Cardiac output for nonpregnant women in control group and for pregnant women (first, second, and third trimesters).
\\n\\n
\\n"}]',published:!0,mainMedia:{caption:"Milestone",originalUrl:"/media/original/124"}},components:[{type:"htmlEditorComponent",content:'
Barely three months into the new year and we are happy to announce a monumental milestone reached - 150 million downloads.
\n\nThis achievement solidifies IntechOpen’s place as a pioneer in Open Access publishing and the home to some of the most relevant scientific research available through Open Access.
\n\nWe are so proud to have worked with so many bright minds throughout the years who have helped us spread knowledge through the power of Open Access and we look forward to continuing to support some of the greatest thinkers of our day.
\n\nThank you for making IntechOpen your place of learning, sharing, and discovery, and here’s to 150 million more!
\n\n\n\n\n'}],latestNews:[{slug:"step-in-the-right-direction-intechopen-launches-a-portfolio-of-open-science-journals-20220414",title:"Step in the Right Direction: IntechOpen Launches a Portfolio of Open Science Journals"},{slug:"let-s-meet-at-london-book-fair-5-7-april-2022-olympia-london-20220321",title:"Let’s meet at London Book Fair, 5-7 April 2022, Olympia London"},{slug:"50-books-published-as-part-of-intechopen-and-knowledge-unlatched-ku-collaboration-20220316",title:"50 Books published as part of IntechOpen and Knowledge Unlatched (KU) Collaboration"},{slug:"intechopen-joins-the-united-nations-sustainable-development-goals-publishers-compact-20221702",title:"IntechOpen joins the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Publishers Compact"},{slug:"intechopen-signs-exclusive-representation-agreement-with-lsr-libros-servicios-y-representaciones-s-a-de-c-v-20211123",title:"IntechOpen Signs Exclusive Representation Agreement with LSR Libros Servicios y Representaciones S.A. de C.V"},{slug:"intechopen-expands-partnership-with-research4life-20211110",title:"IntechOpen Expands Partnership with Research4Life"},{slug:"introducing-intechopen-book-series-a-new-publishing-format-for-oa-books-20210915",title:"Introducing IntechOpen Book Series - A New Publishing Format for OA Books"},{slug:"intechopen-identified-as-one-of-the-most-significant-contributor-to-oa-book-growth-in-doab-20210809",title:"IntechOpen Identified as One of the Most Significant Contributors to OA Book Growth in DOAB"}]},book:{item:{type:"book",id:"3624",leadTitle:null,fullTitle:"Robot Soccer",title:"Robot Soccer",subtitle:null,reviewType:"peer-reviewed",abstract:"The idea of using soccer game for promoting science and technology of artificial intelligence and robotics was presented in the early 90s of the last century. Researchers in many different scientific fields all over the world recognized this idea as an inspiring challenge. Robot soccer research is interdisciplinary, complex, demanding but most of all, fun and motivational. Obtained knowledge and results of research can easily be transferred and applied to numerous applications and projects dealing with relating fields such as robotics, electronics, mechanical engineering, artificial intelligence, etc. As a consequence, we are witnesses of rapid advancement in this field with numerous robot soccer competitions and a vast number of teams and team members. The best illustration is numbers from the RoboCup 2009 world championship held in Graz, Austria which gathered around 2300 participants in over 400 teams from 44 nations. Attendance numbers at various robot soccer events show that interest in robot soccer goes beyond the academic and R&D community. \r\n\r\nSeveral experts have been invited to present state of the art in this growing area. It was impossible to cover all aspects of the research in detail but through the chapters of this book, various topics were elaborated. Among them are hardware architecture and controllers, software design, sensor and information fusion, reasoning and control, development of more robust and intelligent robot soccer strategies, AI-based paradigms, robot communication and simulations as well as some other issues such as educational aspect. Some strict partition of chapter in this book hasn’t been done because areas of research are overlapping and interweaving. However, it can be said that chapters at the beginning are more system-oriented with wider scope of presented research while later chapters generally deal with some more particular aspects of robot soccer.",isbn:null,printIsbn:"978-953-307-036-0",pdfIsbn:"978-953-51-5871-4",doi:"10.5772/143",price:139,priceEur:155,priceUsd:179,slug:"robot-soccer",numberOfPages:358,isOpenForSubmission:!1,isInWos:1,isInBkci:!1,hash:null,bookSignature:"Vladan Papić",publishedDate:"January 1st 2010",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/3624.jpg",numberOfDownloads:38199,numberOfWosCitations:26,numberOfCrossrefCitations:29,numberOfCrossrefCitationsByBook:0,numberOfDimensionsCitations:42,numberOfDimensionsCitationsByBook:0,hasAltmetrics:1,numberOfTotalCitations:97,isAvailableForWebshopOrdering:!0,dateEndFirstStepPublish:null,dateEndSecondStepPublish:null,dateEndThirdStepPublish:null,dateEndFourthStepPublish:null,dateEndFifthStepPublish:null,currentStepOfPublishingProcess:1,indexedIn:"1,2,3,4,5,6,7",editedByType:"Edited by",kuFlag:!1,featuredMarkup:null,editors:[{id:"34038",title:"Prof.",name:"Vladan",middleName:null,surname:"Papić",slug:"vladan-papic",fullName:"Vladan Papić",profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/34038/images/system/34038.jpg",biography:"Born on 6th August, 1968. in Split, Croatia.\nB. S. in Electrotechnics, 1993, University of Split\nTitle of diploma work: Use of PC in phase plane analysis of nelinear dynamic systems\nM. S. in Electrotechnics, 1996, University of Split\nTitle of master thesis: Recognition of characteristic phases of human gait using Neural Networks\nPh.D. in Electrotechnics, 2002, University of Split\nTitle of doctoral thesis: Expert system for evaluation of human gait kinematics based on shape recognition\n\nSince 2002. assistant professor on The Faculty of natural science, mathematics and education.\nClasses: Electronics basics, Laboratory in electronics, Computers in technical systems. \nHead of Polytechnics department (PMF) 2005. - 2008.\nVice-Dean for science (PMF) 2008.\nProfessor on FESB since 2009. Full professor since 2010.\nClasses: Systems theory, Computer graphics, Databases.\n\n\n1993. - 1997. working as a computer software developer in INFO90 and SEM-kompjuteri.\nSince 1998. - 2002. working as young researcher on the projectBiomechanics of human gait, control and rehabilitation",institutionString:null,position:null,outsideEditionCount:0,totalCites:0,totalAuthoredChapters:"1",totalChapterViews:"0",totalEditedBooks:"1",institution:{name:"University of Split",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"Croatia"}}}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,coeditorOne:null,coeditorTwo:null,coeditorThree:null,coeditorFour:null,coeditorFive:null,topics:[{id:"1258",title:"Mobile Robot",slug:"anthrobotics-mobile-robot"}],chapters:[{id:"9346",title:"The Real-Time and Embedded Soccer Robot Control System",doi:"10.5772/7352",slug:"the-real-time-and-embedded-soccer-robot-control-system",totalDownloads:3664,totalCrossrefCites:3,totalDimensionsCites:3,hasAltmetrics:0,abstract:null,signatures:"Ce Li, Takahiro Watanabe, Zhenyu Wu, Hang Li and Yijie Huangfu",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/9346",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/9346",authors:[null],corrections:null},{id:"9347",title:"CAMBADA Soccer Team: from Robot Architecture to Multiagent Coordination",doi:"10.5772/7353",slug:"cambada-soccer-team-from-robot-architecture-to-multiagent-coordination",totalDownloads:2376,totalCrossrefCites:7,totalDimensionsCites:13,hasAltmetrics:0,abstract:null,signatures:"Antonio J. R. Neves, Jose Luis Azevedo, Bernardo Cunha, Nuno Lau, Joao Silva, Frederico Santos, Gustavo Corrente, Daniel A. Martins, Nuno Figueiredo, Artur Pereira, Luis Almeida, Luis Seabra Lopes, Armando J. Pinho, Joao Rodrigues and Paulo Pedreiras",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/9347",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/9347",authors:[null],corrections:null},{id:"9348",title:"Small-Size Humanoid Soccer Robot Design for FIRA HuroSot",doi:"10.5772/7350",slug:"small-size-humanoid-soccer-robot-design-for-fira-hurosot",totalDownloads:2921,totalCrossrefCites:2,totalDimensionsCites:2,hasAltmetrics:0,abstract:null,signatures:"Ching-Chang Wong, Chi-Tai Cheng, Kai-Hsiang Huang, Yu-Ting Yang, Yueh-Yang Hu and Hsiang-Min Chan",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/9348",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/9348",authors:[null],corrections:null},{id:"9349",title:"Humanoid Soccer Player Design",doi:"10.5772/7351",slug:"humanoid-soccer-player-design",totalDownloads:2581,totalCrossrefCites:7,totalDimensionsCites:8,hasAltmetrics:0,abstract:null,signatures:"Francisco Martin, Carlos Aguero, Jose Maria Canas and Eduardo Perdices",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/9349",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/9349",authors:[null],corrections:null},{id:"9350",title:"Robot Soccer Educational Courses",doi:"10.5772/7343",slug:"robot-soccer-educational-courses",totalDownloads:3093,totalCrossrefCites:1,totalDimensionsCites:1,hasAltmetrics:0,abstract:null,signatures:"Hrvoje Turic, Vladimir Plestina, Vladan Papic and Ante Krolo",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/9350",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/9350",authors:[null],corrections:null},{id:"9351",title:"Distributed Architecture for Dynamic Role Behaviour in Humanoid Soccer Robots",doi:"10.5772/7344",slug:"distributed-architecture-for-dynamic-role-behaviour-in-humanoid-soccer-robots",totalDownloads:1798,totalCrossrefCites:1,totalDimensionsCites:1,hasAltmetrics:0,abstract:null,signatures:"Carlos Antonio Acosta Calderon, Rajesh Elara Mohan and Changjiu Zhou",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/9351",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/9351",authors:[null],corrections:null},{id:"9352",title:"Evolving Fuzzy Rules for Goal-Scoring Behaviour in Robot Soccer",doi:"10.5772/7345",slug:"evolving-fuzzy-rules-for-goal-scoring-behaviour-in-robot-soccer",totalDownloads:2114,totalCrossrefCites:1,totalDimensionsCites:1,hasAltmetrics:0,abstract:null,signatures:"Jeff Riley",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/9352",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/9352",authors:[null],corrections:null},{id:"9353",title:"FIRA Mirosot Robot Soccer System Using Fuzzy Logic Algorithms",doi:"10.5772/7346",slug:"fira-mirosot-robot-soccer-system-using-fuzzy-logic-algorithms",totalDownloads:3176,totalCrossrefCites:0,totalDimensionsCites:2,hasAltmetrics:0,abstract:null,signatures:"Elmer A. Maravillas and Elmer P. Dadios",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/9353",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/9353",authors:[null],corrections:null},{id:"9354",title:"Artificial Immune Systems, A New Computational Technique for Robot Soccer Strategies",doi:"10.5772/7347",slug:"artificial-immune-systems-a-new-computational-technique-for-robot-soccer-strategies",totalDownloads:4213,totalCrossrefCites:0,totalDimensionsCites:1,hasAltmetrics:0,abstract:null,signatures:"Camilo Eduardo Prieto S., Luis Fernando Nino V. and Gerardo Quintana",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/9354",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/9354",authors:[null],corrections:null},{id:"9355",title:"The Role Assignment in Robot Soccer",doi:"10.5772/7348",slug:"the-role-assignment-in-robot-soccer",totalDownloads:2037,totalCrossrefCites:0,totalDimensionsCites:0,hasAltmetrics:0,abstract:null,signatures:"Ji Yuandong, Zuo Hongtao, Wang Lei and Yao Jin",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/9355",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/9355",authors:[null],corrections:null},{id:"9356",title:"Multi-Robot Systems: Modeling, Specification, and Model Checking",doi:"10.5772/7349",slug:"multi-robot-systems-modeling-specification-and-model-checking",totalDownloads:2159,totalCrossrefCites:6,totalDimensionsCites:6,hasAltmetrics:0,abstract:null,signatures:"Ammar Mohammed, Ulrich Furbach and Frieder Stolzenburg",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/9356",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/9356",authors:[null],corrections:null},{id:"9357",title:"RFuzzy: an Easy and Expressive Tool for Modelling the Cognitive Layer in RoboCupSoccer",doi:"10.5772/7342",slug:"rfuzzy-an-easy-and-expressive-tool-for-modelling-the-cognitive-layer-in-robocupsoccer",totalDownloads:2033,totalCrossrefCites:1,totalDimensionsCites:1,hasAltmetrics:0,abstract:null,signatures:"Susana Munoz Hernandez",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/9357",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/9357",authors:[null],corrections:null},{id:"9358",title:"Soccer at the Microscale: Small Robots with Big Impact",doi:"10.5772/7340",slug:"soccer-at-the-microscale-small-robots-with-big-impact",totalDownloads:2094,totalCrossrefCites:0,totalDimensionsCites:2,hasAltmetrics:1,abstract:null,signatures:"S. L. Firebaugh, J. A. Piepmeier and C. D. McGray",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/9358",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/9358",authors:[null],corrections:null},{id:"9359",title:"Automated Camera Calibration for Robot Soccer",doi:"10.5772/7341",slug:"automated-camera-calibration-for-robot-soccer",totalDownloads:2007,totalCrossrefCites:0,totalDimensionsCites:1,hasAltmetrics:0,abstract:null,signatures:"Donald G Bailey and Gourab Sen Gupta",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/9359",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/9359",authors:[null],corrections:null},{id:"9360",title:"Optimal Offensive Player Positioning in the Simulated Robotic Soccer",doi:"10.5772/7336",slug:"optimal-offensive-player-positioning-in-the-simulated-robotic-soccer",totalDownloads:1933,totalCrossrefCites:0,totalDimensionsCites:0,hasAltmetrics:0,abstract:null,signatures:"Vadim Kyrylov and Serguei Razykov",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/9360",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/9360",authors:[null],corrections:null}],productType:{id:"1",title:"Edited Volume",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"},subseries:null,tags:null},relatedBooks:[{type:"book",id:"6111",title:"Mobile Robots",subtitle:"towards New Applications",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"75544814a08a51504dd52ee155eff99d",slug:"mobile_robots_towards_new_applications",bookSignature:"Aleksandar Lazinica",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/6111.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"12392",title:"Mr.",name:"Alex",surname:"Lazinica",slug:"alex-lazinica",fullName:"Alex Lazinica"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"3609",title:"Mobile Robots",subtitle:"State of the Art in Land, Sea, Air, and Collaborative Missions",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:null,slug:"mobile-robots-state-of-the-art-in-land-sea-air-and-collaborative-missions",bookSignature:"XiaoQi Chen, Y.Q. Chen and J.G. Chase",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/3609.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"81536",title:"PhD.",name:"XiaoQi",surname:"Chen",slug:"xiaoqi-chen",fullName:"XiaoQi Chen"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,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:"Theophile",surname:"Theophanides",slug:"theophile-theophanides",fullName:"Theophile Theophanides"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,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"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,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"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,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"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,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"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"314",title:"Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering",subtitle:"Cells and Biomaterials",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"bb67e80e480c86bb8315458012d65686",slug:"regenerative-medicine-and-tissue-engineering-cells-and-biomaterials",bookSignature:"Daniel Eberli",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/314.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"6495",title:"Dr.",name:"Daniel",surname:"Eberli",slug:"daniel-eberli",fullName:"Daniel Eberli"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,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"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,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"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}}],ofsBooks:[]},correction:{item:{id:"47331",slug:"correction-to-the-cultural-reinforcers-of-child-abuse",title:"Correction to: The Cultural Reinforcers of Child Abuse",doi:null,correctionPDFUrl:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs/47331.pdf",downloadPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-download/47331",previewPdfUrl:"/chapter/pdf-preview/47331",totalDownloads:null,totalCrossrefCites:null,bibtexUrl:"/chapter/bibtex/47331",risUrl:"/chapter/ris/47331",chapter:{id:"37763",slug:"the-cultural-reinforcers-of-child-abuse",signatures:"Essam Al-Shail, Ahmed Hassan, Abdullah Aldowaish and Hoda Kattan",dateSubmitted:"November 8th 2011",dateReviewed:"June 14th 2012",datePrePublished:null,datePublished:"July 11th 2012",book:{id:"2663",title:"Child Abuse and Neglect",subtitle:"A Multidimensional Approach",fullTitle:"Child Abuse and Neglect - A Multidimensional Approach",slug:"child-abuse-and-neglect-a-multidimensional-approach",publishedDate:"July 11th 2012",bookSignature:"Alexander Muela",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/2663.jpg",licenceType:"CC BY 3.0",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"138437",title:"Dr.",name:"Alexander",middleName:null,surname:"Muela Aparicio",slug:"alexander-muela-aparicio",fullName:"Alexander Muela Aparicio"}],productType:{id:"1",title:"Edited Volume",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},authors:[{id:"85712",title:"Dr.",name:"Ahmed",middleName:"M.",surname:"Hassan",fullName:"Ahmed Hassan",slug:"ahmed-hassan",email:"amh_64@hotmail.com",position:null,institution:{name:"King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"Saudi Arabia"}}},{id:"139594",title:"Prof.",name:"Essam",middleName:null,surname:"Al-Shail",fullName:"Essam Al-Shail",slug:"essam-al-shail",email:"shail@kfshrc.edu.sa",position:null,institution:{name:"Alfaisal University",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"Saudi Arabia"}}},{id:"149745",title:"Dr.",name:"Hoda",middleName:null,surname:"Kattan",fullName:"Hoda Kattan",slug:"hoda-kattan",email:"hoda@kfshrc.edu.sa",position:null,institution:null},{id:"149746",title:"Dr.",name:"Abdullah",middleName:null,surname:"Aldowaish",fullName:"Abdullah Aldowaish",slug:"abdullah-aldowaish",email:"dowaish@kfshrc.edu.sa",position:null,institution:null}]}},chapter:{id:"37763",slug:"the-cultural-reinforcers-of-child-abuse",signatures:"Essam Al-Shail, Ahmed Hassan, Abdullah Aldowaish and Hoda Kattan",dateSubmitted:"November 8th 2011",dateReviewed:"June 14th 2012",datePrePublished:null,datePublished:"July 11th 2012",book:{id:"2663",title:"Child Abuse and Neglect",subtitle:"A Multidimensional Approach",fullTitle:"Child Abuse and Neglect - A Multidimensional Approach",slug:"child-abuse-and-neglect-a-multidimensional-approach",publishedDate:"July 11th 2012",bookSignature:"Alexander Muela",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/2663.jpg",licenceType:"CC BY 3.0",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"138437",title:"Dr.",name:"Alexander",middleName:null,surname:"Muela Aparicio",slug:"alexander-muela-aparicio",fullName:"Alexander Muela Aparicio"}],productType:{id:"1",title:"Edited Volume",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},authors:[{id:"85712",title:"Dr.",name:"Ahmed",middleName:"M.",surname:"Hassan",fullName:"Ahmed Hassan",slug:"ahmed-hassan",email:"amh_64@hotmail.com",position:null,institution:{name:"King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"Saudi Arabia"}}},{id:"139594",title:"Prof.",name:"Essam",middleName:null,surname:"Al-Shail",fullName:"Essam Al-Shail",slug:"essam-al-shail",email:"shail@kfshrc.edu.sa",position:null,institution:{name:"Alfaisal University",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"Saudi Arabia"}}},{id:"149745",title:"Dr.",name:"Hoda",middleName:null,surname:"Kattan",fullName:"Hoda Kattan",slug:"hoda-kattan",email:"hoda@kfshrc.edu.sa",position:null,institution:null},{id:"149746",title:"Dr.",name:"Abdullah",middleName:null,surname:"Aldowaish",fullName:"Abdullah Aldowaish",slug:"abdullah-aldowaish",email:"dowaish@kfshrc.edu.sa",position:null,institution:null}]},book:{id:"2663",title:"Child Abuse and Neglect",subtitle:"A Multidimensional Approach",fullTitle:"Child Abuse and Neglect - A Multidimensional Approach",slug:"child-abuse-and-neglect-a-multidimensional-approach",publishedDate:"July 11th 2012",bookSignature:"Alexander Muela",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/2663.jpg",licenceType:"CC BY 3.0",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"138437",title:"Dr.",name:"Alexander",middleName:null,surname:"Muela Aparicio",slug:"alexander-muela-aparicio",fullName:"Alexander Muela Aparicio"}],productType:{id:"1",title:"Edited Volume",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}}},ofsBook:{item:{type:"book",id:"11207",leadTitle:null,title:"Carbon Nitride",subtitle:null,reviewType:"peer-reviewed",abstract:"
\r\n\tThis book deals with three hot topics related to the synthesis, applications, and technologies of carbon nitride. The introductory chapter deals with the synthesis and Photocatalytic properties of graphitic carbon nitride. The other chapters will cover many topics, such as Graphitic carbon nitride for high capacity hydrogen storage and synthesis and characterization of carbon nitride as coating and activation materials for organic pollutants degradation. In addition, the book will cover, Nano Composites of graphitic carbon nitride for luminescence and photocatalytic applications, Graphitic carbon nitride as catalyst support in fuel cells and water electrolyzers, and Graphitic carbon nitride composite as semiconductors and photocatalytic fibers. The new approaches such as graphitic carbon nitride-based nanocomposites, graphitic carbon nitride from melamine and uric acid, and synthesis of metal-free ultrathin graphitic carbon nitride sheet will be the synthesis for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes. This book will encourage readers, researchers, and scientists to look further into the frontier topics of carbon nitride and open new possible research paths for further novel development.
