Lai Kok Song is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi Women\\'s College, Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He obtained his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Japan in 2012. Prior to his academic appointment, Dr. Lai worked as a Senior Scientist at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia. His current research areas include antimicrobial resistance and plant-pathogen interaction. His particular interest lies in the study of the antimicrobial mechanism via membrane disruption of essential oils against multi-drug resistance bacteria through various biochemical, molecular and proteomic approaches. Ultimately, he hopes to uncover and determine novel biomarkers related to antibiotic resistance that can be developed into new therapeutic strategies.",institutionString:"Higher Colleges of Technology",position:null,outsideEditionCount:0,totalCites:0,totalAuthoredChapters:"8",totalChapterViews:"0",totalEditedBooks:"0",institution:{name:"Higher Colleges of Technology",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"United Arab Emirates"}}},equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10020",title:"Operations Management",subtitle:"Emerging Trend in the Digital Era",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"526f0dbdc7e4d85b82ce8383ab894b4c",slug:"operations-management-emerging-trend-in-the-digital-era",bookSignature:"Antonella Petrillo, Fabio De Felice, Germano Lambert-Torres and Erik Bonaldi",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10020.jpg",editors:[{id:"181603",title:"Dr.",name:"Antonella",middleName:null,surname:"Petrillo",slug:"antonella-petrillo",fullName:"Antonella Petrillo"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9560",title:"Creativity",subtitle:"A Force to Innovation",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"58f740bc17807d5d88d647c525857b11",slug:"creativity-a-force-to-innovation",bookSignature:"Pooja Jain",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9560.jpg",editors:[{id:"316765",title:"Dr.",name:"Pooja",middleName:null,surname:"Jain",slug:"pooja-jain",fullName:"Pooja Jain"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10192",title:"Background and Management of Muscular Atrophy",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"eca24028d89912b5efea56e179dff089",slug:"background-and-management-of-muscular-atrophy",bookSignature:"Julianna Cseri",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10192.jpg",editors:[{id:"135579",title:"Dr.",name:"Julianna",middleName:null,surname:"Cseri",slug:"julianna-cseri",fullName:"Julianna Cseri"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9243",title:"Coastal Environments",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"8e05e5f631e935eef366980f2e28295d",slug:"coastal-environments",bookSignature:"Yuanzhi Zhang and X. San Liang",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9243.jpg",editors:[{id:"77597",title:"Prof.",name:"Yuanzhi",middleName:null,surname:"Zhang",slug:"yuanzhi-zhang",fullName:"Yuanzhi Zhang"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9385",title:"Renewable Energy",subtitle:"Technologies and Applications",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"a6b446d19166f17f313008e6c056f3d8",slug:"renewable-energy-technologies-and-applications",bookSignature:"Tolga Taner, Archana Tiwari and Taha Selim Ustun",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9385.jpg",editors:[{id:"197240",title:"Associate Prof.",name:"Tolga",middleName:null,surname:"Taner",slug:"tolga-taner",fullName:"Tolga Taner"}],equalEditorOne:{id:"186791",title:"Dr.",name:"Archana",middleName:null,surname:"Tiwari",slug:"archana-tiwari",fullName:"Archana Tiwari",profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/186791/images/system/186791.jpg",biography:"Dr. Archana Tiwari is Associate Professor at Amity University, India. Her research interests include renewable sources of energy from microalgae and further utilizing the residual biomass for the generation of value-added products, bioremediation through microalgae and microbial consortium, antioxidative enzymes and stress, and nutraceuticals from microalgae. She has been working on algal biotechnology for the last two decades. She has published her research in many international journals and has authored many books and chapters with renowned publishing houses. She has also delivered talks as an invited speaker at many national and international conferences. Dr. Tiwari is the recipient of several awards including Researcher of the Year and Distinguished Scientist.",institutionString:"Amity University",position:null,outsideEditionCount:0,totalCites:0,totalAuthoredChapters:"3",totalChapterViews:"0",totalEditedBooks:"1",institution:{name:"Amity University",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"India"}}},equalEditorTwo:{id:"197609",title:"Prof.",name:"Taha Selim",middleName:null,surname:"Ustun",slug:"taha-selim-ustun",fullName:"Taha Selim Ustun",profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/197609/images/system/197609.jpeg",biography:"Dr. Taha Selim Ustun received a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia. He is a researcher with the Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, AIST (FREA), where he leads the Smart Grid Cybersecurity Laboratory. Prior to that, he was a faculty member with the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. His current research interests include power systems protection, communication in power networks, distributed generation, microgrids, electric vehicle integration, and cybersecurity