",isbn:"978-1-80355-973-5",printIsbn:"978-1-80355-972-8",pdfIsbn:"978-1-80355-974-2",doi:null,price:0,priceEur:0,priceUsd:0,slug:null,numberOfPages:0,isOpenForSubmission:!1,isSalesforceBook:!1,hash:"cbd79ae48d049da3e433c845d5b1ab31",bookSignature:"Prof. Nasser S Awwad and Dr. Saleh S. Alarfaji",publishedDate:null,coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/11207.jpg",keywords:"Graphitization, Carbon Nitride, Synthesis and Characterization, Coating and Activation, Nano Composites, Luminescence, Graphitic Carbon Nitride, Catalyst Support, Semiconductors, Photocatalytic Fibers, Synthesis, Photocatalytic",numberOfDownloads:null,numberOfWosCitations:0,numberOfCrossrefCitations:null,numberOfDimensionsCitations:null,numberOfTotalCitations:null,isAvailableForWebshopOrdering:!0,dateEndFirstStepPublish:"November 18th 2021",dateEndSecondStepPublish:"March 3rd 2022",dateEndThirdStepPublish:"May 2nd 2022",dateEndFourthStepPublish:"July 21st 2022",dateEndFifthStepPublish:"September 19th 2022",remainingDaysToSecondStep:"2 months",secondStepPassed:!0,currentStepOfPublishingProcess:4,editedByType:null,kuFlag:!1,biosketch:"Prof. Awwad is Head of the Scientific Research and International Cooperation Unit, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University. He is a permanent member of the American Chemical Society and member of the Arab Society of Forensic Sciences and Forensic Medicine.",coeditorOneBiosketch:"Dr. Saleh S. Alarfaji is the chairman of the chemistry department at King Khalid University (KKU). He got his MSc in computational chemistry from Murray State University (MSU, USA) and Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham.",coeditorTwoBiosketch:null,coeditorThreeBiosketch:null,coeditorFourBiosketch:null,coeditorFiveBiosketch:null,editors:[{id:"145209",title:"Prof.",name:"Nasser",middleName:"S",surname:"Awwad",slug:"nasser-awwad",fullName:"Nasser Awwad",profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/145209/images/system/145209.jpg",biography:"Dr. Nasser Awwad received his Ph.D. in inorganic and radiochemistry in 2000 from Ain Shams University . Nasser Awwad was an Associate Professor of Radiochemistry in 2006 and Professor of Inorganic and Radiochemistry in 2011. He has been a Professor at King Khalid University, Abha, KSA, from 2011 until now. Prof Awwad has edited four books (Uranium, New trends in Nuclear Sciences, Lanthanides, and Nuclear Power Plants) and he has co-edited two books (Chemistry and Technology of Natural and Synthetic Dyes and Pigments and Biochemical Analysis Tools). He has also published 137 papers at ISI journals. He has supervised 4 Ph.D. and 18 MSc students in the field of radioactive and wastewater treatment. He has participated in 26 international conferences in South Korea, the USA, Lebanon, KSA, and Egypt. He has reviewed 2 Ph.D. and 15 MSc theses. He participated in 6 big projects with KACST at KSA and Sandia National Labs in the USA. He is a member of the Arab Society of Forensic Sciences and Forensic Medicine. He is a permanent member of the American Chemical Society, and a rapporteur of the Permanent Committee for Nuclear and Radiological Protection at KKU. He is Head of the Scientific Research and International Cooperation Unit, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University.",institutionString:"King Khalid University",position:null,outsideEditionCount:0,totalCites:0,totalAuthoredChapters:"6",totalChapterViews:"0",totalEditedBooks:"4",institution:{name:"King Khalid University",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"Saudi Arabia"}}}],coeditorOne:{id:"342121",title:"Dr.",name:"Saleh",middleName:"S.",surname:"Alarfaji",slug:"saleh-alarfaji",fullName:"Saleh Alarfaji",profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/342121/images/15243_n.jpg",biography:null,institutionString:"King Khalid University",position:null,outsideEditionCount:0,totalCites:0,totalAuthoredChapters:"0",totalChapterViews:"0",totalEditedBooks:"0",institution:{name:"King Khalid University",institutionURL:null,country:{name:"Saudi Arabia"}}},coeditorTwo:null,coeditorThree:null,coeditorFour:null,coeditorFive:null,topics:[{id:"8",title:"Chemistry",slug:"chemistry"}],chapters:null,productType:{id:"1",title:"Edited Volume",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"},personalPublishingAssistant:{id:"440212",firstName:"Elena",lastName:"Vracaric",middleName:null,title:"Ms.",imageUrl:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/440212/images/20007_n.jpg",email:"elena@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:"6303",title:"Uranium",subtitle:"Safety, Resources, Separation and Thermodynamic Calculation",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"4812c0bc91279bd79f03418aca6d17c5",slug:"uranium-safety-resources-separation-and-thermodynamic-calculation",bookSignature:"Nasser S. Awwad",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/6303.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"145209",title:"Prof.",name:"Nasser",surname:"Awwad",slug:"nasser-awwad",fullName:"Nasser Awwad"}],productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"7287",title:"New Trends in Nuclear Science",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"2156d3fb99aa1fd640aabf95d1ca9f4c",slug:"new-trends-in-nuclear-science",bookSignature:"Nasser Sayed Awwad and Salem A. AlFaify",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/7287.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"145209",title:"Prof.",name:"Nasser",surname:"Awwad",slug:"nasser-awwad",fullName:"Nasser Awwad"}],productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"7512",title:"Lanthanides",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"f7bcbda594eacb5a3bd7149e94628753",slug:"lanthanides",bookSignature:"Nasser S. Awwad and Ahmed T. Mubarak",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/7512.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"145209",title:"Prof.",name:"Nasser",surname:"Awwad",slug:"nasser-awwad",fullName:"Nasser Awwad"}],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",surname:"Awwad",slug:"nasser-awwad",fullName:"Nasser Awwad"}],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:"Theophile",surname:"Theophanides",slug:"theophile-theophanides",fullName:"Theophile Theophanides"}],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:"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:"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:"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:"314",title:"Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering",subtitle:"Cells and Biomaterials",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"bb67e80e480c86bb8315458012d65686",slug:"regenerative-medicine-and-tissue-engineering-cells-and-biomaterials",bookSignature:"Daniel Eberli",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/314.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"6495",title:"Dr.",name:"Daniel",surname:"Eberli",slug:"daniel-eberli",fullName:"Daniel Eberli"}],productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}}]},chapter:{item:{type:"chapter",id:"79595",title:"Gestational Endotheliopathy as Trigger Disorder of Haemodynamics Pregnancy Supply",doi:"10.5772/intechopen.100737",slug:"gestational-endotheliopathy-as-trigger-disorder-of-haemodynamics-pregnancy-supply",body:'In early gestational age, the decidua has been extensively studied to define the spiral artery remodeling process that occurs during pregnancy. The remodeling results from a complex interaction between maternal decidual immune cells in the uterine wall and invasive trophoblasts. During remodeling the arterial muscular layer is replaced by fibrinoid material, and the arterial diameter increases 4–12-fold [1, 2]. The process of optimal trophoblast invasion is often defective in preeclampsia, particularly in early-onset preeclampsia, affecting the endothelium (gestational endotheliopathy) but not the interstitial invasion pathway; the remodeling of myometrial spiral artery segments is particularly affected. However, defective remodeling is also seen in other cases of perinatal pathology and even rarely in normal pregnancy. The resulting abnormal uteroplacental flow is associated with placental oxidative stress, probably from ischemia reperfusion injury of the placenta. It is not known why some woman with gestational endotheliopathy develop preeclampsia, while others do not [3, 4, 5, 6].
It is important to understand that all organism mechanisms providing pregnancy depend, foremost, on the hemodynamic system and the priority role of the perfusion complex (volume–tube–pump–pressure–blood flow)—pumping function of heart. More research assures that preeclampsia is examined not so much as the first event in subsequent development for women with cardiovascular diseases [7], but rather as a special circulatory state due to not insufficient, in our view, but tense adaptation of the CVS [8, 9, 10] in women, as straight-walking creatures, in pregnancy. However, a faithful a faithful parcel in determination of relations reason-result determines the necessity of establishment of certain factor or terms, according to which such adaptations show up in the CVS in pregnancy, and also determination of hemodynamic structure of perfusion mechanisms lying in and defining the orientation of this adaptation at physiological and pathological pregnancy. Such synergy substantially impacts tension of adjusting of blood circulation on a gravitational factor, especially in the upright position. In turn, antigravity tension of the CVS affects the blood circulation of pregnant women, which is critical for maintenance and development of fetoplacental circulation of blood. The real influence of formed biophysical terms related to pregnancy shows up from the second half of pregnancy, on circulation of blood and in the lying position [10, 11, 12].
Some studies have shown an association that displays growth of circulatory tension and gestational endotheliopathy of typology alteration of dynamic organization of CVS with growth of hyperkinetic state of circulation of blood in position straight standing-type III of antropophysiological correlation (upright/lying, %), minute volume of blood (MVB), system resistance of arterial vessels, especially on circulatory responsible regions (abdominal and pelvic circulation of blood), often combining with the ischemic state, together with the increase of hemodynamically identified [13, 14] circulatory syndromes of heart failure (HF). Obtained data suggest that antigravity tension of the CVS is a circulatory basis for both early and late preeclampsia. It is thus necessary to mean that blood pressure (BP) in pregnant, to that attention is brought over its determination of the state of preeclampsia, is the external display (a result, but not reason) of adaptation changes of all difficult complex of maternal circulation of blood, especially its basic mechanisms of perfusion, in the hemodynamic fetoplacental complex and, actually, organism of pregnant. Orthostatic proteinuria, which in preeclampsia is associated with arterial high BP, reflects tension of kidney link in the adaptation of the CVS to the gravitational factor of circulation of blood and out of pregnancy [15, 16].
The study was performed at the National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya, Ukraine, under budget grant No. 0121 U109141. Observational clinical studies were undertaken on 114 women with physiological pregnancy (PhP) and 131 pregnant women with perinatal pathology (PaP). The former group consisted of 23 women in their first trimester, 38 women in their second trimester, and 55 women in their third trimester, whereas the latter group consisted of 20 women in their first trimester, 36 women in their second trimester, and 75 women in their third trimester. A control group was formed by 115 healthy nonpregnant women. General age of pregnant women was 17–36 years (
We enrolled pregnant women with gestational endotheliopathy, who were diagnosed when microalbuminuria was more than 5.0 mg/mmol (screening test) and endothelium-dependent vasodilation was less than 10% (approving test).
Multicentral description of “hemodynamic model” of the examined conditions (not pregnant and pregnant women) was made basis on antropophysiological research [6] of the circulatory state of the CVS, using the diagnostic system ANTROPOS-CAVASCREEN [17], which is an innovative diagnostic complex for analyzing the performance of various blood circulation sections using noninvasive methods (thoracal and regional tetrapolar rheography, electrocardiography, BP measurement, electrometrial features of skin).
According to basic criteria and syndromal analysis of multicentral complex of hemodynamic characteristics [18, 19, 20, 21] of the “hemodynamic model” of providing of pregnancy [22] was held special antropophysiological analysis of showing up (part in % on a selection) of the different modes is conducted on middle blood pressure (BPm)—hypo-, normo- and hypertensive on positions of body upright and lying. For determining raised and lowered BPm, we used general normative descriptions of systolic BP (<140 and > 90 mmHg) and diastolic BP (<90 and > 60 mmHg). According to our special diagnostic scale, [23] group normative descriptions for BPm = BPd + 0.32*(BPs-BPd) in the lying position were well associated with the accepted diagnostic criteria; for women up to age 35 years, BPm was 79–105 mmHg. In standing position, there have been used connected to antropophysiological characteristics correlations of BPm to its criteria in position lying (in %), that allowed to identify the adaptive orientation of adjusting on the mode of BP in position upright, in that influence of gravitational (hydrostatical) factor of circulation of blood maximally impact circulatory state of the CVS. According to used criterion and by syndromal analysis [24, 25], criteria of raised and lowered BP were identified, as well as normotensive state.
With the examined modes for BP was analyzed expression of circulatory syndromes of HF at them hemodynamically identified by diagnostic algorithm worked out by us [26], as a system estimation of pumping function of heart (PFH) in the circulatory state of the CVS. PFH additionally was estimated by trimester measuring of cardiac output (CO, ml) and cardiac index on body weight (CI, ml/kg) separately in standing and lying positions. By antropophysiological ratio of CO upright/lying (APR, %) typological description of dynamic organization of the circulatory state of the CVS was made [27]. The last was presented by three types of blood circulation: type I or hypokinetic state, with the decrease of BP in standing position (93% and less) comparing to it’s size in a prone position; type II or eukinetic state, with BP of 94-106% from standing to lying position; and type III or hyperkinetic state, with increase of BP up to 107% or more in the upright position.
For the integral estimation of the analyzed condition of the CVS we additionally used system characteristics, including syndrome of greater biological age (aging, age-related depreciation) and syndrome of hemodynamic risk [5, 17] on the index of hemodynamic non-optimality (IHU > 30%), as well as regional and system estimation of syndrome of resistance (vasoconstrictions) of the arterial vessels of the head, lungs, stomach, pelvis, femur, and calf [13, 14], and increases of the systolic post-loading (post+) on the left (LV) and right (RV) ventricles of the heart.
For statistical description of obtained data methods of variation and non-parametric analysis were used with Microsoft Excel 2010. Evaluation was performed by variations of criteria of student, non-parametric to the criteria of signs and rule of specificity of predominating of bigger part of a selection or compared sub-groups (part) in selections of “control-pregnant” and “physiological pregnancy vs pathological pregnancy” [28] with the accepted level of probability no less than 95%.
Data on mBP for nonpregnant (control) and pregnant women were analyzed on general and actual selections on the BP mode. General selections were formed on correlation of BP “upright or lying.” Decreased BP “upright or lying” is hypotonic mode (“−” marks), increased BP “upright or lying” is hypertensive mode (it marks “+”), and accordance of BP to normative limits “lying and upright” is the normotonic state (“0” marks). The actual modes were formed on the real combination of the modes for BP upright/lying with corresponding marks (−0+/−0+) (see Figures 1 and 2). It should be noted that in the normotonic mode—general (“0”) and to the variants actual (0/−+) normative description of changes of BP upright there is however a primary increase of pressure, pressure orientation in adjusting of CVS in position upright.
Distribution of stake of people (in %) with the general modes of cardiovascular system according to BP (normotonic—Upright and lying, high blood pressure and hypotension—Upright or lying) for women of reproductive age (control) and in the first, second, and third trimesters of PhP and PaP.
Distribution of types of circulation (numbers on a diagram are a stake in % on a selection) in antropophysiological ratio of cardiac output (CO) upright/lying—Hypokinetic (I), eukinetic (II), and hyperkinetic (III) at the general modes of BP (hypotension, normotension, hypertension) of the circulatory state of CVS for nonpregnant women (control), PhP, and PaP. Authenticity of distinction (D) on the types of circulation is brought between control and PhP, by control and PaP (first row), and between PhP and PaP (second row).
It is necessary to mean that in position upright taking into account expression of the hypertensive state totally with a normative increase of BP the stake of the states of CVS of pressor orientation for women arrives at 90–92%, demonstrating actuality of the tense of pressor adjustment in adaptation of CVS to the gravitational (hydrostatical) factor of circulation of blood for a human as straight-walking creature. There is a background to examine it as physiological basis of forming of the hypertensive state [3, 4], including, for pregnant.
Figure 3 shows the subsequent dynamics of this setting for pregnancy in the first and second trimesters of PhP. It shows a clear reduction of the hypertensive states to their absence in the lying position, and it is especially shown in the upright position up to the third trimester. Such dynamics at PhP demonstrate optimization of the circulatory state of the CVS, at least on the mode of BPespecially it’s important for maturing of pregnancy in terms of straight-walking (sitting, upright, at walking). Clear growth of expression of hypotonic states is thus marked in the lying position, with 10% for nonpregnant women (control group) to the first (39%) and the second trimesters - 32% (
Dynamics of the hemodynamic providing of physiological pregnancy (PhP) and pathological pregnancy (PP) on a cardiac index (CI = CO/kg body weight) in the lying and upright positions (marked by figures) and on antropophysiological correlation (APR = CO upright/lying, in %)—Index of typology alteration of dynamic organization of the CVS.
Figure 1 shows less expressed marked orientation in distribution of the modes for BP in the upright position determined at PaP. The hypertensive state is absent only in the first trimester. It appears in the second and third trimesters, though at lower levels (3–5%;
It should be noted, that according to optimization of the state of the CVS on the mode of BP for pregnant raising of systolic function of heart, especially clearly expressed at physiological pregnancy, was marked. Table 1 presents the data on MBV, on positions lying SI and APF and upright in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy. For analysis, we used an average (
Status | Bodyweight | CO, ml | APR, % | Cl, ml/kg | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lying | Standing | Lying | Standing | |||
Nonpregnant women | ||||||
Women (of even-aged control group) | 58 | 7164 | 5668 | 81 | 124 | 700 |
51–56 | 5240–9255 | 4620–6974 | 64–100 | 88–157 | 79–123 | |
59 ± 1 | 7225 ± 222 | 5779 ± 186 | 84 ± 3 | 126 ± 3 | 100 ± 3 | |
Physiological pregnancy (PhP) | ||||||
First trimester | 65 | 8282 | 7018 | 86 | 124 | 113 |
59–70 | 6204–15,581 | 6332–9323 | 70–123 | 78–181 | 73–144 | |
64 ± 1 | 9896 ± 585 | 7485 ± 211 | 91 ± 4 | 133 ± 9 | 116 ± 7 | |
Increase of systolic descriptions—in 17 out of 20 ( | ||||||
Second trimester | 62 | 7996 | 6788 | 92 | 128 | 112 |
50–67 | 5837–11,130 | 5033–9408 | 79–109 | 77–175 | 81–150 | |
60 ± 1 | 7996 ± 344 | 6885 ± 229 | 94 ± 3 | 127 ± 6 | 114 ± 4 | |
Increase of systolic descriptions—in 19 out of 20 ( | ||||||
Third trimester | 71 | 9534 | 6640 | 94 | 114 | 103 |
63–79 | 5264–10,528 | 5101–9536 | 86–103 | 77–146 | 78–145 | |
71 ± 1 | 7443 ± 242 | 7444 ± 225 | 112 ± 4 | 102 ± 4 | 108 ± 5 | |
Increase of systolic descriptions—in 16 out of 20 ( | ||||||
Perinatal pathological with gestational endotheliopathy (PaP) | ||||||
First trimester | 57 | 7754 | 7789 | 94 | 119 | 107 |
49–62 | 5841–9297 | 4491–14,578 | 71–146 | 87–149 | 67–203 | |
56 ± 1 | 7840 ± 406 | 8809 ± 803 | 103 ± 8 | 125 ± 9 | 131 ± 14 | |
Increase of systolic descriptions—in 14 out of 20 ( | ||||||
Second trimester | 61 | 8019 | 7741 | 107 | 98 | 94 |
56–69 | 5507–9428 | 6454–9817 | 84–135 | 64–157 | 65–160 | |
62 ± 1 | 7286 ± 419 | 7800 ± 480 | 106 ± 10 | 106 ± 9 | 110 ± 9 | |
Increase of systolic descriptions—in 14 out of 20 ( | ||||||
Third trimester | 68 | 5774 | 8305 | 132 | 82 | 99 |
64–74 | 4075–6900 | 3615–9570 | 95–159 | 53–105 | 49–147 | |
69 ± 1 | 5730 ± 196 | 7128 ± 279 | 127 ± 5 | 84 ± 5 | 102 ± 4 | |
Increase of systolic descriptions—in 9 out of 20 ( |
Cardiac output for nonpregnant women in control group and for pregnant women (first, second, and third trimesters).
Statistical parameters of selection: the first row of digital data is a median (
MVB (minute volume of blood), APR (antropophysiological correlation), and CI (cardiac index) are homogeneous hemodynamic indexes and therefore they are taken for systole descriptions (parameters) of the hemodynamic providing of pregnancy on the pumping function of heart. A non-standard approach was used to estimate the differences of these descriptions in nonpregnant women (CG) and between PhP and PaP. Each one, of the estimated hemodynamic parameters (MBV, APF, and SI), as marked higher, on one or another condition (trimester, lying, upright) used, four descriptions, that is driven in Figure 1 in order of their placement—
Analyzing of the dynamics generally in all trimesters, was conducted by three hemodynamic criteria – MBV, CI (in a prone and standing position) and APR, in every separate trimester; a total number makes 20 descriptions. In comparison with a control group, and also PP and PaP, on non-parametric criteria; the amount of the descriptions is taken to the account with unidirectional difference (anymore, less than, absent).
Optimization of the circulatory state of the CVS during pregnancy accompanied by the clear increase of systolic descriptions on the pumping function of heart and shows up on all three trimesters, especially at PP (Table 1). On MBV such orientation simply shows up during all three trimesters as at PhP—lying and upright totally for 24 descriptions from 24 (
Unlike position of body lying—upright SI increases for 10 from 12 characteristics (totally for three trimesters) at PP (
It should be noted that such alteration of typological structure of the circulator state of the CVS at pregnancy was marked at all general modes of BP (Figure 2). It’s evident, that as compared to nonpregnant, stake of type III (in %) at PhP and PaP for increases at all three modes of BP (
Thus at PaP it is greater comparing to PhP (
Expression (stake in %) of syndromes of transitory heart failure (tHF) at the general modes of BP for women of reproductive age (control) and in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy in the upright position.
It is necessary to mean that hemodynamic adaptation at pregnancy that was accompanied by increasing antigravity tension of CVS and that shows up in forming of the hyperkinetic state of MVB in position upright, from one side, directionally on the hemodynamic providing, increase of pumping function of heart; and, from another side, limits functional abilities of the CVS in type III.
In the conditions of such tension extreme depreciation of heart is real. Thus, there can be both the real clinical state developing during pregnancy (dystrophy, cardiomyopathy, ischemia, etc.) and hidden from standard diagnostic determination not clinically, and the hemodynamically identified transitory heart failure (tHF), as most early form of display of this state. Earlier we showed such possibility, including, in pregnancy [29], and also clear association of most expressive hemodynamic syndromes of insufficiency of circulation of blood is shown, including HF, exactly at type III of the circulatory state of CVS [30].
Thus it should be noted that at any modes of BP expression of hemodynamically identified HF for pregnant and nonpregnant women exactly in position upright—maximal antigravity tension of CVS, as compared to position lying, certainly higher (Figure 5).
General expression (stake in %) of syndromes of HF (total of left and right heart) for healthy nonpregnant women (control group) and on the general group of pregnant (total of PhP and PaP) at the “general” modes of the state of CVS for BP (hypotension, normotension, high blood pressure) in the upright and lying positions (marked by figures).
So, if nonpregnant in control group in position lying in hypotonic, normotonic and hypertensive mode of expression of HF (stake in %) made about 0, 3 and 0%, then in position upright it increased in all three modes, accordingly to 4% (
Out of antigravity tension of CVS in lying position certain features showed up on different general modes of BP. So, at normotonic general orientation is traced—from the clear display of optimization of the circulatory state of CVS in I trimester with absence of CH to the increase of its expression in III trimester to 7% (
Another feature in position upright and lying of the circulatory state of CVS on the analyzable “general” modes of BP is differentiation of display of tHF on a right and left heart, and also on basic circulatory syndromes—on the syndrome of decline of arterial perfusion and syndrome of venous stagnation and insufficiency. From data presented in Figure 4, clearly evident, what for nonpregnant and pregnant (totally PhP and PaP) in position upright shows up mainly HF on a perfusion type, growing from the hypotonic mode to normotonic and, especially increasing at the hypertensive mode.
When it comes to pregnant, het real increase of expression of tHF in position upright in I trimester marked at the hypotonic state (Figure 4). On the whole dynamics on expression of HF in I and II trimesters of pregnancy reflects to the noted optimization of the circulatory state of CVS. Especially distinctly it shows up on II trimester, that is reflected in the low level of expression of HF. Substantial feature of the circulatory state of CVS at pregnancy in position upright is a primary display of right-heart tHF of perfusion type—on Figure 4 practically on all positions, except pregnant with the normotonic mode. It’s a sign that antigravity tension of CVS for pregnant in position upright the weakest links a right heart, consequently, pulmonary hemodynamics. As a result—growing pressure in the pulmonary artery and increased post-tension on the right ventricle.
Especially meaningful is the increase of expression of tHF in position upright determined in III trimester of pregnancy, including, and mainly on a right heart. Exactly on this stage of development of pregnancy the well-known physical terms, related to the increase of the sizes of uterus and fetus, maximally strengthen their synergistic influence on adjusting of circulation of blood on a gravitational (hydrostatical) factor and corresponding antigravity tension of CVS, directed of hemodynamic providing of pregnancy and actually organism of pregnant. It is necessary to remember, that dualism is real in this biologically important adaptation—not all, that is positive for the hemodynamic providing of fetoplacental complex, is positive for pregnant women. Actually, solving such dualism determines success of physiological development of pregnancy or pathological consequences during or afterwards.
Practically one level of expression of tHF in III trimester at all examined general modes of BP testifies to independent meaning fullness to the PFH and syndrome of tHF in expression of antigravity tension of CVS and as possible circulatory basis of insufficiency of hemodynamic adaptation in pregnancy. It gives certain grounds to suppose that it’s not in the mode of BP, and in structural organization of the circulatory state of CVS, functional basis of that is made by the pumping function of heart, and actually the state of last. Actually certain mode is the result of such alteration. Thus the marker of tension of hemodynamic alteration is a transition on the cardiac output to the hyperkinetic state in position upright comparing to lying—to type III of dynamic organization of the circulatory state of CVS, and by the predictor of insufficiency of adaptation of CVS, including, at pregnancy—results of hemodynamically identified by antropophysiological diagnostic algorithm of circulatory syndromes of HF. Last, as the most early circulator form of HF of perfusion type on preclinical level is a trigger of forming of dynamic organization of the circulatory state of CVS, corresponding to the hypertensive state, including, one in pregnancy.
Therefore, there is a clear association between tHF and dynamic alteration of the circulatory state of the CVS to the hyperkinetic condition (type III) in the upright position. On Figure 6 at the same orientation of such alteration it is clearly determined higher stakes of type III, both for nonpregnant and for pregnant, exactly in a group with the syndromes of HF. During postnatal ontogenesis in the process of adaptation to the gravitational factor of circulation of blood, a transition to III to the type of dynamic organization of the circulator state of CVS was marked, that was accompanied by general growth on CVS and the blocks of circulation of blood of syndrome of the age-related depreciation (greater biological age) of the hemodynamically risky states, especially expressed at type III. Thus clearly grew expression of syndromes of HF. There are reasons to suppose that these two constituents (typology alteration and HF) induce the features of dynamic organization of CVS at one or another somatic state.
Distribution of types of circulation (stake in % on a diagram) of blood on antropophysiological correlation of minute volume of blood (MVB) upright/lying—Hypokinetic (I), eukinetic (II), and hyperkinetic (III) in nonpregnant (control) women and pregnant women on the states with and without syndromes of tHF.
Besides a trigger function, tHF was, as marked higher, by the display of antigravity tension of CVS, leading to functional depreciation of CVS and to increase of hemodynamic risk, both on the general state of circulation of blood and on the basic circulatory blocks of CVS.
At overlook of dynamic organization of the circulatory condition of CVS it is necessary to remember the state of the capacity making adjusting of CVS on the gravitational (hydrostatical) factor of circulation of blood, which is present in position upright, including for pregnant, in system vasoconstriction of arterial vessels, especially shown in vascular regions below level of heart [31]. It is necessary to notice, that in diagnostic algorithm as a syndrome of resistance, the state when indexes of arterial impedance (vascular resistance) exceed a normative increase, is fixed. Mentioned on Figure 7 data clearly demonstrate the value of the state of heart in this system adjusting to pressor orientation, especially in position upright. Both for nonpregnant and pregnant those who have hemodynamically identified tHF, as a rule, perfusion type, in position upright marked more expressed (red blocks), as compared to the states without tHF (green blocks), system vasoconstriction. By grey color marked blocks of circulation of blood, on which distinctions are absent.
Antropophysiological (upright and lying positions) characteristics of differences of expression (stake in %) of syndromes of hyperresistance of arterial vessels for nonpregnant (control) women and pregnant women at comparison on groups with syndromes of HF and without.
Optimization of the circulatory state of CVS during pregnancy by the regime of blood pressure, especially with FP, was accompanied by a clear overall increase in systolic characteristics of the PhP. This orientation in the cardiac minute volume (CMV, ml) unambiguously manifested itself during all three trimesters as with PhP—lying and standing in total according to 24 characteristics out of 24 (
For hemodynamic providing of pregnancy such system of vasoconstriction has a critical value, especially for circulatory blocks, directly responsible for hemodynamic providing of fetoplacental link—abdominal and pelvic circulation of blood. Placenta, volume of amniotic fluid, and self-weight of fetus in max decrease influence of gravitational (hydrostatical) pressure at straight-walking (sitting, upright, walking). However direct dependence of the hemodynamic providing of fetoplacental complex from maternal circulation of blood is saved, both from regional, especially abdominal and pelvic and the circulatory state of CVS in general and its central link—pumping function of heart [32].
Expression of autonomic “slipping out” of arterial vessels of abdominal and pelvic circulation from under system vasoconstriction, probably because of endothelium-depending humoral mechanism, determine phenomenon of optimization of the circulatory state of CVS at the beginning of pregnancy, especially expressed at PhP, and inhibition of pathological changes. And, vice versa, expressed vasoconstriction of abdominal and pelvic arterial vessels, along with hypoperfusion and decrease of pumping function of heart determine circulatory basis of PaP (in the first place preeclampsia). Therefore, estimating the circulatory state of CVS for pregnant, and nonpregnant, necessary to be oriented not on the mode of BP, but on condition of basic perfusion mechanisms a “volume of blood—pumping function of heart—vascular capacity—blood stream” and regulators of autonomic regional blood flow—endothelial function providing distribution of peripheral circulation of blood, and it explained that gestational endotheliopathy is the trigger component of disorder hemodynamics supply pregnancy and development of perinatal pathology. In fact, the state of perfusion mechanisms that form the basis of hemodynamic support of any somatic condition and especially pregnancy, taking into account the formation of a fetoplacental complex «above organism» and necessity of hemodynamic adaptation of CVS of pregnant as straight-walking creature, to formed exceptional organism situation not only in gestational feature, but also in aspect of adaptation.
The typological transition in the dynamic organization of the circulatory state of the CVS by CO to the hyperkinetic state in the standing relative to the lying position (type III) and the manifestation of systemic hyperresistance of arterial vessels reflects the tension of adaptation of the CVS during hemodynamic support of pregnancy.
The predictor of insufficiency of adaptation of the CVS during hemodynamic support of pregnancy, especially with PaP, is gestational endotheliopathy. Playing a role of a trigger, for manifestation of a hemodynamic syndrome of HF in a perfusion type, which is predominantly in a standing position, combined with circulatory syndromes that limit the adaptive capabilities of arterial circulation (hyperresistance, ischemia), which is especially relevant for abdominal and pelvic circulation.
Hemodynamically identified HF by perfusion type, as the earliest circulatory form at the preclinical level for gestational endotheliopathy, is considered a trigger for the formation of a dynamic organization of the circulatory state of the CVS corresponding to the hypertensive state, including during pregnancy (preeclampsia).
The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
About 7% of the population >65 years suffer from a painful heel, even though younger people are often affected, too [1]. The most common cause of this symptom is the so‐called “plantar fasciitis” [2]. This term is widely used, although “plantar fasciopathy” or “plantar fasciosis” would be a better description to point out the degenerative nature of the disease. However, as more than 1100 citations in Pubmed quote “plantar fasciitis” (in comparison with only 50), we will use the traditional term in the following.
Plantar fasciitis has been associated with obesity, with acute or chronic work overload, or with work on hard surfaces [2, 3]. It seems that physiological degeneration of the fascia at the calcaneal insertion exacerbates due to repetitive microtraumas caused by vertical compression [4]. This causes inflammatory tissue reactions. As a result, the fascia is thickened with an associated fluid collection to 4.0 mm and more in ultrasonography [5]. Furthermore, this inflammation may trigger bone formation, the so‐called “plantar heel spur.” This process has been studied intensively by Kumai and Benjamin [6]. They proposed three stages of spur growth: “(a) an initial formation of cartilage cell clusters and fissures at the plantar fascia enthesis; (b) thickening of the subchondral bone plate at the enthesis as small spurs form; and (c) development of vertically oriented trabeculae buttressing the proximal end of larger spurs” [6]. The first description of this spur formation and correlation with the clinical symptoms was carried out by Plettner in 1900 [7]. However, not every heel spur is associated with heel pain, as these spurs are found in 11–16% of the normal asymptomatic population [4]. On the other hand, some patients with painful plantar fasciitis do not have a radiographic confirmation of a spur formation.
A similar mechanism (although caused by longitudinal traction and not by vertical compression) of bone formation has been described at the insertion of the Achilles tendon [8].
According to the American clinical practice guidelines from 2010, diagnosis is established by the typical anamnesis and the characteristic localizations of tenderness. Still, weight‐bearing radiographs are also recommended [9].
Single doses of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in the range of 0.3–1 Gy are called “low dose EBRT” (LD‐EBRT). These single fractions are applied two or three times a week until a total dose of about 3–6 Gy is reached. Such radiotherapeutic concepts are used for diverse nonmalignant conditions, e.g., osteoarthrosis, tendinopathy, epicondylitis, or bursitis. A comprehensive review of the historical developments in LD‐EBRT for benign diseases is given by Trott [10].
In contrast, EBRT in oncology is characterized by much higher single and total doses. “Normofractionation” describes single doses of 1.8–2 Gy, applied about five times a week. To treat breast cancer, the total doses of about 62 Gy are necessary, in prostate cancer even more than 72 Gy. From a radiobiological point of view, these high cumulative doses are used to induce DNA double strand breaks. Due to errors in a repair mechanism (nonhomologous end joining), dicentric chromosomes can occur. These can result in unfinished mitoses, the so‐called “mitotic catastrophe,” the main mechanism to reduce clonogenic survival in tumor cells [11]. High doses of EBRT induce local inflammation and tissue reactions.
The much lower doses of LD‐EBRT act via different mechanisms. In the last two decades, several anti‐inflammatory effects have been discovered, contrary to the effects of the above‐mentioned high EBRT doses.
Furthermore, doses between 0.1 and 0.5 Gy reduced the adhesion of PBMC significantly to endothelial cells (ECs)
A third mechanism was the suppression of nitric oxide (NO) production in activated macrophages by LD‐EBRT between 0.3 and 1.25 Gy [18]. As the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS) proteins was not altered, the LD‐EBRT seemed to act at the translational or posttranslational level. Furthermore, a dose of 0.5 Gy significantly reduced oxidative burst and superoxide production of stimulated macrophages [19]. A diminished release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can also contribute to the anti‐inflammatory effects of LD‐EBRT.
Taken together, all of these pathways and mechanisms showed a similar dose dependence with a maximum effect between 0.3 and 0.7 Gy regarding a discontinuous dose‐effect relation [20].