in smart grids. He serves on the editorial boards of IEEE Access, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, Energies, Electronics, Electricity, World Electric Vehicle and Information journals. Dr. Ustun is a member of the IEEE 2004 and 2800, IEC Renewable Energy Management WG 8, and IEC TC 57 WG17. He has been invited to run specialist courses in Africa, India, and China. He has delivered talks for the Qatar Foundation, the World Energy Council, the Waterloo Global Science Initiative, and the European Union Energy Initiative (EUEI). His research has attracted funding from prestigious programs in Japan, Australia, the European Union, and North America.",institutionString:"Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, AIST (FREA)",position:null,outsideEditionCount:0,totalCites:0,totalAuthoredChapters:"1",totalChapterViews:"0",totalEditedBooks:"0",institution:{name:"National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"Japan"}}},equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"8985",title:"Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"5c2e219a6c021a40b5a20c041dea88c4",slug:"natural-resources-management-and-biological-sciences",bookSignature:"Edward R. Rhodes and Humood Naser",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/8985.jpg",editors:[{id:"280886",title:"Prof.",name:"Edward R",middleName:null,surname:"Rhodes",slug:"edward-r-rhodes",fullName:"Edward R Rhodes"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10065",title:"Wavelet Theory",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"d8868e332169597ba2182d9b004d60de",slug:"wavelet-theory",bookSignature:"Somayeh Mohammady",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10065.jpg",editors:[{id:"109280",title:"Dr.",name:"Somayeh",middleName:null,surname:"Mohammady",slug:"somayeh-mohammady",fullName:"Somayeh Mohammady"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9644",title:"Glaciers and the Polar Environment",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"e8cfdc161794e3753ced54e6ff30873b",slug:"glaciers-and-the-polar-environment",bookSignature:"Masaki Kanao, Danilo Godone and Niccolò Dematteis",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9644.jpg",editors:[{id:"51959",title:"Dr.",name:"Masaki",middleName:null,surname:"Kanao",slug:"masaki-kanao",fullName:"Masaki Kanao"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9550",title:"Entrepreneurship",subtitle:"Contemporary Issues",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"9b4ac1ee5b743abf6f88495452b1e5e7",slug:"entrepreneurship-contemporary-issues",bookSignature:"Mladen Turuk",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9550.jpg",editors:[{id:"319755",title:"Prof.",name:"Mladen",middleName:null,surname:"Turuk",slug:"mladen-turuk",fullName:"Mladen Turuk"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9027",title:"Human Blood Group Systems and Haemoglobinopathies",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"d00d8e40b11cfb2547d1122866531c7e",slug:"human-blood-group-systems-and-haemoglobinopathies",bookSignature:"Osaro Erhabor and Anjana Munshi",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9027.jpg",editors:[{id:"35140",title:null,name:"Osaro",middleName:null,surname:"Erhabor",slug:"osaro-erhabor",fullName:"Osaro Erhabor"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"8558",title:"Aerodynamics",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"db7263fc198dfb539073ba0260a7f1aa",slug:"aerodynamics",bookSignature:"Mofid Gorji-Bandpy and Aly-Mousaad Aly",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/8558.jpg",editors:[{id:"35542",title:"Prof.",name:"Mofid",middleName:null,surname:"Gorji-Bandpy",slug:"mofid-gorji-bandpy",fullName:"Mofid Gorji-Bandpy"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}}],offset:12,limit:12,total:5249},hotBookTopics:{hotBooks:[],offset:0,limit:12,total:null},publish:{},publishingProposal:{success:null,errors:{}},books:{featuredBooks:[{type:"book",id:"9521",title:"Antimicrobial Resistance",subtitle:"A One Health Perspective",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"30949e78832e1afba5606634b52056ab",slug:"antimicrobial-resistance-a-one-health-perspective",bookSignature:"Mihai Mareș, Swee Hua Erin Lim, Kok-Song Lai and Romeo-Teodor Cristina",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9521.jpg",editors:[{id:"88785",title:"Prof.",name:"Mihai",middleName:null,surname:"Mares",slug:"mihai-mares",fullName:"Mihai Mares"}],equalEditorOne:{id:"190224",title:"Dr.",name:"Swee Hua Erin",middleName:null,surname:"Lim",slug:"swee-hua-erin-lim",fullName:"Swee Hua Erin Lim",profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/190224/images/system/190224.png",biography:"Dr. Erin Lim is presently working as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi Women\\'s College, Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and is affiliated as an Associate Professor to Perdana University-Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Selangor, Malaysia. She obtained her Ph.D. from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2010 with a National Science Fellowship awarded from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia and has been actively involved in research ever since. Her main research interests include analysis of carriage and transmission of multidrug resistant bacteria in non-conventional settings, besides an interest in natural products for antimicrobial testing. She is heavily involved in the elucidation of mechanisms of reversal of resistance in bacteria in addition to investigating the immunological analyses of