There are several
Since 1937 [21] for decades, large retrospective studies on the efficacy of LD‐EBRT in calcaneodynia have been published (overview in 22). In 1970, one negative randomized trial was reported and heavily criticized but had not been repeated [23]. Starting in the 1980s, patients were systematically clinically examined and interrogated in a structured manner to try to control for diverse risk factors and to compare the efficacy of different fractionation schemes and total doses [24].
It took until the past decade to perform and report prospectively randomized trials to proof the efficacy of LD‐EBRT and to identify the optimal dose fractionation schedule. In the following, we report the design and the results of these trials. Table 1 gives a short overview of the studied dose concepts and the results. Due to methodological reasons, we will describe the studies not following their publications dates, but according to a systematic order.
Since the publication of the first randomized trial on LD-EBRT in 1970, the efficacy of LD‐EBRT was questioned [23]. Goldie et al. randomized 399 patients, however, only nine patients suffered from calcaneodynia. This is why these results cannot be extrapolated to LD‐EBRT of a painful heel spur. Furthermore, endpoints were not clearly defined, and therapy was started in an acute stage of the disease [25].
The landmark study to prove the efficacy of LD‐EBRT was performed by the German cooperative group on the radiotherapy for benign diseases (GCGBD) under the responsibility of Niewald et al. [26]. A very low dose EBRT (6 × 0.1 Gy applied twice a week up to a total dose of 0.6 Gy) was randomized to a standard dose LD‐EBRT (6 × 1 Gy twice a week up to a total dose of 6 Gy). In the case of an unfavorable response after 3 months, the patient was offered a second treatment series (“reirradiation”) applying a standard dose. The dosage of the experimental arm was chosen to examine if very low doses are effective at all. Second, it acted as a placebo irradiation, as a sham irradiation was regarded unethical. LD‐EBRT was applied using a linear accelerator (4‐ to 6‐MV photons) using lateral parallel opposing fields.
Inclusion criteria were tenderness of the calcaneus with a limitation of the painless walking distance and duration of the symptoms for more than 6 months. Furthermore, a radiological proof of a heel spur was required, and the patients had to be least 40 years of age. Patients with previous traumata to the foot, rheumatic or vascular diseases, lymphatic edema, pregnancy, or breastfeeding were excluded. Concomitant therapy with oral analgesics was not limited. However, local injections with steroids during the study period were not permitted.
Initially, 200 patients were planned [27] to detect a difference of 10% in the quality of life (QOL) sum score (SF‐12) [28] and calcaneodynia sum score (CS) [29] (Table 2) with a power of 80% and an error probability of 5%. Furthermore, the visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate pain intensity was used. However, after randomization of 66 patients and interim analysis of 62 patients (4 had to be excluded due to a withdrawal of informed consent or violation of the inclusion criteria), the differences in efficacy between the two treatment arms were so pronounced, that the trial was closed early.
Author | Year | N | Standard arm | Experimental arm | Results | Conclusions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 66 | 6 × 1 Gy twice a week | 6 × 0.1 Gy | 3 months: VAS/CS/SF12 sig. better with standard | 1. Dose‐response relationship | |
1 year: less second treatment series with standard | 2. Proof of therapeutic effect of LD‐EBRT | |||||
2007 | 130 | 6 × 1 Gy twice a week | 6 × 0.5 Gy | 6 months: CS no sig. differences | 6 × 0.5 Gy as standard fractionation | |
2014 | 457 | 6 × 1 Gy twice a week | 6 × 0.5 Gy | 6 weeks, 2.5 years: VAS/CS no sig. differences | 6 × 0.5 Gy as standard confirmed | |
2015 | 127 | 6 × 1 Gy twice a week | 12 × 0.5 Gy thrice a week | 3 months: VAS/CS/SF12 no sig. differences | Efficacy not increased with 12 × 0.5 Gy standard still 6 × 0.5 Gy |
Summary of contemporary randomized trials on LD‐EBRT of painful heel spurs: tested schedules, results, and conclusions.
Criteria | Extent of symptoms/alteration | Points |
---|---|---|
S = Pain at | 6 / 4 / 2 / 0 | |
(total: 30%) | N = Pain during D = Pain during R = Pain at I = Pain at none = 6 ; slight = 4 ; moderate = 2 ; severe = 0 points ⇨ | 6 / 4 / 2 / 0 6 / 4 / 2 / 0 6 / 4 / 2 / 0 6 / 4 / 2 / 0 |
per single criterion | ||
(total: 15%) | None Orthopedic shoe, insoles, heel cushion One cane or crutch Two canes or crutches ⇨ | 15 10 5 0 |
(total: 20%) | No limitation, maximum professional strain possible Slight limitation, normal professional work possible Moderate limitation, reduced professional activity Severe limitation, daily professional work impossible ⇨ | 20 10 5 0 |
(total: 15%) | No limitation of daily and leisure activities and sports Slightly limitation/reduced leisure activities and sports Moderate limitation/no leisure activities and sports Complete limitation of any daily and leisure activities ⇨ | 15 10 5 0 |
(total: 20%) | No limp, normal walking is possible without a limitation Slightly altered, limp after walking Moderately altered, limp after walking Severely altered, normal walking is impossible ⇨ | 20 10 5 0 |
The mean age of patients was 54 years in the standard dose group and 58 years in the 6 × 0.1 Gy group. Sixty‐one patients had a plantar, one patient a dorsal heel spur. In mean, patients in the standard dose group suffered for 15.3 months before the start of LD‐EBRT, in the 6 × 0.1 Gy group for 18.8 months. Twenty‐one patients had symptoms on both sides. In 28 patients the pain irradiated into the calf, only in 18 patients it was localized to the sole of the foot. Two patients had received surgery for LD‐EBRT.
Three months after therapy VAS values, CS‐ and QOL‐scores were significantly better after the standard dose in comparison with the very low dose treatment arm. The higher pain relief resulted in a better QOL. Twelve months after therapy about 64% of the patients after 6 × 0.1 Gy had to receive a second treatment series due to insufficient treatment results, in comparison with only 17% of the patients in the standard dose treatment group. As the second series was applied with a standard dose (6 × 1 Gy), patients in the 6 × 0.1 Gy group who were reirradiated showed equally favorable results compared with those in the standard‐dose group who did not receive a second course [26]. This is why the second treatment series in this clinical setting acted as a “salvage therapy.” Another interesting finding was that patients with a good response already at 3 months remained stable or even improved at 12 months. Furthermore, this underlines the long‐lasting efficacy of LD‐EBRT.
Acute side effects or long‐term toxicity did not occur.
In conclusion, this randomized trial established a dose‐response‐relationship of the analgesic effect of LD‐EBRT, thus providing a clinical and methodological proof of the efficacy of 6 × 1 Gy LD‐EBRT on the clinical course of painful heel spurs. The early termination of the study was justified due the interim analysis showing significant differences in the clinical outcome between both treatment arms. Still, the trial was not blinded, so both the patients and the staff were aware of the received dose. With modern linear accelerators, a complete blinding of the staff is nearly impossible. The only option would be a shame irradiation with closed collimator jaws, reducing the dose to the unavoidable “leakage” radiation. A much easier and straight forward way was used in the above‐mentioned study by application of a minimal physical dose with 0.1 Gy. Another critical point might be that only half of the patients were examined 12 months after therapy (
Another potential confounder not only in this study but also in all other published prospective and retrospective case series might be that a lot of the patients had received diverse and other conservative therapies before being referred to LD‐EBRT. An interaction between one of these other treatments and LD‐EBRT cannot be ruled out due to methodological reasons. This reflects clinical reality. Still, an interaction between one of these therapies and LD‐EBRT is rather unlikely and counter‐intuitive, as patients were referred to LD‐EBRT after the clinical failure of all the other conservative treatments.
Two randomized studies investigated the efficacy of 0.5 Gy single dose in comparison to 1 Gy.
The first trial was conducted by Heyd et al. [30]. They randomized 130 patients between 6 × 0.5 Gy twice weekly (low dose) and 6 × 1 Gy (standard dose). A linear accelerator was used, applying a single field technique.
Inclusion criteria were clinical signs of a painful heel spur, radiological evidence of spur formation, patient age ≥30 years and a relapse after previous conservative treatments, in patients >45 years LD‐EBRT could be used as the primary treatment. Endpoints of the study were changes in the “original” calcaneodynia score [31], that was documented before LD‐EBRT, at the end of the course, and 6 weeks and 6 months afterward.
One hundred and thirty patients were randomized. Mean age was 58.4 years. A 102 patients suffered from a plantar, one patient from a dorsal, and 27 patients from combined spurs. In mean, patients had been suffering from symptoms for 9.8 months. The symptoms had been present in 58 patients for less than 6 months, in 72 patients for a longer time. In 7 heels LD‐EBRT was the first therapeutic approach.
At the end of LD‐EBRT, 66% in the low dose group vs. 59% in the standard dose experienced an improvement in symptoms, 6 weeks later 80 vs. 85%. At this time point, 1.5% in each group reported an increase in symptoms, 19 vs. 14% no change. No statistically significant differences were noted. In case of insufficient treatment results patients were offered a second EBRT series. Thus 26 vs. 37% were treated a second time. Six weeks after that, 71 vs. 79% of these patients reported a further improvement. Six months after LD‐EBRT 88% of the patients in both groups had an amelioration of their symptoms, the remaining patients reported no change. During the EBRT series a slight increase in pain was reported by 26 vs. 29% of the patients. No other acute or late toxicity occurred.
In conclusion, 6 × 0.5 Gy twice weekly was as effective as 6 × 1 Gy.
These results were confirmed by a second randomized trial [32, 33]. Ott et al. randomized 457 patients between 6 × 0.5 Gy (low dose) and 6 × 1 Gy (standard dose). In contrast to the above‐cited “Heyd‐study” [30] an X‐ray unit (orthovoltage) and not linear accelerators was used. Patients received a single field (6 × 8 cm on the plantar calcaneus) with 150 kV, 15 mA, 1 mm Cu‐filter, with source‐to‐skin distance (SSD) of 40 cm. Six weeks after the LD‐EBRT a second series was offered to patients with an insufficient response. The endpoint was pain reduction. CS score and VAS values were measured before and at the end of LD‐EBRT (early response), 6 weeks (delayed), and 2.5 years (long‐term) afterward.
With a median follow‐up of 32 months the mean VAS values before treatment, for early, delayed, and long‐term response for the 0.5 and 1.0 Gy groups were 65.5 ± 22.1 and 64.0 ± 20.5 (
Taken together, the above‐mentioned studies proofed an equivalent clinical efficacy of 6 × 0.5 Gy in comparison to 6 × 1 Gy, thus defining a new clinical treatment standard with six times 0.5 Gy twice weekly as the minimum effective dose.
Before proofing 0.5 Gy as the new standard single dose, another randomized study tried to increase efficacy in reaching the “old” cumulative dose of 6 Gy with a single dose of 0.5 Gy. Niewald et al. randomized between 6 × 1 Gy twice a week (old “standard dose”) and 12 × 0.5 Gy three times a week (“experimental dose”) [25]. The aim was not just to get comparable results, but to further improve the analgesic effects. Linear accelerators (6 MV photons) applying a lateral opposing field technique were used.
Inclusion and exclusion criteria were quite similar to the ones used in the landmark study [26]: Clinical evidence of a painful heel spur, and duration of the symptoms for more than 6 months; radiological proof of a spur formation; age at least 40 years; Karnofsky‐Index at least 70%. Patients with previous radiotherapy or previous trauma to the foot, rheumatic or vascular diseases, lymphatic edema, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or severe psychiatric disorders were excluded. Concomitant therapy with analgesics was allowed. However, patients receiving surgery or shock wave therapy after randomization were excluded.
Endpoints were the SF‐12 sum score, the CS sum score (Table 2), and VAS. Follow‐up was scheduled every 6 weeks for 1 year.
Two‐hundred and forty patients were calculated to detect a difference of 15% in the VAS and CS score, with a power of 80%, and an error probability of 5%. After randomization of 127 patients and an interim analysis of 107 patients, the study was closed early, as the intended increase in analgesic efficacy by the experimental treatment was very unlikely to be achieved.
The mean age of the patients in the standard group was 56.1 Gy in comparison with 58.1 Gy in the experimental group. The mean duration of symptoms before initiation of LD‐EBRT was 17 vs. 16 months. In 98% of the standard group and 93% of the experimental group a plantar spur was treated, in 2 and 7% a combined (plantar and dorsal) spur.
Results after 3 months have been issued so far [25], longer follow‐up has yet to be published. After 3 months, there were no significant differences neither in the VAS (standard 42.3 vs. experimental 44.4) nor the CS sum score (28 vs. 28.4) nor in the QOL (SF‐12) scores. Although longer follow‐up has to be awaited, a further increase in the analgesic effect by applying 12 × 0.5 Gy three times a week is unlikely. This is why this fractionation schedule is currently not recommended, as it does not follow the “as low as reasonable achievable” principle of radiation protection.
Further reduced single doses in LD‐EBRT (with the exception of 0.1 Gy [26]) have never been tested in a prospectively randomized clinical trial. In radiotherapy of degenerative joint disorders, single doses of about 0.3–0.4 Gy were established by von Pannewitz in the late 1920s and published in 1933 and 1970 [34, 35]. However, two studies on calcaneodynia have raised serious concerns on single doses as low as 0.3 Gy.
Seegenschmiedt et al. analyzed treatment efficacy in 141 patients (170 irradiated heels), who were treated from 1984–1994 with X‐ray units (250 kV/200 kV, 20 mA, 40 cm SSD), applying a single field of 6 × 8 cm [24]. Seventy‐two heels received 12 Gy with 6 × 1 Gy (three times a week) –6 weeks break – 6 × 1 Gy (group A), 50 heels were treated with 10 × 0.3 Gy every day (group B1), and 38 heels 10 × 0.5 Gy every day (group B2). The endpoint was the value of a semiquantitative pain score 3 months and in mean 4 years after LD‐EBRT.
The median age of patients was 55 years in group A and 59 years in group B1/B2. The mean duration of symptoms before LD‐EBRT was 8 months, in one‐third, the symptoms persisted for more than 6 months.
Complete pain remission was achieved in 68–71% of the patients without significant differences between the treatment groups. However, there were differences in the clinical course of patients with partial remission of the symptoms: The best results in these patients were achieved during longer follow‐up in group B1 (10 × 0.5 Gy), followed by group A (6 × 1–6 × 1 Gy), followed by group B2 (10 × 0.3 Gy). The latter group showed a significantly worse amelioration of symptoms than the other groups.
A reduced efficacy was also reported in another retrospective case series, comprising 673 heels treated with a single dose of 0.3 Gy three times weekly up to 1.5 Gy (X‐ray) [36]. In case of insufficient treatment results the patients were offered a second course. After the first treatment, only 13% reported CR, nearly all patients had undergone a second LD‐EBRT.
Taken together, to the best of our current knowledge a single dose of 0.5 Gy is standard of care and should only be modified in controlled clinical trials.
In Table 3 selected contemporary randomized trials and patient series are shown broken down into several factors that might be correlated with treatment efficacy. For a better overview, we did not differentiate between univariate and multivariate analyses. We did not try to collect all ever published data.
Duration of symptoms before start of LD‐EBRT has been shown to be correlated with treatment efficacy in numerous studies.
Muecke et al. analyzed in a retrospective multicenter study 502 patients [22]. Duration of symptoms ≤6 months was associated with 76% treatment success vs. 44% after a history >6 months. Also Seegenschmiedt et al. found in their large collectives a correlation between the duration of heel pain and treatment outcome [24]. A significant influence of duration of symptoms before LD‐EBRT was also reported in 73 heels by Schneider et al. [37]. With a history of 3–6 months, the VAS value was reduced by 85%, 28 months after LD‐EBRT in comparison with a reduction of 58% with a history > 6 months. Similar results were obtained by Hermann et al. in 285 heels comparing <12 month history of pain vs. >12 months [38].
In contrary, another study could not confirm these results [30].
To the best of our knowledge, in no study, an influence of gender on treatment outcome has been confirmed [22, 24, 30, 38, 39]. In contrast to radiotherapy for oncological indications with high doses, efficacy and tolerability of LD‐EBRT seems to be the same concerning gender.
Several studies described a correlation between older age and better treatment results, at least 6 weeks after LD‐EBRT [37]. Age somewhat over 50 years seems to be important: >50 years [40], > 53 [38], or > 58 [22]. For a possible explanation see Section 2.3.7.
However, other studies found no influence of this patient characteristic on treatment outcome [24, 30, 39].
A very precise registration of changes in pain intensity (VAS) was done by Schneider at al. [37]. Sixty‐two patients (73 treated heels) were prospectively scored every week during LD‐EBRT, at the end of therapy, 6 weeks, 28 months, and 40 months later. Additionally, subjective mechanical heel stress during LD‐EBRT was estimated. A linear accelerator (10 MV) was used, applying one single field with a size of 12 × 17 cm. Patients were treated twice a week to a total dose of 5 Gy, with increasing single fraction doses (0.25 – 0.25 – 0.5 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 Gy). Mean patient age was 54 years, and all had a radiologically proven plantar spurn, mean symptom duration before LD‐EBRT was 6.5 months. Nearly all patients had received other conservative therapies before LD‐EBRT with insufficient results.
Interestingly, VAS scores decreased continuously during LD‐EBRT: before treatment the mean value was 6.3 ± 1.5, after the first week of LD‐EBRT 6.2 ± 1.8, after the second week 5.5 ± 2 (
In standard schedules with fixed single doses a slight increase in pain during the treatment series was reported by 26% (during 6 × 0.5 Gy) vs. 29% (6 × 1 Gy) of the patients [30]. Unfortunately, a possible correlation of this phenomenon with definite treatment results was not investigated.
Without further quantification, another study (6 × 1 vs. 6 × 0.1 Gy) stated, that this initial increase in symptoms “had no influence on the final pain relief 3 and 12 months after treatment” [26]. Older studies postulated a temporary reduction of the pH value in the irradiated tissues at the beginning of the treatment series, without consequences for the long‐term efficacy of LD‐EBRT [41].
This is contrasted by observations of LD‐EBRT in peritendinitis humeroscapularis [42]. In 73 patients (86 shoulders) initial increase of pain during the treatment course was significantly associated with a good response.
Muecke et al. analyzed in a retrospective multicenter study the influence of different treatment techniques in 502 patients [22]. Treatment failure was defined as pain persistence after LD‐EBRT and recurrence of pain during follow‐up. Treatment with MV (6–10 MV) was a significant prognostic factor for pain relief in multivariate analysis, as MV was associated with an eight‐year event‐free probability of 68 vs. 61% after X‐ray beams (175 kV). There are two possible explanations for this finding: besides the possibility of a random result, the authors postulate a more homogenous dose distribution with MV treatment in comparison with KV [22].
Schneider et al. reported an efficacy of just one‐third after a second LD‐EBRT course (so‐called “re‐irradiation”) in comparison with the effects of the first course [37]. Out of 73 heels treated with 5 Gy LD‐EBRT 18 heels received reirradiation due to insufficient treatment response. However, pain reduction measured by means of changes in VAS shortly after the second course and during long‐term follow‐up was significantly diminished in comparison with the efficacy of the first course (about 30% reduction in pain at the last evaluation vs. 86%).
Similar results were obtained in the large retrospective series (502 patients) by Muecke et al. [22]. Treatment failure was significantly associated with the number of treatment series: eight‐year event‐free probability was about 70% after the first course in comparison with just about 30% after reirradiation.
A systematic study on the efficacy of a reirradiation has been published by Hautmann et al. [43]. Eighty‐three patients (101 heels) with insufficient response to the first course or recurrent pain afterward due to plantar fasciitis (83 heels), or achillodynia (28 heels) received a second LD‐EBRT course in median 10 weeks (range 4 weeks to 63 months) after the first LD‐EBRT. About 75% of the patients were treated with 6 × 1 Gy, the others 6 × 0.5 Gy. The pain was assessed using the numeric rating scale (NRS) before and at the end of LD‐EBRT, 6, and 12 weeks, and 6, 12, and 24 months thereafter.
Before reirradiation NRS values were 6 (interquartile range 5–8), at the end of LD‐EBRT 5 (2–6), 6 weeks later 2 (1–4), at 12 weeks 1 (0–3), at 6 months 0 (0–2), at 12 and 24 months 0 (0–1). Interestingly, not only the patients with recurrent pain after the first course but also patients with insufficient responses to the first course experienced a profound and long‐lasting amelioration of their symptoms after the second course.
This is why a second treatment course should be recommended in case of insufficient efficacy of the first course.
A significant correlation between avoidance of heel stress during LD‐EBRT and efficacy of LD‐EBRT 6 weeks after therapy was reported by Schneider et al. in 73 heels [37]. With a Pearson\'s correlation coefficient of -0.467 (
An intuitive explanation is given by the authors [37]: As patient age was associated with positive treatment results, too, they proposed that older patients are often retired, thus being able to take more care of their heels.
Interestingly, all randomized trials required the radiological proof of a heel spur before including patients into the studies. Furthermore, most of the prospective and retrospective series warranted such an objective sign. However, as a substantial part of the patients suffers from plantar heel pain without having developed a heel spur, LD‐EBRT should be effective in these patients, too.
Hermann et al. analyzed treatment efficacy in 250 patients (285 heels), who received LD‐EBRT predominantly with 6 × 1 Gy [38]. In this series, 33% of the treated heels were without radiological evidence of a spur. In 185 patients a spur was confirmed with a mean length of 6.5 mm (range 0.6–25 mm). Patients without evidence of a plantar heel spur had a significantly higher chance of CR after LD‐EBRT (43 vs. 35%). Furthermore, the length of the spurs correlated directly with treatment outcome. Spurs >6.5 mm had just a 30% chance of experiencing CR in comparison with shorter ones. No statistical differences were found between treatment results of heels without spurs and those with spurs ≤6.5 mm.
Miszczyk et al. reported on 327 patients (623 LD‐EBRT series) mostly treated with X‐ray (180 kV, usually 1mm Cu filters) with single doses of 1.5 Gy (range 1–3 Gy) up to a total dose between 9 and 12 Gy (range 1–45 Gy) [39]. Mean spur size was 9 mm (range 1–30 mm). With a mean follow‐up of 74 months, no correlation between spur size and duration of pain relief was found. Analysis concerning spur length and treatment outcome in itself were unfortunately not reported.
Multivariate logistic regression enables the identification of factors independently predicting treatment outcome. By combining these factors, models can be calculated, that predict treatment outcome with a high probability. An example from the study of Hermann et al. is given in Table 4: in 285 heels treated with 6 × 1 Gy/6 × 0.5 Gy the influences of the patient characteristics age, spur length, and duration of symptoms before LD-EBRT alone and in combination were calculated [38]. The best results were obtained for patients > 53 years, spur length <6 mm, and a duration of symptoms <12 months with a probability for CR of 55% (CI 36–73%) and PR of 38% (CI 22–58%). Without these characteristics, the chance for CR was just 18% (CI 9–33%), for PR 31% (17–48%).
Study (citation) | [30] | [26] | [24] | [37] | [39] | [22] | [38] | [40] | [83] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rand | Rand | Prospect | Prospect | Retrospect | Retrospect | Retrospect | Retrospect | Retrospect | |
130 | 66 | 170 | 73 | 623 | 502 | 285 | 161 | 7947 | |
MV | MV | KV | MV | KV | MV, KV | MV | KV | MV, KV | |
calcaneus | calcaneus | calcaneus | entire dorsal and middle foot | insertion of plantar fascia | calcaneus | calcaneus vs. insertion of calcaneus | calcaneus | entire dorsal foot vs. calcaneus vs. insertion of plantar fascia | |
6 × 1 vs. 6 × 0.5 Gy | 6 × 1 Gy vs. 6 × 0.1 Gy | 12, 3, 5 Gy | 5 Gy (increasing single dose) | 1.5 (1–3) up to 9–12 Gy (1–45) | 5–10 × 0.5–1 Gy | 6 × 1 Gy6 × 0.5 Gy | 6 × 1 Gy | 0.3–1.5 Gy; 2–3x weekly 2.5–18.76 Gy | |
History of symptoms | 0 | n.i. | + | + | 0 | + | + | + | + |
Gender | 0 | n.i. | 0 | n.i. | 0 | 0 | 0 | n.i. | n.i. |
Patient\'s age | 0 | n.i. | 0 | + | 0 | + | + | + | n.i. |
Initial worsening of pain during LD‐EBRT | n.i. | n.i. | n.i. | n.i. | n.i. | n.i. | n.i. | n.i. | n.i. |
MV vs. KV | n.i. | n.i. | n.i. | n.i. | n.i. | + | n.i. | n.i. | 0 |
Number of therapy series | n.i. | n.i. | n.i. | + | n.i. | + | n.i. | n.i. | + |
Heel stress during LD‐EBRT | n.i. | 0 | n.i. | + | n.i. | n.i. | n.i. | n.i. | n.i. |
Factors associated with treatment efficacy in contemporary studies.
Patient\'s age >53 | No spur or spur ≤6.5 mm | Duration of symptoms <12 months | Probability of | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No change | Partial remission | Complete remission | |||
1 | 1 | 1 | 0.07 (0.03–0.14) | 0.38 (0.22–0.58) | 0.55 (0.36–0.73) |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0.13 (0.07–0.28) | 0.37 (0.21–0.57) | 0.50 (0.30–0.70) |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0.15 (0.06–0.24) | 0.53 (0.33–0.72) | 0.32 (0.17–0.53) |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0.25 (0.13–0.45) | 0.48 (0.27–0.69) | 0.27 (0.13–0.48) |
0 | 1 | 1 | 0.17 (0.10–0.31) | 0.33 (0.19–0.50) | 0.50 (0.33–0.66) |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0.34 (0.20–0.53) | 0.40 (0.24–0.59) | 0.26 (0.13–0.45) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 0.30 (0.20–0.46) | 0.29 (0.18–0.43) | 0.41 (0.27–0.56) |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0.51 (0.35–0.69) | 0.31 (0.17–0.48) | 0.18 (0.09–0.33) |
Probabilities (95%‐CI) for NC, PR and CR calculated by polytomous logistic regression in dependence of the risk factors age, spur length, and duration of symptoms before LD‐EBRT according to Hermann et al. in a collective of 285 heels treated with 6 × 1/6 × 0.5 Gy (taken from [38]).
In modern radiotherapeutic departments, X‐ray sources are less and less available. This is why nowadays most patients are treated with linear accelerators, which were initially developed for the treatment of oncological diseases. However, these machines can be used in the treatment of benign diseases without any modifications or problems. Due to the high efforts in physical, technical, and organizational quality assurances for the operation of an accelerator or an X-ray source, the concentration on accelerators and their use for all indications is recommended.
For irradiation of the heel, the patient has to be placed on the treatment couch with the feet toward the gantry of the accelerator (so‐called “feet first”). Two different patient positions are widely used. He can be placed in supine position, with the irradiated leg is stretched out, while the other leg is angled. Another option is to place the patient in a lateral decubitus position on the side of the involved heel. Again, the symptomatic leg is stretched, while the contralateral leg is bent, with a cushion placed beneath the knee. Using X‐rays, the ipsilateral knee is bent by 90% and the foot is positioned on the treatment table. One anterior‐posterior (AP) beam is usually applied in this technique.
For the treatment itself, there are also two different options. Irradiation may be given as a single stationary field (SSD 100cm by convention). Alternatively, parallel opposing fields from 0° and 180° gantry position (in decubitus position) or lateral opposing fields (90° and 270° in supine position) are also applicable but take a little bit longer in daily clinical practice. The hypothetical advantage of using two opposing fields is a uniform dose distribution in the entire beam path in the calcaneus (Figure 1). However, there has never been a clinical proof, whether this theoretical assumption translates into any clinical advantage for the patient. When applying opposing fields, the dose is specified according to the ICRU 50 report, normally in the center of the calcaneus.
Dose distribution of two different treatment techniques generated in a treatment planning system (XIO®). In A and B just one single 6 MV photon field (8 × 8 cm) is applied, while C and D shows the dose distribution with two opposing fields from 0 and 180°. In the upper row, the so‐called “beams eye views” are given, while in the lower row the respective dose distributions on an axial CT scan directly at the calcaneal insertion are shown. Note the more uniform dose distribution with opposing fields. The 95% isodose is given as a green line (2.85 Gy). This dose encompasses larger parts of the calcaneal bone in D (opposing fields) than in B (single field). More information is given in Section 2.4.
A third option is the so‐called “plantar field” with the patient lying in prone position. A single field is positioned directly over the plantar insertion/calcaneus, potentially with rotations of the patient table and the gantry to compensate for inclinations of the patients surface in the irradiated field. However, this technique is regarded problematic when using linear accelerators due to the dose build‐up effect in the critical tissue depth. This problem is illustrated in Figure 2: photons with 6 MV reach just the half of the prescribed dose at the skin level, 100% is reached at 1.5 cm tissue depth. This would result in an insufficient dose in the critical structures (plantar fascia and heel spur). To overcome this problem, a silicone flap of about 1 cm diameter must be positioned on the skin before radiation.
Depth curves of different megavoltage energies. Blue 6 MV photons, red 15 MV photons. At the surface of the body/skin (depth 0 mm), only half (or even less with 15 MV) of the prescribed dose is applied. By physical interactions between photons and the tissue/water, there is a steep increase in dose. A 100% is reached at 1.5 cm depth with 6 MV and at about 3 cm depth with 15 MV. KV‐radiation reaches the maximum dose directly under the surface/skin (not shown). More information is given in Section 2.4.
Patients are often sent to the radiotherapist after a long unsuccessful history of diverse conservative treatments. The reason for this is a widespread fear among general practitioners that LD‐EBRT might be associated with severe side effects and risks. These fears are not substantiated, as reactions of the nerves or vessels require much higher doses than used for LD‐EBRT. For example, a dose of 45 Gy in normofractionated oncological therapy is considered to be safe for the spinal cord and therefore daily clinical practice [44]. Peripheral nerves are even more radioresistant. Acute or chronic side‐effects have never been reported in all contemporary studies on LD‐EBRT.
Acute side effects are negligible, as very low doses of ionizing radiation (in comparison with oncological treatments) are applied to a distal extremity. The total dose of LD‐EBRT with 3 or 6 Gy is far too low to cause any acute or late reactions on the skin overlaying the calcaneus. During normofractionated EBRT (single doses of 1.8–2 Gy, treatment on 5 days a week) erythema and mild edema develop at about 30 Gy [45]. Hyperpigmentation occurs at about 45 Gy, moist epitheliolyses at about 50 Gy. A 50–60 Gy might cause telangiectasias years after the therapy. This is why there is no report on acute treatment side effects in LD‐EBRT until now to the best of our knowledge.
About one‐third of the patients might experience a slight increase in pain during LD‐EBRT. In the randomized trial by Heydt et al. this phenomenon was seen in 26% (during 6 × 0.5 Gy) vs. 29% (6 × 1 Gy) [30]. It does not seem to be correlated with treatment outcome; further detailed information is given in Section 2.3.4.
The dose scattered to the male gonads is somewhat higher than to the ovaries. Jansen et al. calculated for 6 × 0.5 Gy about 1.5 mSv received by the testes and 0.75 mSv to the ovaries [46]. Comparable results have repeatedly been measured in the past [47, 48].
Taken together, the dose received by the gonads is insignificant. As the distal extremity is irradiated, scattered dose to the gonads is comparable to normal diagnostic radiological imaging [49]. The hereditary effects of these doses are very small and very likely negligible [46].
Although spermatogonial cells are very radiosensitive, a single dose of at least 100 mSv is needed to induce a temporary failure of spermatogenesis [50]. A single dose of 1000 mSv (equivalent to 1 Gy photon irradiation) results in an azoospermia for 9–18 months [51]. Interestingly, fractionated doses harm these cells even more. A temporary oligospermia is reported after receiving several fractions up to a cumulative dose of 160 mSv [52]. An azoospermia lasting for 14–22 months has been reported for fractionated doses of 620–860 mSv [53]. The actually during LD‐EBRT received testicular dose is about 100 times smaller than the lowest dose causing temporary changes in testicular tissues.
The dose to the testicles can be further reduced by utilizing a special testicular shielding. However, clinically meaningful dose reductions have been only measured in MV treatment of subdiaphragmatic/pelvine lymphatic regions or tumors [54, 55].
The mean lethal dose for human oocytes has been estimated at 2 Gy (2000 mSv) [56]. Permanent ovarian failure after radiotherapy is age dependent: in perimenopausal women, a dose of 6 Gy is sufficient [57], while in younger women up to 20 Gy are tolerated. The dose scattered to the ovaries during LD‐EBRT for calcaneodynia cannot cause such sequelae (0.75 mSv).
Naturally, pregnancy has to be excluded in all premenopausal women before beginning with LD‐EBRT, to avoid any risk to the fetus.
So far, no studies with long‐term observation periods have been published, describing a case of malignancy induced by LD‐EBRT for calcaneodynia. However, induction of malignancies is a stochastic effect of ionizing radiation. This means that there is no threshold dose—in contrast for example to the above‐mentioned reactions of the skin. A photon can accidentally trigger a mutation, which in turn leads to tumor formation many years later. The higher the radiation dose, the higher the probability of such an event occurring.
The best available data on tumor induction of full dose EBRT in oncology has been collected in patients treated with breast cancer. Almost 11,000 patients have been followed for over 20 years. The risk of a radiation‐induced tumor was approx. 1% per decade after radiotherapy [58].
To estimate the risk associated with much lower doses of LD‐EBRT, mathematical models on the basis of epidemiological long‐term observations of atomic bomb victims have been developed by the ICRP [59].
Jansen et al. applied the ICRP model on LD‐EBRT of a painful heel spur [46]. Assumed was a single field entering at the foot sole with a size of 8 × 10 cm, 200 kV photons, SSD 40 cm. For an LD‐EBRT series with 6 × 1 Gy the average attributable lifetime risk for induction of a fatal tumor was calculated to be about 0.5 in a thousand patients. An important risk factor for radiogenic‐induced cancer is the patient\'s age by the time the radiation exposure occurs. The risk is already reduced in the 3rd decade of the patient\'s life, it starts to decrease steadily from the age of 40 [60]. Applying these calculations, the estimated lifetime risk per one thousand patients for a fatal tumor accounts for the age of 25 0.6 (male)/0.8 (female), for the age of 50 0.2/0.3, for the age of 75 0.07/0.1 [46].
However, it must be critically noted that this mathematical model was developed for radiation protection and relates to the exposure of complete organ systems with approx. 1 Gy. Therefore, other groups argue that a significantly lower risk of radiogenic cancer induction— approx. ten times less—should be adopted [49, 61]. Furthermore, taken the new standard scheme with 6 × 0.5 Gy into account, these risks are additionally halved.
This risk (max. 1/1000, very likely much lower) must be seen in relation to the tumor risk of the not additionally radiotherapeutical‐treated population. In 2008, the lifetime risk of a man in Germany to suffer from cancer was 50.7% (25.9% to die from malignancy), in women 42.8% and 20.2% respectively [62].
By limiting the application of LD‐EBRT treatment to patients > 30 years of age, an exposure of the juvenile “relatively higher risk” patient population is avoided.
Traditionally target volume definition has been quite large. Field sizes of 12 × 17cm were treated, including the entire dorsal and middle foot, and not just the calcaneus [37, 82] (Figure 3A).
Field definitions in LD‐EBRT of a painful plantar heel spur/fasciitis. (A) traditional field definition including the entire dorsal and middle foot. (B) In randomized trials and large prospective series commonly used field definition encompassing the entire calcaneus, including insertion of the plantar fascia and the Achilles tendon. (C) Proposed small field definition for localized painful plantar fasciitis/plantar spur, encompassing only the painful area with 2 cm margins extending into the neighboring areas (calcaneus, fascia, fat pad).
In the recent randomized trials and prospective observational studies target volume definition was more restricted and confined to the calcaneus (Figure 3B). “The target volume consisted of the calcaneus and the region of the plantar aponeurosis” [26]. “The ventral margin is corresponding to the ventral surface of the calcaneus, the plantar and dorsal margins are surrounding the soft‐tissue border, and the cranial margin is below the ankle” [30]. “Target volume is the calcaneus, normally with a field size of 6 cm × 8 cm” [32]. “The calcaneus and the plantar aponeurosis were included in the target volume” [25].
In a German national survey 2001 on LD‐EBRT of painful heel spurs the target volume definition “large” (dorsal and middle foot) vs. “small” (entire calcaneus) was not correlated with treatment outcome [83]. Consequently, very large field definitions should be regarded as obsolete.
However, as the pathophysiological cause of calcaneodynia is thought to be a localized inflammatory process (see Section 1), it is questionable, whether the entire calcaneus has to be irradiated (as long as there are not a plantar as well as a painful dorsal spurs). There are some clinical data that support a further restriction of target volume definition.
Field sizes have been given in the study by Miszczyk et al. on 327 patients treated with X‐ray beams [39]. Target volume was “… the insertion of the plantar fascia with a calcaneal spur and a reasonable margin. The field size varied from 27 to 150 cm2 (mean 47 cm2).” However, although not explicitly stated, no correlation was found between field size and duration of pain relief after LD‐EBRT. Treatment efficacy in itself was apparently not investigated.
In the above‐mentioned series of 285 heels Hermann et al. analyzed treatment efficacy in dependence of field sizes, too [38]. The mean field size was 74 cm2. No correlation between field size (smaller vs. larger than 74 cm2) with treatment efficacy was found. Further analyses of small fields (< 6 × 6 cm), medium‐sized fields (36–64 cm2) and larger fields revealed no significant differences.