diseases, development of vaccination and treatment models in animals. She hopes her work will support the discovery of therapeutics in the clinical setting and assist in the combat against the burden of antibiotic resistance.",institutionString:"Abu Dhabi Women’s College",position:null,outsideEditionCount:0,totalCites:0,totalAuthoredChapters:"3",totalChapterViews:"0",totalEditedBooks:"0",institution:{name:"Perdana University",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"Malaysia"}}},equalEditorTwo:{id:"221544",title:"Dr.",name:"Kok-Song",middleName:null,surname:"Lai",slug:"kok-song-lai",fullName:"Kok-Song Lai",profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/221544/images/system/221544.jpeg",biography:"Dr. Lai Kok Song is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi Women\\'s College, Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He obtained his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Japan in 2012. Prior to his academic appointment, Dr. Lai worked as a Senior Scientist at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia. His current research areas include antimicrobial resistance and plant-pathogen interaction. His particular interest lies in the study of the antimicrobial mechanism via membrane disruption of essential oils against multi-drug resistance bacteria through various biochemical, molecular and proteomic approaches. Ultimately, he hopes to uncover and determine novel biomarkers related to antibiotic resistance that can be developed into new therapeutic strategies.",institutionString:"Higher Colleges of Technology",position:null,outsideEditionCount:0,totalCites:0,totalAuthoredChapters:"8",totalChapterViews:"0",totalEditedBooks:"0",institution:{name:"Higher Colleges of Technology",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"United Arab Emirates"}}},equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10020",title:"Operations Management",subtitle:"Emerging Trend in the Digital Era",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"526f0dbdc7e4d85b82ce8383ab894b4c",slug:"operations-management-emerging-trend-in-the-digital-era",bookSignature:"Antonella Petrillo, Fabio De Felice, Germano Lambert-Torres and Erik Bonaldi",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10020.jpg",editors:[{id:"181603",title:"Dr.",name:"Antonella",middleName:null,surname:"Petrillo",slug:"antonella-petrillo",fullName:"Antonella Petrillo"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9560",title:"Creativity",subtitle:"A Force to Innovation",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"58f740bc17807d5d88d647c525857b11",slug:"creativity-a-force-to-innovation",bookSignature:"Pooja Jain",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9560.jpg",editors:[{id:"316765",title:"Dr.",name:"Pooja",middleName:null,surname:"Jain",slug:"pooja-jain",fullName:"Pooja Jain"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10192",title:"Background and Management of Muscular Atrophy",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"eca24028d89912b5efea56e179dff089",slug:"background-and-management-of-muscular-atrophy",bookSignature:"Julianna Cseri",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10192.jpg",editors:[{id:"135579",title:"Dr.",name:"Julianna",middleName:null,surname:"Cseri",slug:"julianna-cseri",fullName:"Julianna Cseri"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9243",title:"Coastal Environments",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"8e05e5f631e935eef366980f2e28295d",slug:"coastal-environments",bookSignature:"Yuanzhi Zhang and X. San Liang",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9243.jpg",editors:[{id:"77597",title:"Prof.",name:"Yuanzhi",middleName:null,surname:"Zhang",slug:"yuanzhi-zhang",fullName:"Yuanzhi Zhang"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9385",title:"Renewable Energy",subtitle:"Technologies and Applications",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"a6b446d19166f17f313008e6c056f3d8",slug:"renewable-energy-technologies-and-applications",bookSignature:"Tolga Taner, Archana Tiwari and Taha Selim Ustun",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9385.jpg",editors:[{id:"197240",title:"Associate Prof.",name:"Tolga",middleName:null,surname:"Taner",slug:"tolga-taner",fullName:"Tolga Taner"}],equalEditorOne:{id:"186791",title:"Dr.",name:"Archana",middleName:null,surname:"Tiwari",slug:"archana-tiwari",fullName:"Archana Tiwari",profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/186791/images/system/186791.jpg",biography:"Dr. Archana Tiwari is Associate Professor at Amity University, India. Her research interests include renewable sources of energy from microalgae and further utilizing the residual biomass for the generation of value-added products, bioremediation through microalgae and microbial consortium, antioxidative enzymes and stress, and nutraceuticals from microalgae. She has been working on algal biotechnology for the last two decades. She has published her research in many international journals and has authored many books and chapters with renowned publishing houses. She has also delivered talks as an invited speaker at many national and international conferences. Dr. Tiwari is the recipient of several awards including Researcher of the Year and Distinguished Scientist.",institutionString:"Amity University",position:null,outsideEditionCount:0,totalCites:0,totalAuthoredChapters:"3",totalChapterViews:"0",totalEditedBooks:"1",institution:{name:"Amity University",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"India"}}},equalEditorTwo:{id:"197609",title:"Prof.",name:"Taha