This is why it seems to suffice to encompass the painful region with 2 cm margins extending into the neighboring areas (calcaneus, fascia, fat pad; Figure 3C). However, this recommendation is deducted from pathophysiological considerations and the above‐mentioned case series. A randomized trial is necessary to proof clinical equivalence of a field definition “entire calcaneus” (Figure 3B) vs. “insertion of the plantar fascia” (Figure 3C).
The optimal fractionation schedule has not been elucidated yet. All randomized trial used twice weekly treatments. Only one experimental arm was scheduled three times a week [25]. In a National Survey in Germany with 146 answering institutions, about 45% applied two fractions and 37.5% three fractions weekly [83].
Interestingly, in the landmark study by von Pannewitz a fractionation schedule of only once per week was established [34]. Until now, there is no proof of a higher efficacy applying LD‐EBRT twice or three times per week.
In radiotherapy of another benign disease (endocrine orbitopathy) a 1 Gy per week over 20 weeks schedule was more effective than the standard schedules (10 × 2 Gy or 10 × 1 Gy every working day) [84]. Although other immunological mechanisms cause endocrine orbitopathy in comparison with plantar fasciitis, there is sufficient clinical evidence to test in a randomized trial different fractionation schedules (twice a week vs. once a week, possibly thrice a week).
Other therapies than LD‐EBRT have been applied in painful heel spur. In the following, just a rough overview can be given.
Different kinds of insoles and foot orthoses have been developed. The goal was to reduce plantar contact pressure and to distribute the pressure uniformly over the whole rearfoot [63]. Magnetic insoles do not seem to provide additional benefit [64]. As a short‐term treatment, low‐Dye taping techniques are often used. However, in a randomized trial only a modest improvement in ‘first‐step’ pain was seen in comparison with sham‐intervention [65].
Manual stretching is often recommended. A systematic review of six studies found only statistically significant differences in comparison with the control in one study combining calf muscle and plantar fascia stretches [66].
Several trials have investigated acupuncture. A systematic review from 2010 showed (limited) evidence for the effectiveness [67]. A randomized trial published in 2014 recruited 84 patients [68]. The authors concluded, that “dry needling provided statistically significant reductions in plantar heel pain, but the magnitude of this effect should be considered against the frequency of minor transitory adverse events.”
Ultrasound therapy has led to questionable results [69], but a randomized trial on cryo‐ultrasound with about 100 patients published in 2014 showed good effectiveness [70].
Low‐level laser light (635 nm), given twice a week for a total of six applications, reduced in a randomized trial VAS scores significantly after 8 weeks in comparison with placebo [71]. However, the study comprised of just 69 patients; other similar studies have not been reported so far.
Extracorporeal shock waves are widely applied. Three metaanalyses comprising at least five randomized trials found significant short‐term pain relief and improved functional outcomes for this therapeutic option [72–74]. Another study compared the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound and shock wave therapy in 47 patients [75]. The results suggested that the shock wave therapy had greater analgesic efficacy.
Another basic approach is the oral administration of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAID) to achieve a symptomatic relief. Injections into the painful area are also recommended. A recent review summarized ten randomized trials on corticosteroid injections into the plantar fascia [76]. A significant effect of the steroids on the pain has been shown. However, it was usually short‐term, lasting 4–12 weeks in duration. No advantage of ultrasound‐guided injection techniques in comparison with palpation guidance was found, and no superiority of one type of corticosteroid over another was seen. A longer lasting pain relief has been suggested by a small randomized trial of botulinum toxin injections [77]. Another option is the injection of autologous platelet‐rich plasma. A recent review identified three randomized trials, all showing promising results [78]. However, a very small trial challenged this method of plasma preparation, as the same clinical effectivity was observed after the injection of whole blood [79].
Different surgical approaches have been developed. Releases of the plantar fascia are done, in some studies combined with a spur resection [80]. Due to a probably faster recovery after surgery with comparable functional results endoscopic procedures are recommended nowadays [81]. Surgery is usually indicated after failure of conservative therapies as the ultimate “salvage‐therapy.”
There is only a limited amount of studies randomizing patients between LD‐EBRT and the above‐mentioned alternative therapies.
Canyilmaz et al. randomized 123 patients between LD‐EBRT (6 × 1 Gy, three times a week) and 1 ml injection of 40 mg methylprednisolone and 0.5 ml 60 mg 1% lidocaine under the guidance of palpation [85]. After 3 and 6 months, VAS values and CS‐scores were compared between both groups. After 3 months, the results in the radiotherapy arm were significantly superior compared with those after injections.
To corroborate these findings, similar studies should be conducted. Furthermore, more studies randomizing LD‐EBRT against other therapies (e.g. extracorporeal shock waves) are needed. A minimum size of 50 patients per treatment arm should be assured to gain more statistically relevant results. Recruiting patients without prior excessive other therapies for these studies would be optimal.
The goal must be an evidence‐based algorithm defining the therapeutic sequence of the different conservative treatment modalities for plantar fasciitis.
LD‐EBRT for painful plantar fasciitis/heel spur is an effective and safe treatment option for patients over 30 years of age and after exclusion of pregnancy. A fractionation of 6 × 0.5 Gy twice weekly up to a total dose of 3 Gy is currently recommended. In the case of an insufficient response a second course can be offered to the patient.
Randomized trials on target volume definition and further optimization of LD‐EBRT fractionation are currently in the process of planning. Further trials to compare the different conservative therapies for plantar fasciitis with each other are necessary to allow the development of an evidence‐based treatment algorithm.
This chapter is dedicated to Professor Gisela Hermann‐Brennecke on the occasion of her 70th birthday.
AP | anterior‐posterior |
CI | confidence interval |
CR | complete remission |
CS | Calcaneodynia score |
Cu | chemical element symbol for copper |
EC | endothelial cells |
GCG‐BD | German Cooperative Group on Radiotherapy for Benign Diseases |
Gy | Gray |
ICRP | International Commission on Radiological Protection |
IL | interleukin |
iNOS | inducible nitric oxide synthases |
KV | kilovoltage |
LD‐EBRT | low dose external beam radiotherapy |
mA | milliampere |
mRNA | messenger ribonuclein acid |
mSv | milliSievert |
MV | megavoltage |
NC | no change |
NF‐κB | nuclear factor kappa B |
NO | nitric oxide |
NSAID | non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug |
PBMC | peripheral blood mononuclear cells |
PR | partial remission |
QOL | quality of life |
ROS | reactive oxygen species |
SSD | skin‐to‐source distance |
TGF‐β1 | transforming growth factor β1 |
VAS | visual analogue scale |
At IntechOpen, we not only specialize in the publication of Book Chapters as part of our Edited Volumes, but also the publication and dissemination of longer manuscripts, known as Long Form Monographs. Monographs allow Authors to focus on presenting a single subject or a specific aspect of that subject and publish their research in detail.
\n\nEven if you have an area of research that does not at first sight fit within a previously defined IntechOpen project, we can still offer support and help you in publishing your individual research. Publishing your IntechOpen book in the form of a Long Form Monograph is a viable alternative.
",metaTitle:"Publish a Whole Book",metaDescription:"At IntechOpen, we not only specialize in the publication of book chapters as part of our Edited Volumes, but also the publication and dissemination of long form manuscripts, known as monographs. Monographs allow authors to focus on presenting a single subject or a specific aspect of that subject and publish their research at length.\n\nPerhaps you have an area of research that does not fit within a previously defined IntechOpen project, but rather need help in publishing your individual research? Publishing your IntechOpen book in the form of a long form monograph is a great alternative.",metaKeywords:null,canonicalURL:"/page/publish-a-whole-book",contentRaw:'[{"type":"htmlEditorComponent","content":"MONOGRAPH - LONG FORM MANUSCRIPT
\\n\\nFORMATS
\\n\\nCOST
\\n\\n10,000 GBP Monograph - Long Form
\\n\\nThe final price includes project management, editorial and peer-review services, technical editing, language copyediting, cover design, book layout, book promotion and ISBN assignment.
\\n\\n*The price does not include Value-Added Tax (VAT). Residents of European Union countries need to add VAT based on the specific rate applied in their country of residence. Institutions and companies registered as VAT taxable entities in their own EU member state will not pay VAT by providing us with their VAT registration number. This is made possible by the EU reverse charge method.
\\n\\nOptional Services
\\n\\nIntechOpen has collaborated with Enago, through its sister brand, Ulatus, which is one of the world’s leading providers of book translation services. The services are designed to convey the essence of your work to readers from across the globe in a language they understand. Enago’s expert translators incorporate cultural nuances in translations to make the content relevant for local audiences while retaining the original meaning and style. Enago translators are equipped to handle all complex and multiple overlapping themes encompassed in a single book and their high degree of linguistic and subject expertise enables them to deliver a superior quality output.
\\n\\nIntechOpen Authors that wish to use this service will receive a 20% discount on all translation services. To find out more information or obtain a quote, please visit: https://www.enago.com/intech.
\\n\\nFUNDING
\\n\\nWe feel that financial barriers should never prevent researchers from publishing their work. Please consult our Open Access Funding page to explore funding opportunities and learn more about how you can finance your IntechOpen publication.
\\n\\nBENEFITS
\\n\\nPUBLISHING PROCESS STEPS
\\n\\nFor a complete overview of all publishing process steps and descriptions, go to How Open Access Publishing Works.
\\n\\nSEND YOUR PROPOSAL
\\n\\nIf you are interested in publishing your book with IntechOpen, please submit your book proposal by completing the Publishing Proposal Form.
\\n\\nNot sure if this is the right option for you? Please refer back to the main Publish with IntechOpen page or feel free to contact us directly at book.department@intechopen.com.
\\n"}]'},components:[{type:"htmlEditorComponent",content:'MONOGRAPH - LONG FORM MANUSCRIPT
\n\nFORMATS
\n\nCOST
\n\n10,000 GBP Monograph - Long Form
\n\nThe final price includes project management, editorial and peer-review services, technical editing, language copyediting, cover design, book layout, book promotion and ISBN assignment.
\n\n*The price does not include Value-Added Tax (VAT). Residents of European Union countries need to add VAT based on the specific rate applied in their country of residence. Institutions and companies registered as VAT taxable entities in their own EU member state will not pay VAT by providing us with their VAT registration number. This is made possible by the EU reverse charge method.
\n\nOptional Services
\n\nIntechOpen has collaborated with Enago, through its sister brand, Ulatus, which is one of the world’s leading providers of book translation services. The services are designed to convey the essence of your work to readers from across the globe in a language they understand. Enago’s expert translators incorporate cultural nuances in translations to make the content relevant for local audiences while retaining the original meaning and style. Enago translators are equipped to handle all complex and multiple overlapping themes encompassed in a single book and their high degree of linguistic and subject expertise enables them to deliver a superior quality output.
\n\nIntechOpen Authors that wish to use this service will receive a 20% discount on all translation services. To find out more information or obtain a quote, please visit: https://www.enago.com/intech.
\n\nFUNDING
\n\nWe feel that financial barriers should never prevent researchers from publishing their work. Please consult our Open Access Funding page to explore funding opportunities and learn more about how you can finance your IntechOpen publication.
\n\nBENEFITS
\n\nPUBLISHING PROCESS STEPS
\n\nFor a complete overview of all publishing process steps and descriptions, go to How Open Access Publishing Works.
\n\nSEND YOUR PROPOSAL
\n\nIf you are interested in publishing your book with IntechOpen, please submit your book proposal by completing the Publishing Proposal Form.
\n\nNot sure if this is the right option for you? Please refer back to the main Publish with IntechOpen page or feel free to contact us directly at book.department@intechopen.com.
\n'}]},successStories:{items:[]},authorsAndEditors:{filterParams:{regionId:"4",sort:"featured,name"},profiles:[{id:"58592",title:"Dr.",name:"Arun",middleName:null,surname:"Shanker",slug:"arun-shanker",fullName:"Arun Shanker",position:null,profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/58592/images/1664_n.jpg",biography:"Arun K. Shanker is serving as a Principal Scientist (Plant Physiology) with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture in Hyderabad, India. He is working with the ICAR as a full time researcher since 1993 and has since earned his Advanced degree in Crop Physiology while in service. He has been awarded the prestigious Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC), by the Royal Society of Chemistry, London in 2015. Presently he is working on systems biology approach to study the mechanism of abiotic stress tolerance in crops. His main focus now is to unravel the mechanism of drought and heat stress response in plants to tackle climate change related threats in agriculture.",institutionString:null,institution:{name:"Indian Council of Agricultural Research",country:{name:"India"}}},{id:"4782",title:"Prof.",name:"Bishnu",middleName:"P",surname:"Pal",slug:"bishnu-pal",fullName:"Bishnu Pal",position:null,profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/4782/images/system/4782.jpg",biography:"Bishnu P. Pal is Professor of Physics at Mahindra École\nCentrale Hyderabad India since July 1st 2014 after retirement\nas Professor of Physics from IIT Delhi; Ph.D.’1975 from IIT\nDelhi; Fellow of OSA and SPIE; Senior Member IEEE;\nHonorary Foreign Member Royal Norwegian Society for\nScience and Arts; Member OSA Board of Directors (2009-\n11); Distinguished Lecturer IEEE Photonics Society (2005-\n07).",institutionString:null,institution:{name:"Indian Institute of Technology Delhi",country:{name:"India"}}},{id:"69653",title:"Dr.",name:"Chusak",middleName:null,surname:"Limsakul",slug:"chusak-limsakul",fullName:"Chusak Limsakul",position:null,profilePictureURL:"//cdnintech.com/web/frontend/www/assets/author.svg",biography:null,institutionString:null,institution:{name:"Prince of Songkla University",country:{name:"Thailand"}}},{id:"23804",title:"Dr.",name:"Hamzah",middleName:null,surname:"Arof",slug:"hamzah-arof",fullName:"Hamzah Arof",position:null,profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/23804/images/5492_n.jpg",biography:"Hamzah Arof received his BSc from Michigan State University, and PhD from the University of Wales. Both degrees were in electrical engineering. His current research interests include signal processing and photonics. Currently he is affiliated with the Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Malaya, Malaysia.",institutionString:null,institution:{name:"University of Malaya",country:{name:"Malaysia"}}},{id:"41989",title:"Prof.",name:"He",middleName:null,surname:"Tian",slug:"he-tian",fullName:"He Tian",position:null,profilePictureURL:"//cdnintech.com/web/frontend/www/assets/author.svg",biography:null,institutionString:null,institution:{name:"East China University of Science and Technology",country:{name:"China"}}},{id:"33351",title:null,name:"Hendra",middleName:null,surname:"Hermawan",slug:"hendra-hermawan",fullName:"Hendra Hermawan",position:null,profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/33351/images/168_n.jpg",biography:null,institutionString:null,institution:{name:"Institut Teknologi Bandung",country:{name:"Indonesia"}}},{id:"11981",title:"Prof.",name:"Hiroshi",middleName:null,surname:"Ishiguro",slug:"hiroshi-ishiguro",fullName:"Hiroshi Ishiguro",position:null,profilePictureURL:"https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/intech-files/0030O00002bRglaQAC/Profile_Picture_1626411846553",biography:"Hiroshi Ishiguro is an award-winning roboticist and innovator. As the Director of the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory, which is part of the Department of Systems Innovation in the Graduate School of Engineering Science at Osaka University, Japan, Ishiguro concentrates on making robots that are similar as possible to humans to understand the human species. A notable project of his laboratory is the Actroid, a humanoid robot with a lifelike appearance and observable behavior such as facial movements. (Sources: http://www.geminoid.jp/en/index.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshi_Ishiguro)",institutionString:null,institution:{name:"Osaka University",country:{name:"Japan"}}},{id:"45747",title:"Dr.",name:"Hsin-I",middleName:null,surname:"Chang",slug:"hsin-i-chang",fullName:"Hsin-I Chang",position:null,profilePictureURL:"//cdnintech.com/web/frontend/www/assets/author.svg",biography:null,institutionString:null,institution:{name:"National Chiayi University",country:{name:"Taiwan"}}},{id:"61581",title:"Dr.",name:"Joy Rizki Pangestu",middleName:null,surname:"Djuansjah",slug:"joy-rizki-pangestu-djuansjah",fullName:"Joy Rizki Pangestu Djuansjah",position:null,profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/61581/images/237_n.jpg",biography:null,institutionString:null,institution:{name:"University of Technology Malaysia",country:{name:"Malaysia"}}},{id:"94249",title:"Prof.",name:"Junji",middleName:null,surname:"Kido",slug:"junji-kido",fullName:"Junji Kido",position:null,profilePictureURL:"//cdnintech.com/web/frontend/www/assets/author.svg",biography:null,institutionString:null,institution:{name:"Yamagata University",country:{name:"Japan"}}},{id:"12009",title:"Dr.",name:"Ki Young",middleName:null,surname:"Kim",slug:"ki-young-kim",fullName:"Ki Young Kim",position:null,profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/12009/images/system/12009.jpg",biography:"Http://m80.knu.ac.kr/~doors",institutionString:null,institution:{name:"National Cheng Kung University",country:{name:"Taiwan"}}},{id:"132595",title:"Prof.",name:"Long",middleName:null,surname:"Wang",slug:"long-wang",fullName:"Long Wang",position:null,profilePictureURL:"//cdnintech.com/web/frontend/www/assets/author.svg",biography:null,institutionString:null,institution:{name:"Peking University",country:{name:"China"}}}],filtersByRegion:[{group:"region",caption:"North America",value:1,count:6583},{group:"region",caption:"Middle and South America",value:2,count:5888},{group:"region",caption:"Africa",value:3,count:2381},{group:"region",caption:"Asia",value:4,count:12511},{group:"region",caption:"Australia and Oceania",value:5,count:1006},{group:"region",caption:"Europe",value:6,count:17529}],offset:12,limit:12,total:12511},chapterEmbeded:{data:{}},editorApplication:{success:null,errors:{}},ofsBooks:{filterParams:{hasNoEditors:"1",sort:"title"},books:[{type:"book",id:"11472",title:"21st Century Slavery",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"b341f3fc3411ced881e43ce007a892b8",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/11472.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"11981",title:"3D Reconstruction",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"62acebc6779b029903545246e02b4c32",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/11981.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"12147",title:"Abiotic Stress in Plants",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"f3d8c31029650b7ce536da7ab9d7a5a0",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/12147.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"11843",title:"Abortion Access",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"e07ed1706ed2bf6ad56aa7399d9edf1a",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/11843.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"12039",title:"Advances in 3D Printing",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"fe8827f28fcc56e13b3f0cb6ffda2b71",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/12039.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"12040",title:"Advances in Lean Manufacturing",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"280b436c389c11cac34db042d0ea4f21",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/12040.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"11986",title:"Advances in Nanosheets",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"dcc5e4b27db4514b2dd77680e0467793",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/11986.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"12164",title:"Advances in Probiotics",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"cc0a28c4126b8d6fd1a5ebead8a0421f",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/12164.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"12089",title:"Advances in Research on Bipolar Disorder",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"cad499685041c605784198bafb7382b0",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/12089.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"11927",title:"Advances in Slope Engineering",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"8c95af4aadac4c83fe8e8fa4a0876858",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/11927.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"11941",title:"Advances in Turbomachinery",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"fe2c693976d70c5d0cc5f8003e6e73c5",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/11941.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"12068",title:"Advances in Virtual Reality",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!0,hash:"d6a4f0e27fd3a464f9d95f1deab17858",slug:null,bookSignature:"",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/12068.jpg",editedByType:null,editors:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}}],filtersByTopic:[{group:"topic",caption:"Agricultural and Biological Sciences",value:5,count:27},{group:"topic",caption:"Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology",value:6,count:10},{group:"topic",caption:"Business, Management and Economics",value:7,count:9},{group:"topic",caption:"Chemistry",value:8,count:10},{group:"topic",caption:"Computer and Information Science",value:9,count:14},{group:"topic",caption:"Earth and Planetary Sciences",value:10,count:16},{group:"topic",caption:"Engineering",value:11,count:42},{group:"topic",caption:"Environmental Sciences",value:12,count:8},{group:"topic",caption:"Immunology and Microbiology",value:13,count:9},{group:"topic",caption:"Materials Science",value:14,count:11},{group:"topic",caption:"Mathematics",value:15,count:7},{group:"topic",caption:"Medicine",value:16,count:64},{group:"topic",caption:"Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials",value:17,count:1},{group:"topic",caption:"Neuroscience",value:18,count:6},{group:"topic",caption:"Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science",value:19,count:7},{group:"topic",caption:"Physics",value:20,count:4},{group:"topic",caption:"Psychology",value:21,count:6},{group:"topic",caption:"Robotics",value:22,count:1},{group:"topic",caption:"Social Sciences",value:23,count:25},{group:"topic",caption:"Technology",value:24,count:1},{group:"topic",caption:"Veterinary Medicine and Science",value:25,count:2}],offset:12,limit:12,total:280},popularBooks:{featuredBooks:[{type:"book",id:"10584",title:"Engineered Wood Products for Construction",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"421757c56a3735986055250821275a51",slug:"engineered-wood-products-for-construction",bookSignature:"Meng Gong",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10584.jpg",editors:[{id:"274242",title:"Dr.",name:"Meng",middleName:null,surname:"Gong",slug:"meng-gong",fullName:"Meng Gong"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10222",title:"Demyelination Disorders",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"b6c26ceccacdde70c41c587361bd5558",slug:"demyelination-disorders",bookSignature:"Stavros J. Baloyannis, Fabian H. Rossi and Welwin Liu",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10222.jpg",editors:[{id:"156098",title:"Emeritus Prof.",name:"Stavros J.",middleName:"J.",surname:"Baloyannis",slug:"stavros-j.-baloyannis",fullName:"Stavros J. Baloyannis"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9544",title:"Global Trade in the Emerging Business Environment",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"fb8cb09b9599246add78d508a98273d5",slug:"global-trade-in-the-emerging-business-environment",bookSignature:"Muhammad Mohiuddin, Jingbin Wang , Md. Samim Al Azad and Selim Ahmed",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9544.jpg",editors:[{id:"418514",title:"Dr.",name:"Muhammad",middleName:null,surname:"Mohiuddin",slug:"muhammad-mohiuddin",fullName:"Muhammad Mohiuddin"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10979",title:"Parenting",subtitle:"Challenges of Child Rearing in a Changing Society",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"6f345ebcf4fd61e73643c69063a12c7b",slug:"parenting-challenges-of-child-rearing-in-a-changing-society",bookSignature:"Sayyed Ali Samadi",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10979.jpg",editors:[{id:"52145",title:"Dr.",name:"Sayyed Ali",middleName:null,surname:"Samadi",slug:"sayyed-ali-samadi",fullName:"Sayyed Ali Samadi"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9808",title:"Contemporary Topics in Patient Safety",subtitle:"Volume 1",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"fb6371607c2c6c02c6a2af8892765aba",slug:"contemporary-topics-in-patient-safety-volume-1",bookSignature:"Stanislaw P. Stawicki and Michael S. Firstenberg",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9808.jpg",editors:[{id:"181694",title:"Dr.",name:"Stanislaw P.",middleName:null,surname:"Stawicki",slug:"stanislaw-p.-stawicki",fullName:"Stanislaw P. Stawicki"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10681",title:"Biodegradation Technology of Organic and Inorganic Pollutants",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"9a6e10e02788092872fd249436898e97",slug:"biodegradation-technology-of-organic-and-inorganic-pollutants",bookSignature:"Kassio Ferreira Mendes, Rodrigo Nogueira de Sousa and Kamila Cabral Mielke",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10681.jpg",editors:[{id:"197720",title:"Ph.D.",name:"Kassio",middleName:null,surname:"Ferreira Mendes",slug:"kassio-ferreira-mendes",fullName:"Kassio Ferreira Mendes"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10764",title:"Antenna Systems",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"2fbf1c7a5d92723f08198fc9b526a8ad",slug:"antenna-systems",bookSignature:"Hussain Al-Rizzo and Said Abushamleh",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10764.jpg",editors:[{id:"153384",title:"Prof.",name:"Hussain",middleName:null,surname:"Al-Rizzo",slug:"hussain-al-rizzo",fullName:"Hussain Al-Rizzo"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10668",title:"Sustainability of Concrete With Synthetic and Recycled Aggregates",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"55856c6a8bc3a5b21dae5a1af09a56b6",slug:"sustainability-of-concrete-with-synthetic-and-recycled-aggregates",bookSignature:"Hosam M. Saleh",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10668.jpg",editors:[{id:"144691",title:"Prof.",name:"Hosam",middleName:null,surname:"Saleh",slug:"hosam-saleh",fullName:"Hosam Saleh"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10803",title:"Reactive Oxygen Species",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"176adcf090fdd1f93cb8ce3146e79ca1",slug:"reactive-oxygen-species",bookSignature:"Rizwan Ahmad",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10803.jpg",editors:[{id:"40482",title:null,name:"Rizwan",middleName:null,surname:"Ahmad",slug:"rizwan-ahmad",fullName:"Rizwan Ahmad"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9032",title:"Corporate Social Responsibility",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"f609bf3251d7cc7bae0099a4374adfc3",slug:"corporate-social-responsibility",bookSignature:"Beatrice Orlando",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9032.jpg",editors:[{id:"232969",title:"Prof.",name:"Beatrice",middleName:null,surname:"Orlando",slug:"beatrice-orlando",fullName:"Beatrice Orlando"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10351",title:"Enhanced Liposuction",subtitle:"New Perspectives and Techniques",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"f08ed6de16da357614586c5b58ed4dfa",slug:"enhanced-liposuction-new-perspectives-and-techniques",bookSignature:"Diane Irvine Duncan",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10351.jpg",editors:[{id:"279869",title:"Dr.",name:"Diane Irvine",middleName:null,surname:"Duncan",slug:"diane-irvine-duncan",fullName:"Diane Irvine Duncan"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10779",title:"21st Century Nanostructured Materials",subtitle:"Physics, Chemistry, Classification, and Emerging Applications in Industry, Biomedicine, and Agriculture",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"72c67f97f9bef68200df115b5fd79884",slug:"21st-century-nanostructured-materials-physics-chemistry-classification-and-emerging-applications-in-industry-biomedicine-and-agriculture",bookSignature:"Phuong V. Pham",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10779.jpg",editors:[{id:"236073",title:"Dr.",name:"Phuong",middleName:"Viet",surname:"Pham",slug:"phuong-pham",fullName:"Phuong Pham"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}}],offset:12,limit:12,total:4386},hotBookTopics:{hotBooks:[],offset:0,limit:12,total:null},publish:{},publishingProposal:{success:null,errors:{}},books:{featuredBooks:[{type:"book",id:"10584",title:"Engineered Wood Products for Construction",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"421757c56a3735986055250821275a51",slug:"engineered-wood-products-for-construction",bookSignature:"Meng Gong",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10584.jpg",publishedDate:"April 28th 2022",numberOfDownloads:3665,editors:[{id:"274242",title:"Dr.",name:"Meng",middleName:null,surname:"Gong",slug:"meng-gong",fullName:"Meng Gong"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10222",title:"Demyelination Disorders",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"b6c26ceccacdde70c41c587361bd5558",slug:"demyelination-disorders",bookSignature:"Stavros J. Baloyannis, Fabian H. Rossi and Welwin Liu",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10222.jpg",publishedDate:"May 4th 2022",numberOfDownloads:1713,editors:[{id:"156098",title:"Emeritus Prof.",name:"Stavros J.",middleName:"J.",surname:"Baloyannis",slug:"stavros-j.-baloyannis",fullName:"Stavros J. Baloyannis"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9544",title:"Global Trade in the Emerging Business Environment",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"fb8cb09b9599246add78d508a98273d5",slug:"global-trade-in-the-emerging-business-environment",bookSignature:"Muhammad Mohiuddin, Jingbin Wang , Md. Samim Al Azad and Selim Ahmed",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9544.jpg",publishedDate:"April 28th 2022",numberOfDownloads:2481,editors:[{id:"418514",title:"Dr.",name:"Muhammad",middleName:null,surname:"Mohiuddin",slug:"muhammad-mohiuddin",fullName:"Muhammad Mohiuddin"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10979",title:"Parenting",subtitle:"Challenges of Child Rearing in a Changing Society",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"6f345ebcf4fd61e73643c69063a12c7b",slug:"parenting-challenges-of-child-rearing-in-a-changing-society",bookSignature:"Sayyed Ali Samadi",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10979.jpg",publishedDate:"May 4th 2022",numberOfDownloads:1107,editors:[{id:"52145",title:"Dr.",name:"Sayyed Ali",middleName:null,surname:"Samadi",slug:"sayyed-ali-samadi",fullName:"Sayyed Ali Samadi"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9808",title:"Contemporary Topics in Patient Safety",subtitle:"Volume 1",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"fb6371607c2c6c02c6a2af8892765aba",slug:"contemporary-topics-in-patient-safety-volume-1",bookSignature:"Stanislaw P. Stawicki and Michael S. Firstenberg",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9808.jpg",publishedDate:"April 20th 2022",numberOfDownloads:3307,editors:[{id:"181694",title:"Dr.",name:"Stanislaw P.",middleName:null,surname:"Stawicki",slug:"stanislaw-p.-stawicki",fullName:"Stanislaw P. Stawicki"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10681",title:"Biodegradation Technology of Organic and Inorganic Pollutants",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"9a6e10e02788092872fd249436898e97",slug:"biodegradation-technology-of-organic-and-inorganic-pollutants",bookSignature:"Kassio Ferreira Mendes, Rodrigo Nogueira de Sousa and Kamila Cabral Mielke",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10681.jpg",publishedDate:"April 20th 2022",numberOfDownloads:3266,editors:[{id:"197720",title:"Ph.D.",name:"Kassio",middleName:null,surname:"Ferreira Mendes",slug:"kassio-ferreira-mendes",fullName:"Kassio Ferreira Mendes"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10764",title:"Antenna Systems",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"2fbf1c7a5d92723f08198fc9b526a8ad",slug:"antenna-systems",bookSignature:"Hussain Al-Rizzo and Said Abushamleh",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10764.jpg",publishedDate:"April 28th 2022",numberOfDownloads:1868,editors:[{id:"153384",title:"Prof.",name:"Hussain",middleName:null,surname:"Al-Rizzo",slug:"hussain-al-rizzo",fullName:"Hussain Al-Rizzo"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10668",title:"Sustainability of Concrete With Synthetic and Recycled Aggregates",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"55856c6a8bc3a5b21dae5a1af09a56b6",slug:"sustainability-of-concrete-with-synthetic-and-recycled-aggregates",bookSignature:"Hosam M. Saleh",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10668.jpg",publishedDate:"May 4th 2022",numberOfDownloads:856,editors:[{id:"144691",title:"Prof.",name:"Hosam",middleName:null,surname:"Saleh",slug:"hosam-saleh",fullName:"Hosam Saleh"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"10803",title:"Reactive Oxygen Species",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"176adcf090fdd1f93cb8ce3146e79ca1",slug:"reactive-oxygen-species",bookSignature:"Rizwan Ahmad",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10803.jpg",publishedDate:"April 28th 2022",numberOfDownloads:1704,editors:[{id:"40482",title:null,name:"Rizwan",middleName:null,surname:"Ahmad",slug:"rizwan-ahmad",fullName:"Rizwan Ahmad"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}},{type:"book",id:"9032",title:"Corporate Social Responsibility",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"f609bf3251d7cc7bae0099a4374adfc3",slug:"corporate-social-responsibility",bookSignature:"Beatrice Orlando",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9032.jpg",publishedDate:"March 16th 2022",numberOfDownloads:7489,editors:[{id:"232969",title:"Prof.",name:"Beatrice",middleName:null,surname:"Orlando",slug:"beatrice-orlando",fullName:"Beatrice Orlando"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter"}}],latestBooks:[{type:"book",id:"8737",title:"Rabies Virus at the Beginning of 21st Century",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"49cce3f548da548c718c865feb343509",slug:"rabies-virus-at-the-beginning-of-21st-century",bookSignature:"Sergey Tkachev",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/8737.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",publishedDate:"May 11th 2022",editors:[{id:"61139",title:"Dr.",name:"Sergey",middleName:null,surname:"Tkachev",slug:"sergey-tkachev",fullName:"Sergey Tkachev"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"10861",title:"Furan Derivatives",subtitle:"Recent Advances and Applications",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"fdfc39cecd82f91b0effac994f75c877",slug:"furan-derivatives-recent-advances-and-applications",bookSignature:"Anish Khan, Mohammed Muzibur Rahman, M. Ramesh, Salman Ahmad Khan and Abdullah Mohammed Ahmed Asiri",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10861.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",publishedDate:"May 11th 2022",editors:[{id:"293058",title:"Dr.",name:"Anish",middleName:null,surname:"Khan",slug:"anish-khan",fullName:"Anish Khan"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"10356",title:"Natural Medicinal Plants",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"943e56ccaaf19ff696d25aa638ae37d6",slug:"natural-medicinal-plants",bookSignature:"Hany A. El-Shemy",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10356.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",publishedDate:"May 11th 2022",editors:[{id:"54719",title:"Prof.",name:"Hany",middleName:null,surname:"El-Shemy",slug:"hany-el-shemy",fullName:"Hany El-Shemy"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"10870",title:"Ultrasound Imaging",subtitle:"Current Topics",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"2f0bc3733ab226d67fa73759ef0e12ad",slug:"ultrasound-imaging-current-topics",bookSignature:"Felix Okechukwu Erondu",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10870.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",publishedDate:"May 11th 2022",editors:[{id:"68312",title:"Prof.",name:"Felix",middleName:null,surname:"Okechukwu Erondu",slug:"felix-okechukwu-erondu",fullName:"Felix Okechukwu Erondu"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"11392",title:"Leadership in a Changing World",subtitle:"A Multidimensional Perspective",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"86a6d33cf601587e591064ce92effc02",slug:"leadership-in-a-changing-world-a-multidimensional-perspective",bookSignature:"Muhammad Mohiuddin, Bilal Khalid, Md. Samim Al Azad and Slimane Ed-dafali",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/11392.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",publishedDate:"May 11th 2022",editors:[{id:"418514",title:"Dr.",name:"Muhammad",middleName:null,surname:"Mohiuddin",slug:"muhammad-mohiuddin",fullName:"Muhammad Mohiuddin"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"10400",title:"The Application of Ant Colony Optimization",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"f4fdfd07ee1ab99fb7c740d6d0c144c6",slug:"the-application-of-ant-colony-optimization",bookSignature:"Ali Soofastaei",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10400.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",publishedDate:"May 11th 2022",editors:[{id:"257455",title:"Dr.",name:"Ali",middleName:null,surname:"Soofastaei",slug:"ali-soofastaei",fullName:"Ali Soofastaei"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"10915",title:"Leadership",subtitle:"New Insights",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"0d72e79892f2a020cee66a52d09de5a4",slug:"leadership-new-insights",bookSignature:"Mário Franco",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10915.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",publishedDate:"May 11th 2022",editors:[{id:"105529",title:"Dr.",name:"Mário",middleName:null,surname:"Franco",slug:"mario-franco",fullName:"Mário Franco"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"10683",title:"Technological Innovations and Advances in Hydropower Engineering",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"7ce7ad8768bd2cad155470fe1fd883f4",slug:"technological-innovations-and-advances-in-hydropower-engineering",bookSignature:"Yizi Shang, Ling Shang and Xiaofei Li",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10683.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",publishedDate:"May 11th 2022",editors:[{id:"349630",title:"Dr.",name:"Yizi",middleName:null,surname:"Shang",slug:"yizi-shang",fullName:"Yizi Shang"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"7102",title:"Pneumonia",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"9fd70142814192dcec58a176749f1b60",slug:"pneumonia",bookSignature:"Nima Rezaei",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/7102.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",publishedDate:"May 11th 2022",editors:[{id:"116250",title:"Dr.",name:"Nima",middleName:null,surname:"Rezaei",slug:"nima-rezaei",fullName:"Nima Rezaei"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"9670",title:"Current Trends in Wheat Research",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"89d795987f1747a76eee532700d2093d",slug:"current-trends-in-wheat-research",bookSignature:"Mahmood-ur-Rahman Ansari",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/9670.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",publishedDate:"May 11th 2022",editors:[{id:"185476",title:"Dr.",name:"Mahmood-ur-Rahman",middleName:null,surname:"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"}}]},subject:{topic:{id:"72",title:"International Economics",slug:"international-economics",parent:{id:"7",title:"Business, Management and Economics",slug:"business-management-and-economics"},numberOfBooks:5,numberOfSeries:0,numberOfAuthorsAndEditors:60,numberOfWosCitations:38,numberOfCrossrefCitations:49,numberOfDimensionsCitations:77,videoUrl:null,fallbackUrl:null,description:null},booksByTopicFilter:{topicId:"72",sort:"-publishedDate",limit:12,offset:0},booksByTopicCollection:[{type:"book",id:"10117",title:"Foreign Direct Investment Perspective through Foreign Direct Divestment",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"1210eb12e74d4f16ca704e75ec892600",slug:"foreign-direct-investment-perspective-through-foreign-direct-divestment",bookSignature:"Anita Maček",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/10117.