Selim",middleName:null,surname:"Ustun",slug:"taha-selim-ustun",fullName:"Taha Selim Ustun",profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/197609/images/system/197609.jpeg",biography:"Dr. Taha Selim Ustun received a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia. He is a researcher with the Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, AIST (FREA), where he leads the Smart Grid Cybersecurity Laboratory. Prior to that, he was a faculty member with the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. His current research interests include power systems protection, communication in power networks, distributed generation, microgrids, electric vehicle integration, and cybersecurity in smart grids. He serves on the editorial boards of IEEE Access, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, Energies, Electronics, Electricity, World Electric Vehicle and Information journals. Dr. Ustun is a member of the IEEE 2004 and 2800, IEC Renewable Energy Management WG 8, and IEC TC 57 WG17. He has been invited to run specialist courses in Africa, India, and China. He has delivered talks for the Qatar Foundation, the World Energy Council, the Waterloo Global Science Initiative, and the European Union Energy Initiative (EUEI). His research has attracted funding from prestigious programs in Japan, Australia, the European Union, and North America.",institutionString:"Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, AIST (FREA)",position:null,outsideEditionCount:0,totalCites:0,totalAuthoredChapters:"1",totalChapterViews:"0",totalEditedBooks:"0",institution:{name:"National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"Japan"}}},equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"8985",title:"Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"5c2e219a6c021a40b5a20c041dea88c4",slug:"natural-resources-management-and-biological-sciences",bookSignature:"Edward R. Rhodes and Humood Naser",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/8985.jpg",editors:[{id:"280886",title:"Prof.",name:"Edward R",middleName:null,surname:"Rhodes",slug:"edward-r-rhodes",fullName:"Edward R Rhodes"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10065",title:"Wavelet Theory",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"d8868e332169597ba2182d9b004d60de",slug:"wavelet-theory",bookSignature:"Somayeh Mohammady",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10065.jpg",editors:[{id:"109280",title:"Dr.",name:"Somayeh",middleName:null,surname:"Mohammady",slug:"somayeh-mohammady",fullName:"Somayeh Mohammady"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9644",title:"Glaciers and the Polar Environment",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"e8cfdc161794e3753ced54e6ff30873b",slug:"glaciers-and-the-polar-environment",bookSignature:"Masaki Kanao, Danilo Godone and Niccolò Dematteis",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9644.jpg",editors:[{id:"51959",title:"Dr.",name:"Masaki",middleName:null,surname:"Kanao",slug:"masaki-kanao",fullName:"Masaki Kanao"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9550",title:"Entrepreneurship",subtitle:"Contemporary Issues",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"9b4ac1ee5b743abf6f88495452b1e5e7",slug:"entrepreneurship-contemporary-issues",bookSignature:"Mladen Turuk",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9550.jpg",editors:[{id:"319755",title:"Prof.",name:"Mladen",middleName:null,surname:"Turuk",slug:"mladen-turuk",fullName:"Mladen Turuk"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}}],latestBooks:[{type:"book",id:"9243",title:"Coastal Environments",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"8e05e5f631e935eef366980f2e28295d",slug:"coastal-environments",bookSignature:"Yuanzhi Zhang and X. San Liang",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9243.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"77597",title:"Prof.",name:"Yuanzhi",middleName:null,surname:"Zhang",slug:"yuanzhi-zhang",fullName:"Yuanzhi Zhang"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"10020",title:"Operations Management",subtitle:"Emerging Trend in the Digital Era",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"526f0dbdc7e4d85b82ce8383ab894b4c",slug:"operations-management-emerging-trend-in-the-digital-era",bookSignature:"Antonella Petrillo, Fabio De Felice, Germano Lambert-Torres and Erik Bonaldi",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10020.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"181603",title:"Dr.",name:"Antonella",middleName:null,surname:"Petrillo",slug:"antonella-petrillo",fullName:"Antonella Petrillo"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"9521",title:"Antimicrobial Resistance",subtitle:"A One Health Perspective",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"30949e78832e1afba5606634b52056ab",slug:"antimicrobial-resistance-a-one-health-perspective",bookSignature:"Mihai Mareș, Swee Hua Erin Lim, Kok-Song Lai and Romeo-Teodor Cristina",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9521.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"88785",title:"Prof.",name:"Mihai",middleName:null,surname:"Mares",slug:"mihai-mares",fullName:"Mihai Mares"}],equalEditorOne:{id:"190224",title:"Dr.",name:"Swee Hua Erin",middleName:null,surname:"Lim",slug:"swee-hua-erin-lim",fullName:"Swee Hua Erin Lim",profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/190224/images/system/190224.png",biography:"Dr. Erin Lim is presently working as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi Women\\'s College, Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and is affiliated as an Associate Professor to Perdana University-Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Selangor, Malaysia. She obtained her Ph.D. from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2010 with a National Science Fellowship awarded from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia and has been actively involved in research ever since. Her main research interests include analysis of carriage and transmission of multidrug resistant bacteria in non-conventional settings, besides an interest in natural products for antimicrobial testing. She is heavily involved in the elucidation of mechanisms of reversal of resistance in bacteria in addition to investigating the immunological analyses of diseases, development of vaccination and treatment models in animals. She hopes her work will support the discovery of therapeutics in the clinical setting and assist in the combat against the burden of antibiotic resistance.",institutionString:"Abu Dhabi Women’s College",position:null,outsideEditionCount:0,totalCites:0,totalAuthoredChapters:"3",totalChapterViews:"0",totalEditedBooks:"0",institution:{name:"Perdana University",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"Malaysia"}}},equalEditorTwo:{id:"221544",title:"Dr.",name:"Kok-Song",middleName:null,surname:"Lai",slug:"kok-song-lai",fullName:"Kok-Song Lai",profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/221544/images/system/221544.jpeg",biography:"Dr. Lai Kok Song is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi Women\\'s College, Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He obtained his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Japan in 2012. Prior to his academic appointment, Dr. Lai worked as a Senior Scientist at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia. His current research areas include antimicrobial resistance and plant-pathogen interaction. His particular interest lies in the study of the antimicrobial mechanism via membrane disruption of essential oils against multi-drug resistance bacteria through various biochemical, molecular and proteomic approaches. Ultimately, he hopes to uncover and determine novel biomarkers related to antibiotic resistance that can be developed into new therapeutic strategies.",institutionString:"Higher Colleges of Technology",position:null,outsideEditionCount:0,totalCites:0,totalAuthoredChapters:"8",totalChapterViews:"0",totalEditedBooks:"0",institution:{name:"Higher Colleges of Technology",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"United Arab Emirates"}}},equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"9560",title:"Creativity",subtitle:"A Force to Innovation",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"58f740bc17807d5d88d647c525857b11",slug:"creativity-a-force-to-innovation",bookSignature:"Pooja Jain",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9560.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"316765",title:"Dr.",name:"Pooja",middleName:null,surname:"Jain",slug:"pooja-jain",fullName:"Pooja Jain"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"9669",title:"Recent Advances in Rice Research",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"12b06cc73e89af1e104399321cc16a75",slug:"recent-advances-in-rice-research",bookSignature:"Mahmood-ur- Rahman Ansari",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9669.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"185476",title:"Dr.",name:"Mahmood-Ur-",middleName:null,surname:"Rahman Ansari",slug:"mahmood-ur-rahman-ansari",fullName:"Mahmood-Ur- Rahman Ansari"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"10192",title:"Background and Management of Muscular Atrophy",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"eca24028d89912b5efea56e179dff089",slug:"background-and-management-of-muscular-atrophy",bookSignature:"Julianna Cseri",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10192.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"135579",title:"Dr.",name:"Julianna",middleName:null,surname:"Cseri",slug:"julianna-cseri",fullName:"Julianna Cseri"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"9550",title:"Entrepreneurship",subtitle:"Contemporary Issues",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"9b4ac1ee5b743abf6f88495452b1e5e7",slug:"entrepreneurship-contemporary-issues",bookSignature:"Mladen Turuk",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9550.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"319755",title:"Prof.",name:"Mladen",middleName:null,surname:"Turuk",slug:"mladen-turuk",fullName:"Mladen Turuk"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"10065",title:"Wavelet Theory",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"d8868e332169597ba2182d9b004d60de",slug:"wavelet-theory",bookSignature:"Somayeh Mohammady",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10065.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"109280",title:"Dr.",name:"Somayeh",middleName:null,surname:"Mohammady",slug:"somayeh-mohammady",fullName:"Somayeh Mohammady"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"9313",title:"Clay Science and Technology",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"6fa7e70396ff10620e032bb6cfa6fb72",slug:"clay-science-and-technology",bookSignature:"Gustavo Morari Do Nascimento",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9313.