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"142587",title:"Dr.",name:"Anita",middleName:null,surname:"Maček",slug:"anita-macek",fullName:"Anita Maček"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"8816",title:"Financial Crises",subtitle:"A Selection of Readings",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"6f2f49fb903656e4e54280c79fabd10c",slug:"financial-crises-a-selection-of-readings",bookSignature:"Stelios Markoulis",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/8816.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"237863",title:"Dr.",name:"Stelios",middleName:null,surname:"Markoulis",slug:"stelios-markoulis",fullName:"Stelios Markoulis"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"6487",title:"Trade and Global Market",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"7f1afebc7552003672f0c62b354538be",slug:"trade-and-global-market",bookSignature:"Vito Bobek",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/6487.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"128342",title:"Prof.",name:"Vito",middleName:null,surname:"Bobek",slug:"vito-bobek",fullName:"Vito Bobek"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"5492",title:"International Trade",subtitle:"On the Brink of Change",isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"f64d7edf6aef7b32784cc01a18836699",slug:"international-trade-on-the-brink-of-change",bookSignature:"Anita Macek",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/5492.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"142587",title:"Dr.",name:"Anita",middleName:null,surname:"Maček",slug:"anita-macek",fullName:"Anita Maček"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}},{type:"book",id:"2355",title:"International Trade from Economic and Policy Perspective",subtitle:null,isOpenForSubmission:!1,hash:"8fe6804794ddc1a7f4202db20aed5985",slug:"international-trade-from-economic-and-policy-perspective",bookSignature:"Vito Bobek",coverURL:"https://cdn.intechopen.com/books/images_new/2355.jpg",editedByType:"Edited by",editors:[{id:"128342",title:"Prof.",name:"Vito",middleName:null,surname:"Bobek",slug:"vito-bobek",fullName:"Vito Bobek"}],equalEditorOne:null,equalEditorTwo:null,equalEditorThree:null,productType:{id:"1",chapterContentType:"chapter",authoredCaption:"Edited by"}}],booksByTopicTotal:5,seriesByTopicCollection:[],seriesByTopicTotal:0,mostCitedChapters:[{id:"38487",doi:"10.5772/48103",title:"A Perspective on Remanufacturing Business: Issues and Opportunities",slug:"a-perspective-on-remanufacturing-business-issues-and-opportunities",totalDownloads:4193,totalCrossrefCites:10,totalDimensionsCites:20,abstract:null,book:{id:"2355",slug:"international-trade-from-economic-and-policy-perspective",title:"International Trade from Economic and Policy Perspective",fullTitle:"International Trade from Economic and Policy Perspective"},signatures:"Mosè Gallo, Elpidio Romano and Liberatina Carmela Santillo",authors:[{id:"11826",title:"Prof.",name:"Elpidio",middleName:null,surname:"Romano",slug:"elpidio-romano",fullName:"Elpidio Romano"},{id:"11827",title:"Prof.",name:"Liberatina",middleName:null,surname:"Santillo",slug:"liberatina-santillo",fullName:"Liberatina Santillo"},{id:"138996",title:"PhD.",name:"Mosè",middleName:null,surname:"Gallo",slug:"mose-gallo",fullName:"Mosè Gallo"}]},{id:"58969",doi:"10.5772/intechopen.72953",title:"Corruption, Causes and Consequences",slug:"corruption-causes-and-consequences",totalDownloads:27407,totalCrossrefCites:11,totalDimensionsCites:13,abstract:"Corruption is a constant in the society and occurs in all civilizations; however, it has only been in the past 20 years that this phenomenon has begun being seriously explored. It has many different shapes as well as many various effects, both on the economy and the society at large. Among the most common causes of corruption are the political and economic environment, professional ethics and morality and, of course, habits, customs, tradition and demography. Its effects on the economy (and also on the wider society) are well researched, yet still not completely. Corruption thus inhibits economic growth and affects business operations, employment and investments. It also reduces tax revenue and the effectiveness of various financial assistance programs. The wider society is influenced by a high degree of corruption in terms of lowering of trust in the law and the rule of law, education and consequently the quality of life (access to infrastructure, health care). There also does not exist an unambiguous answer as to how to deal with corruption. Something that works in one country or in one region will not necessarily be successful in another. This chapter tries to answer at least a few questions about corruption and the causes for it, its consequences and how to deal with it successfully.",book:{id:"6487",slug:"trade-and-global-market",title:"Trade and Global Market",fullTitle:"Trade and Global Market"},signatures:"Štefan Šumah",authors:[{id:"228073",title:"Mr.",name:"Stefan",middleName:null,surname:"Sumah",slug:"stefan-sumah",fullName:"Stefan Sumah"}]},{id:"61175",doi:"10.5772/intechopen.75812",title:"Trade Openness and Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from Transition Economies",slug:"trade-openness-and-economic-growth-empirical-evidence-from-transition-economies",totalDownloads:3424,totalCrossrefCites:7,totalDimensionsCites:11,abstract:"The relationship between trade openness and economic growth is ambiguous from both theoretical and empirical point of view. The theoretical propositions reveal that while trade openness leads to a greater economic efficiency, market imperfections, differences in technology and endowments may lead to adverse effect of trade liberalisation on individual countries. In this chapter, we re-examine the empirical evidence pointing to the benefits of trade liberalisation and bring theoretical issues on possible adverse effect of openness to the fore. It has been argued that ‘passive’ trade liberalisation may not necessarily lead to positive economic outcomes, particularly in less advanced transition economies. Considering the empirical work on the matter, a lot of controversies are related to measurement issues. We find that openness measured by trade intensity indicators may lead to misleading conclusions about the trade growth nexus. Hence, the discussion of policy implications regarding the positive influence of trade barriers on economic growth goes well beyond the context of transition.",book:{id:"6487",slug:"trade-and-global-market",title:"Trade and Global Market",fullTitle:"Trade and Global Market"},signatures:"Sabina Silajdzic and Eldin Mehic",authors:[{id:"233162",title:"Associate Prof.",name:"Sabina",middleName:null,surname:"Silajdzic",slug:"sabina-silajdzic",fullName:"Sabina Silajdzic"},{id:"233367",title:"Prof.",name:"Eldin",middleName:null,surname:"Mehic",slug:"eldin-mehic",fullName:"Eldin Mehic"}]},{id:"38485",doi:"10.5772/48151",title:"Transboundary Animal Diseases and International Trade",slug:"transboundary-animal-diseases-and-international-trade",totalDownloads:3952,totalCrossrefCites:2,totalDimensionsCites:6,abstract:null,book:{id:"2355",slug:"international-trade-from-economic-and-policy-perspective",title:"International Trade from Economic and Policy Perspective",fullTitle:"International Trade from Economic and Policy Perspective"},signatures:"Andrés Cartín-Rojas",authors:[{id:"139628",title:"Ms.",name:"Andrés",middleName:null,surname:"Cartín-Rojas",slug:"andres-cartin-rojas",fullName:"Andrés Cartín-Rojas"}]},{id:"38482",doi:"10.5772/48342",title:"A Comparative Analysis of the Economic Effects of Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions in European Countries",slug:"a-comparative-analysis-of-the-economic-effects-of-cross-border-mergers-and-acquisitions-in-european-",totalDownloads:3479,totalCrossrefCites:3,totalDimensionsCites:4,abstract:null,book:{id:"2355",slug:"international-trade-from-economic-and-policy-perspective",title:"International Trade from Economic and Policy Perspective",fullTitle:"International Trade from Economic and Policy Perspective"},signatures:"Anita Maček",authors:[{id:"142587",title:"Dr.",name:"Anita",middleName:null,surname:"Maček",slug:"anita-macek",fullName:"Anita Maček"}]}],mostDownloadedChaptersLast30Days:[{id:"58969",title:"Corruption, Causes and Consequences",slug:"corruption-causes-and-consequences",totalDownloads:27407,totalCrossrefCites:11,totalDimensionsCites:13,abstract:"Corruption is a constant in the society and occurs in all civilizations; however, it has only been in the past 20 years that this phenomenon has begun being seriously explored. It has many different shapes as well as many various effects, both on the economy and the society at large. Among the most common causes of corruption are the political and economic environment, professional ethics and morality and, of course, habits, customs, tradition and demography. Its effects on the economy (and also on the wider society) are well researched, yet still not completely. Corruption thus inhibits economic growth and affects business operations, employment and investments. It also reduces tax revenue and the effectiveness of various financial assistance programs. The wider society is influenced by a high degree of corruption in terms of lowering of trust in the law and the rule of law, education and consequently the quality of life (access to infrastructure, health care). There also does not exist an unambiguous answer as to how to deal with corruption. Something that works in one country or in one region will not necessarily be successful in another. This chapter tries to answer at least a few questions about corruption and the causes for it, its consequences and how to deal with it successfully.",book:{id:"6487",slug:"trade-and-global-market",title:"Trade and Global Market",fullTitle:"Trade and Global Market"},signatures:"Štefan Šumah",authors:[{id:"228073",title:"Mr.",name:"Stefan",middleName:null,surname:"Sumah",slug:"stefan-sumah",fullName:"Stefan Sumah"}]},{id:"61175",title:"Trade Openness and Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from Transition Economies",slug:"trade-openness-and-economic-growth-empirical-evidence-from-transition-economies",totalDownloads:3424,totalCrossrefCites:7,totalDimensionsCites:11,abstract:"The relationship between trade openness and economic growth is ambiguous from both theoretical and empirical point of view. The theoretical propositions reveal that while trade openness leads to a greater economic efficiency, market imperfections, differences in technology and endowments may lead to adverse effect of trade liberalisation on individual countries. In this chapter, we re-examine the empirical evidence pointing to the benefits of trade liberalisation and bring theoretical issues on possible adverse effect of openness to the fore. It has been argued that ‘passive’ trade liberalisation may not necessarily lead to positive economic outcomes, particularly in less advanced transition economies. Considering the empirical work on the matter, a lot of controversies are related to measurement issues. We find that openness measured by trade intensity indicators may lead to misleading conclusions about the trade growth nexus. Hence, the discussion of policy implications regarding the positive influence of trade barriers on economic growth goes well beyond the context of transition.",book:{id:"6487",slug:"trade-and-global-market",title:"Trade and Global Market",fullTitle:"Trade and Global Market"},signatures:"Sabina Silajdzic and Eldin Mehic",authors:[{id:"233162",title:"Associate Prof.",name:"Sabina",middleName:null,surname:"Silajdzic",slug:"sabina-silajdzic",fullName:"Sabina Silajdzic"},{id:"233367",title:"Prof.",name:"Eldin",middleName:null,surname:"Mehic",slug:"eldin-mehic",fullName:"Eldin Mehic"}]},{id:"59359",title:"Analysis of the Role of Exchange Rate Volatility in Monetary Policy Conduction in OECD Countries: Empirical Evidence from Panel-VAR Models",slug:"analysis-of-the-role-of-exchange-rate-volatility-in-monetary-policy-conduction-in-oecd-countries-emp",totalDownloads:1503,totalCrossrefCites:0,totalDimensionsCites:2,abstract:"In this study, panel vector autoregression (PVAR) models are employed to examine the relationships between industrial production growth rate, consumer price inflation, short-term interest rates, stock returns and exchange rate volatility. More specifically, I explored the consequences of the dynamics detected by the models on monetary policy implementation for 10 OECD countries. This study indicates that factors that may cause a rise in short-term interest rates with respect to the USA can lead to volatility in exchange rates and thus macroeconomic instability. It is also implied that sustaining macroeconomic growth and decreasing inflation can result in increased export performance, which in turn provides the amount of US dollars to curb volatility in US dollar quotations. Accordingly, this study reveals that high importance should be given to both monetary and non-monetary factors in the open-economy framework to detect the possible impacts on trade and capital flows by dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models. Due to their exchange rate risk of economic agents, I also suggest that the economic policy makers of these countries had better create a theoretical framework including financial frictions, economic agents’ preferences and different shocks to smooth the variations in exchange rates and minimise the negative outcomes of Brexit.",book:{id:"6487",slug:"trade-and-global-market",title:"Trade and Global Market",fullTitle:"Trade and Global Market"},signatures:"Oguzhan Ozcelebi",authors:[{id:"226325",title:"Prof.",name:"Oguzhan",middleName:null,surname:"Ozcelebi",slug:"oguzhan-ozcelebi",fullName:"Oguzhan Ozcelebi"}]},{id:"53827",title:"Malaysia and China: The Trade Balances, Foreign Exchanges and Crises Impacts",slug:"malaysia-and-china-the-trade-balances-foreign-exchanges-and-crises-impacts",totalDownloads:2047,totalCrossrefCites:0,totalDimensionsCites:0,abstract:"China appears as the biggest trading partner for ASEAN economies, but it is inconclusive whether the complementarities between China and regional economies offset China’s competitive threat. This study tries to assess if real exchange fluctuations and the demand-supply channels determine the Malaysia-China trade balances in the global crises era, 1997–2010. The finding generally supports the complementary role of China in the Malaysia-China bilateral trading. However, despite the long-run effect of real exchange on trade balances, the Keynesian demand channel was not uphold during and after the global financial crisis—due to the contractionary effect on Malaysian output. The Chinese inflation impact is also not evident following the foreign exchange shocks. Meanwhile, currency devaluation for exports gains is insufficient to sustain Malaysia output expansion against China. Further productivity growth in real and tradable sectors is essentially needed.",book:{id:"5492",slug:"international-trade-on-the-brink-of-change",title:"International Trade",fullTitle:"International Trade - On the Brink of Change"},signatures:"Tze-Haw Chan",authors:[{id:"191390",title:"Dr.",name:"Chan",middleName:null,surname:"Tze-Haw",slug:"chan-tze-haw",fullName:"Chan Tze-Haw"}]},{id:"53059",title:"Brazil in the Twenty-First-Century International Trade: Challenges and Opportunities",slug:"brazil-in-the-twenty-first-century-international-trade-challenges-and-opportunities",totalDownloads:1731,totalCrossrefCites:3,totalDimensionsCites:3,abstract:"This chapter discusses the impacts of globalization on international trade patterns and the required shifts in trade policies. Highlighting the effects of production fragmentation, geographic dispersion and the expansion of global value chains (GVCs), the chapter outlines the Brazilian experience to illustrate the difficulties that various countries face in acknowledging this economic reality and providing appropriate policy responses. It draws on the global value chains literature to analyze Brazil’s foreign trade policies implemented during the recent ruling of the Labor Party (PT) presidents Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff (2003 to 2015), discussing the Brazilian strategy (or the lack of one) to integrate into global value chains. Results of this exercise have led to the conclusion that a non–GVC-oriented trade policy has allowed Brazil to integrate only superficially into globalized international production and commercial flows. The chapter concludes providing an outlook on the policy shifts required for increasing Brazil’s insertion into global value chains and boosting a more prominent role in international trade.",book:{id:"5492",slug:"international-trade-on-the-brink-of-change",title:"International Trade",fullTitle:"International Trade - On the Brink of Change"},signatures:"Susan Elizabeth Martins Cesar de Oliveira",authors:[{id:"191481",title:"Dr.",name:"Susan",middleName:"Elizabeth Martins Cesar De",surname:"Oliveira",slug:"susan-oliveira",fullName:"Susan Oliveira"}]}],onlineFirstChaptersFilter:{topicId:"72",limit:6,offset:0},onlineFirstChaptersCollection:[],onlineFirstChaptersTotal:0},preDownload:{success:null,errors:{}},subscriptionForm:{success:null,errors:{}},aboutIntechopen:{},privacyPolicy:{},peerReviewing:{},howOpenAccessPublishingWithIntechopenWorks:{},sponsorshipBooks:{sponsorshipBooks:[],offset:8,limit:8,total:0},allSeries:{pteSeriesList:[{id:"14",title:"Artificial Intelligence",numberOfPublishedBooks:8,numberOfPublishedChapters:87,numberOfOpenTopics:6,numberOfUpcomingTopics:0,issn:"2633-1403",doi:"10.5772/intechopen.79920",isOpenForSubmission:!0},{id:"7",title:"Biomedical Engineering",numberOfPublishedBooks:12,numberOfPublishedChapters:98,numberOfOpenTopics:3,numberOfUpcomingTopics:0,issn:"2631-5343",doi:"10.5772/intechopen.71985",isOpenForSubmission:!0}],lsSeriesList:[{id:"11",title:"Biochemistry",numberOfPublishedBooks:27,numberOfPublishedChapters:286,numberOfOpenTopics:4,numberOfUpcomingTopics:0,issn:"2632-0983",doi:"10.5772/intechopen.72877",isOpenForSubmission:!0},{id:"25",title:"Environmental Sciences",numberOfPublishedBooks:1,numberOfPublishedChapters:9,numberOfOpenTopics:4,numberOfUpcomingTopics:0,issn:"2754-6713",doi:"10.5772/intechopen.100362",isOpenForSubmission:!0},{id:"10",title:"Physiology",numberOfPublishedBooks:11,numberOfPublishedChapters:139,numberOfOpenTopics:4,numberOfUpcomingTopics:0,issn:"2631-8261",doi:"10.5772/intechopen.72796",isOpenForSubmission:!0}],hsSeriesList:[{id:"3",title:"Dentistry",numberOfPublishedBooks:8,numberOfPublishedChapters:129,numberOfOpenTopics:0,numberOfUpcomingTopics:2,issn:"2631-6218",doi:"10.5772/intechopen.71199",isOpenForSubmission:!1},{id:"6",title:"Infectious Diseases",numberOfPublishedBooks:13,numberOfPublishedChapters:105,numberOfOpenTopics:3,numberOfUpcomingTopics:1,issn:"2631-6188",doi:"10.5772/intechopen.71852",isOpenForSubmission:!0},{id:"13",title:"Veterinary Medicine and Science",numberOfPublishedBooks:9,numberOfPublishedChapters:101,numberOfOpenTopics:3,numberOfUpcomingTopics:0,issn:"2632-0517",doi:"10.5772/intechopen.73681",isOpenForSubmission:!0}],sshSeriesList:[{id:"22",title:"Business, Management and Economics",numberOfPublishedBooks:1,numberOfPublishedChapters:11,numberOfOpenTopics:2,numberOfUpcomingTopics:1,issn:null,doi:"10.5772/intechopen.100359",isOpenForSubmission:!0},{id:"23",title:"Education and Human Development",numberOfPublishedBooks:0,numberOfPublishedChapters:0,numberOfOpenTopics:2,numberOfUpcomingTopics:0,issn:null,doi:"10.5772/intechopen.100360",isOpenForSubmission:!1},{id:"24",title:"Sustainable Development",numberOfPublishedBooks:0,numberOfPublishedChapters:9,numberOfOpenTopics:4,numberOfUpcomingTopics:1,issn:null,doi:"10.5772/intechopen.100361",isOpenForSubmission:!0}],testimonialsList:[{id:"6",text:"It is great to work with the IntechOpen to produce a worthwhile collection of research that also becomes a great educational resource and guide for future research endeavors.",author:{id:"259298",name:"Edward",surname:"Narayan",institutionString:null,profilePictureURL:"https://mts.intechopen.com/storage/users/259298/images/system/259298.jpeg",slug:"edward-narayan",institution:{id:"3",name:"University of Queensland",country:{id:null,name:"Australia"}}}},{id:"13",text:"The collaboration with and support of the technical staff of IntechOpen is fantastic. The whole process of submitting an article and editing of the submitted article goes extremely smooth and fast, the number of reads and downloads of chapters is high, and the contributions are also frequently cited.",author:{id:"55578",name:"Antonio",surname:"Jurado-Navas",institutionString:null,profilePictureURL:"https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/intech-files/0030O00002bRisIQAS/Profile_Picture_1626166543950",slug:"antonio-jurado-navas",institution:{id:"720",name:"University of Malaga",country:{id:null,name:"Spain"}}}}]},series:{item:{id:"24",title:"Sustainable Development",doi:"10.5772/intechopen.100361",issn:null,scope:"