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"7153",title:"Prof.",name:"Gustavo",middleName:null,surname:"Morari Do Nascimento",slug:"gustavo-morari-do-nascimento",fullName:"Gustavo Morari Do Nascimento"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"9888",title:"Nuclear Power Plants",subtitle:"The Processes from the Cradle to the Grave",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"c2c8773e586f62155ab8221ebb72a849",slug:"nuclear-power-plants-the-processes-from-the-cradle-to-the-grave",bookSignature:"Nasser Awwad",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9888.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"145209",title:"Prof.",name:"Nasser",middleName:"S",surname:"Awwad",slug:"nasser-awwad",fullName:"Nasser Awwad"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}}]},subject:{topic:{id:"350",title:"Agrology",slug:"agrology",parent:{title:"Plant Biology",slug:"agricultural-and-biological-sciences-plant-biology"},numberOfBooks:3,numberOfAuthorsAndEditors:121,numberOfWosCitations:72,numberOfCrossrefCitations:54,numberOfDimensionsCitations:111,videoUrl:null,fallbackUrl:null,description:null},booksByTopicFilter:{topicSlug:"agrology",sort:"-publishedDate",limit:12,offset:0},booksByTopicCollection:[{type:"book",id:"7000",title:"Legume Crops",subtitle:"Characterization and Breeding for Improved Food Security",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"4d0f73bf883bbb984cc2feef1259a9a7",slug:"legume-crops-characterization-and-breeding-for-improved-food-security",bookSignature:"Mohamed Ahmed El-Esawi",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/7000.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"191770",title:"Dr.",name:"Mohamed A.",middleName:null,surname:"El-Esawi",slug:"mohamed-a.-el-esawi",fullName:"Mohamed A. El-Esawi"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"5482",title:"Soybean",subtitle:"The Basis of Yield, Biomass and Productivity",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"2b6f5b827869f467dda14e78f1c45570",slug:"soybean-the-basis-of-yield-biomass-and-productivity",bookSignature:"Minobu Kasai",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/5482.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"29226",title:"Dr.",name:"Minobu",middleName:null,surname:"Kasai",slug:"minobu-kasai",fullName:"Minobu Kasai"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"5463",title:"Advances in International Rice Research",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"92ccc84a75f33d3dac5e3cd4b6a00474",slug:"advances-in-international-rice-research",bookSignature:"Jinquan Li",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/5463.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"96434",title:"Dr.",name:"Jin Quan",middleName:null,surname:"Li",slug:"jin-quan-li",fullName:"Jin Quan Li"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}}],booksByTopicTotal:3,mostCitedChapters:[{id:"54259",doi:"10.5772/67361",title:"Genetics and Genomics of Bacterial Blight Resistance in Rice",slug:"genetics-and-genomics-of-bacterial-blight-resistance-in-rice",totalDownloads:1895,totalCrossrefCites:9,totalDimensionsCites:16,book:{slug:"advances-in-international-rice-research",title:"Advances in International Rice Research",fullTitle:"Advances in International Rice Research"},signatures:"Yogesh Vikal and Dharminder Bhatia",authors:[{id:"189992",title:"Dr.",name:"Yogesh",middleName:null,surname:"Vikal",slug:"yogesh-vikal",fullName:"Yogesh Vikal"},{id:"195667",title:"Dr.",name:"Dharminder",middleName:null,surname:"Bhatia",slug:"dharminder-bhatia",fullName:"Dharminder Bhatia"}]},{id:"53518",doi:"10.5772/66744",title:"Application and Conversion of Soybean Hulls",slug:"application-and-conversion-of-soybean-hulls",totalDownloads:1506,totalCrossrefCites:5,totalDimensionsCites:11,book:{slug:"soybean-the-basis-of-yield-biomass-and-productivity",title:"Soybean",fullTitle:"Soybean - The Basis of Yield, Biomass and Productivity"},signatures:"Hua-Min Liu and Hao-Yang Li",authors:[{id:"190617",title:"Dr.",name:"Hua-Min",middleName:null,surname:"Liu",slug:"hua-min-liu",fullName:"Hua-Min Liu"}]},{id:"53538",doi:"10.5772/66743",title:"Role of Nitrogen on Growth and Seed Yield of Soybean and a New Fertilization Technique to Promote Nitrogen Fixation and Seed Yield",slug:"role-of-nitrogen-on-growth-and-seed-yield-of-soybean-and-a-new-fertilization-technique-to-promote-ni",totalDownloads:2691,totalCrossrefCites:3,totalDimensionsCites:10,book:{slug:"soybean-the-basis-of-yield-biomass-and-productivity",title:"Soybean",fullTitle:"Soybean - The Basis of Yield, Biomass and Productivity"},signatures:"Takuji Ohyama, Kaushal Tewari, Shinji Ishikawa, Kazuya Tanaka,\nSatoshi Kamiyama, Yuki Ono, Soshi Hatano, Norikuni Ohtake, Kuni\nSueyoshi, Hideo Hasegawa, Takashi Sato, Sayuri Tanabata,\nYoshifumi Nagumo, Yoichi Fujita and Yoshihiko Takahashi",authors:[{id:"30061",title:"Prof.",name:"Takuji",middleName:null,surname:"Ohyama",slug:"takuji-ohyama",fullName:"Takuji Ohyama"},{id:"41349",title:"Dr.",name:"Norikuni",middleName:null,surname:"Ohtake",slug:"norikuni-ohtake",fullName:"Norikuni Ohtake"},{id:"41350",title:"Dr.",name:"Kuni",middleName:null,surname:"Sueyoshi",slug:"kuni-sueyoshi",fullName:"Kuni Sueyoshi"},{id:"41351",title:"Dr.",name:"Yoshihiko",middleName:null,surname:"Takahashi",slug:"yoshihiko-takahashi",fullName:"Yoshihiko Takahashi"},{id:"169171",title:"Dr.",name:"Sayuri",middleName:null,surname:"Tanabata",slug:"sayuri-tanabata",fullName:"Sayuri Tanabata"},{id:"195270",title:"Dr.",name:"Kaushal",middleName:null,surname:"Tewari",slug:"kaushal-tewari",fullName:"Kaushal Tewari"},{id:"195271",title:"Dr.",name:"Shinji",middleName:null,surname:"Ishikawa",slug:"shinji-ishikawa",fullName:"Shinji Ishikawa"},{id:"195272",title:"MSc.",name:"Kazuya",middleName:null,surname:"Tanaka",slug:"kazuya-tanaka",fullName:"Kazuya Tanaka"},{id:"195274",title:"MSc.",name:"Satoshi",middleName:null,surname:"Kamiyama",slug:"satoshi-kamiyama",fullName:"Satoshi Kamiyama"},{id:"195275",title:"BSc.",name:"Yuki",middleName:null,surname:"Ono",slug:"yuki-ono",fullName:"Yuki Ono"},{id:"195276",title:"M.Sc.",name:"Soshi",middleName:null,surname:"Hatano",slug:"soshi-hatano",fullName:"Soshi Hatano"},{id:"195277",title:"Prof.",name:"Hideo",middleName:null,surname:"Hasegawa",slug:"hideo-hasegawa",fullName:"Hideo Hasegawa"},{id:"195278",title:"Prof.",name:"Takashi",middleName:null,surname:"Sato",slug:"takashi-sato",fullName:"Takashi Sato"},{id:"195279",title:"Dr.",name:"Yoshifumi",middleName:null,surname:"Nagumo",slug:"yoshifumi-nagumo",fullName:"Yoshifumi Nagumo"},{id:"195280",title:"MSc.",name:"Yoichi",middleName:null,surname:"Fujita",slug:"yoichi-fujita",fullName:"Yoichi Fujita"}]}],mostDownloadedChaptersLast30Days:[{id:"53518",title:"Application and Conversion of Soybean Hulls",slug:"application-and-conversion-of-soybean-hulls",totalDownloads:1504,totalCrossrefCites:5,totalDimensionsCites:11,book:{slug:"soybean-the-basis-of-yield-biomass-and-productivity",title:"Soybean",fullTitle:"Soybean - The Basis of Yield, Biomass and Productivity"},signatures:"Hua-Min Liu and Hao-Yang Li",authors:[{id:"190617",title:"Dr.",name:"Hua-Min",middleName:null,surname:"Liu",slug:"hua-min-liu",fullName:"Hua-Min Liu"}]},{id:"53124",title:"The Use of Rice in Brewing",slug:"the-use-of-rice-in-brewing",totalDownloads:3554,totalCrossrefCites:6,totalDimensionsCites:9,book:{slug:"advances-in-international-rice-research",title:"Advances in International Rice Research",fullTitle:"Advances in International Rice Research"},signatures:"Ombretta Marconi, Valeria Sileoni, Dayana Ceccaroni and Giuseppe\nPerretti",authors:[{id:"189703",title:"Ph.D.",name:"Ombretta",middleName:null,surname:"Marconi",slug:"ombretta-marconi",fullName:"Ombretta Marconi"},{id:"189706",title:"Dr.",name:"Valeria",middleName:null,surname:"Sileoni",slug:"valeria-sileoni",fullName:"Valeria Sileoni"},{id:"189707",title:"Prof.",name:"Giuseppe",middleName:null,surname:"Perretti",slug:"giuseppe-perretti",fullName:"Giuseppe Perretti"},{id:"190973",title:"Dr.",name:"Dayana",middleName:null,surname:"Ceccaroni",slug:"dayana-ceccaroni",fullName:"Dayana Ceccaroni"}]},{id:"53681",title:"Breeding Rice for Improved Grain Quality",slug:"breeding-rice-for-improved-grain-quality",totalDownloads:1850,totalCrossrefCites:6,totalDimensionsCites:6,book:{slug:"advances-in-international-rice-research",title:"Advances in International Rice Research",fullTitle:"Advances in International Rice Research"},signatures:"Maxwell Darko Asante",authors:[{id:"190033",title:"Dr.",name:"Maxwell Darko",middleName:null,surname:"Asante",slug:"maxwell-darko-asante",fullName:"Maxwell Darko Asante"}]},{id:"53722",title:"Nematodes Affecting Soybean and Sustainable Practices for Their Management",slug:"nematodes-affecting-soybean-and-sustainable-practices-for-their-management",totalDownloads:1296,totalCrossrefCites:5,totalDimensionsCites:8,book:{slug:"soybean-the-basis-of-yield-biomass-and-productivity",title:"Soybean",fullTitle:"Soybean - The Basis of Yield, Biomass and Productivity"},signatures:"Fábia S.O. Lima, Valdir R. Correa, Sônia Regina Nogueira and\nPatrícia R.R. Santos",authors:[{id:"191564",title:"Dr.",name:"Fábia",middleName:null,surname:"Lima",slug:"fabia-lima",fullName:"Fábia Lima"},{id:"191758",title:"Dr.",name:"Valdir",middleName:null,surname:"Correa",slug:"valdir-correa",fullName:"Valdir Correa"}]},{id:"53806",title:"Soybean Architecture Plants: From Solar Radiation Interception to Crop Protection",slug:"soybean-architecture-plants-from-solar-radiation-interception-to-crop-protection",totalDownloads:1437,totalCrossrefCites:0,totalDimensionsCites:2,book:{slug:"soybean-the-basis-of-yield-biomass-and-productivity",title:"Soybean",fullTitle:"Soybean - The Basis of Yield, Biomass and Productivity"},signatures:"Geraldo Chavarria, Andréia Caverzan, Mariele Müller and Miroslava\nRakocevic",authors:[{id:"95744",title:"Dr.",name:"Geraldo",middleName:null,surname:"Chavarria",slug:"geraldo-chavarria",fullName:"Geraldo Chavarria"},{id:"176409",title:"Dr.",name:"Andréia",middleName:null,surname:"Caverzan",slug:"andreia-caverzan",fullName:"Andréia Caverzan"},{id:"191730",title:"Mrs.",name:"Mariele",middleName:null,surname:"Muller",slug:"mariele-muller",fullName:"Mariele Muller"},{id:"191732",title:"Dr.",name:"Miroslava",middleName:null,surname:"Rakocevic",slug:"miroslava-rakocevic",fullName:"Miroslava Rakocevic"}]},{id:"54029",title:"The Deep Purple Color and the Scent are Two Great Qualities of the Black Scented Rice (Chakhao) of Manipur",slug:"the-deep-purple-color-and-the-scent-are-two-great-qualities-of-the-black-scented-rice-chakhao-of-man",totalDownloads:1968,totalCrossrefCites:1,totalDimensionsCites:2,book:{slug:"advances-in-international-rice-research",title:"Advances in International Rice Research",fullTitle:"Advances in International Rice Research"},signatures:"Ibemhal Devi Asem, Rajkumar Imotomba and Pranab B. Mazumder",authors:[{id:"199924",title:"Dr.",name:"Ibemhal",middleName:null,surname:"Asem",slug:"ibemhal-asem",fullName:"Ibemhal Asem"}]},{id:"53538",title:"Role of Nitrogen on Growth and Seed Yield of Soybean and a New Fertilization Technique to Promote Nitrogen Fixation and Seed Yield",slug:"role-of-nitrogen-on-growth-and-seed-yield-of-soybean-and-a-new-fertilization-technique-to-promote-ni",totalDownloads:2690,totalCrossrefCites:3,totalDimensionsCites:10,book:{slug:"soybean-the-basis-of-yield-biomass-and-productivity",title:"Soybean",fullTitle:"Soybean - The Basis of Yield, Biomass and Productivity"},signatures:"Takuji Ohyama, Kaushal Tewari, Shinji Ishikawa, Kazuya Tanaka,\nSatoshi Kamiyama, Yuki Ono, Soshi Hatano, Norikuni Ohtake, Kuni\nSueyoshi, Hideo Hasegawa, Takashi Sato, Sayuri Tanabata,\nYoshifumi Nagumo, Yoichi Fujita and Yoshihiko Takahashi",authors:[{id:"30061",title:"Prof.",name:"Takuji",middleName:null,surname:"Ohyama",slug:"takuji-ohyama",fullName:"Takuji Ohyama"},{id:"41349",title:"Dr.",name:"Norikuni",middleName:null,surname:"Ohtake",slug:"norikuni-ohtake",fullName:"Norikuni Ohtake"},{id:"41350",title:"Dr.",name:"Kuni",middleName:null,surname:"Sueyoshi",slug:"kuni-sueyoshi",fullName:"Kuni Sueyoshi"},{id:"41351",title:"Dr.",name:"Yoshihiko",middleName:null,surname:"Takahashi",slug:"yoshihiko-takahashi",fullName:"Yoshihiko Takahashi"},{id:"169171",title:"Dr.",name:"Sayuri",middleName:null,surname:"Tanabata",slug:"sayuri-tanabata",fullName:"Sayuri Tanabata"},{id:"195270",title:"Dr.",name:"Kaushal",middleName:null,surname:"Tewari",slug:"kaushal-tewari",fullName:"Kaushal Tewari"},{id:"195271",title:"Dr.",name:"Shinji",middleName:null,surname:"Ishikawa",slug:"shinji-ishikawa",fullName:"Shinji Ishikawa"},{id:"195272",title:"MSc.",name:"Kazuya",middleName:null,surname:"Tanaka",slug:"kazuya-tanaka",fullName:"Kazuya Tanaka"},{id:"195274",title:"MSc.",name:"Satoshi",middleName:null,surname:"Kamiyama",slug:"satoshi-kamiyama",fullName:"Satoshi Kamiyama"},{id:"195275",title:"BSc.",name:"Yuki",middleName:null,surname:"Ono",slug:"yuki-ono",fullName:"Yuki Ono"},{id:"195276",title:"M.Sc.",name:"Soshi",middleName:null,surname:"Hatano",slug:"soshi-hatano",fullName:"Soshi Hatano"},{id:"195277",title:"Prof.",name:"Hideo",middleName:null,surname:"Hasegawa",slug:"hideo-hasegawa",fullName:"Hideo Hasegawa"},{id:"195278",title:"Prof.",name:"Takashi",middleName:null,surname:"Sato",slug:"takashi-sato",fullName:"Takashi Sato"},{id:"195279",title:"Dr.",name:"Yoshifumi",middleName:null,surname:"Nagumo",slug:"yoshifumi-nagumo",fullName:"Yoshifumi Nagumo"},{id:"195280",title:"MSc.",name:"Yoichi",middleName:null,surname:"Fujita",slug:"yoichi-fujita",fullName:"Yoichi Fujita"}]},{id:"53424",title:"Challenges of In Vitro and In Vivo Agrobacterium-Mediated Genetic Transformation in Soybean",slug:"challenges-of-in-vitro-and-in-vivo-agrobacterium-mediated-genetic-transformation-in-soybean",totalDownloads:1408,totalCrossrefCites:2,totalDimensionsCites:2,book:{slug:"soybean-the-basis-of-yield-biomass-and-productivity",title:"Soybean",fullTitle:"Soybean - The Basis of Yield, Biomass and Productivity"},signatures:"Phetole Mangena, Phatlane William Mokwala and Roumiana\nVassileva Nikolova",authors:[{id:"191314",title:"Dr.",name:"Roumiana",middleName:null,surname:"Nikolova",slug:"roumiana-nikolova",fullName:"Roumiana Nikolova"},{id:"191391",title:"Mr.",name:"Phetole",middleName:null,surname:"Mangena",slug:"phetole-mangena",fullName:"Phetole Mangena"},{id:"195046",title:"Dr.",name:"Phatlane William",middleName:null,surname:"Mokwala",slug:"phatlane-william-mokwala",fullName:"Phatlane William Mokwala"}]},{id:"54259",title:"Genetics and Genomics of Bacterial Blight Resistance in Rice",slug:"genetics-and-genomics-of-bacterial-blight-resistance-in-rice",totalDownloads:1893,totalCrossrefCites:9,totalDimensionsCites:16,book:{slug:"advances-in-international-rice-research",title:"Advances in International Rice Research",fullTitle:"Advances in International Rice Research"},signatures:"Yogesh Vikal and Dharminder Bhatia",authors:[{id:"189992",title:"Dr.",name:"Yogesh",middleName:null,surname:"Vikal",slug:"yogesh-vikal",fullName:"Yogesh Vikal"},{id:"195667",title:"Dr.",name:"Dharminder",middleName:null,surname:"Bhatia",slug:"dharminder-bhatia",fullName:"Dharminder Bhatia"}]},{id:"53054",title:"Production of Soybean-Derived Feed Material Free from Salmonella Contamination: An Essential Food Safety Challenge",slug:"production-of-soybean-derived-feed-material-free-from-salmonella-contamination-an-essential-food-saf",totalDownloads:1218,totalCrossrefCites:0,totalDimensionsCites:1,book:{slug:"soybean-the-basis-of-yield-biomass-and-productivity",title:"Soybean",fullTitle:"Soybean - The Basis of Yield, Biomass and Productivity"},signatures:"Martin Wierup",authors:[{id:"193418",title:"Dr.",name:"Martin",middleName:null,surname:"Wierup",slug:"martin-wierup",fullName:"Martin Wierup"}]}],onlineFirstChaptersFilter:{topicSlug:"agrology",limit:3,offset:0},onlineFirstChaptersCollection:[],onlineFirstChaptersTotal:0},preDownload:{success:null,errors:{}},aboutIntechopen:{},privacyPolicy:{},peerReviewing:{},howOpenAccessPublishingWithIntechopenWorks:{},sponsorshipBooks:{sponsorshipBooks:[{type:"book",id:"10176",title:"Microgrids and Local Energy Systems",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"c32b4a5351a88f263074b0d0ca813a9c",slug:null,bookSignature:"Prof. Nick Jenkins",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10176.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:[{id:"55219",title:"Prof.",name:"Nick",middleName:null,surname:"Jenkins",slug:"nick-jenkins",fullName:"Nick Jenkins"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}}],offset:8,limit:8,total:1},route:{name:"book.detail",path:"/books/colloid-science-in-pharmaceutical-nanotechnology",hash:"",query:{},params:{book:"colloid-science-in-pharmaceutical-nanotechnology"},fullPath:"/books/colloid-science-in-pharmaceutical-nanotechnology",meta:{},from:{name:null,path:"/",hash:"",query:{},params:{},fullPath:"/",meta:{}}}},function(){var e;(e=document.currentScript||document.scripts[document.scripts.length-1]).parentNode.removeChild(e)}()