2.3.2. Subjective Norm (SN)

The TPB model's second determinant of behavior is SN [22]. It is defined as the perceived social pressure to perform or not to perform the behavior [46]. The purpose of this factor is to analyze the role of social pressure on an individual's decision to behave in a particular way, including the subject's specific perception of this passively imposed public opinion pressure and the subjective willingness to conform to this public opinion expectation [47,48]. Norm activation theory (NAT) has been applied to explain SCB, arguing that the direct antecedent of individuals' implementation of SCB is subjective norms [49–51]. A series of studies by social psychologists such as Schultz [52], Nolan [53] and Goldstein [54] have shown that individuals engage in SCB significantly more often when they are told that the vast majority of people or their surrounding neighbors are engaging in similar behaviors than when the benefits of environmental protection are simply promoted. Based on the above discussion, the following hypotheses have been postulated:

**H2a.** *SN is positively related to green purchase behavior (PUR).*

**H2b.** *SN is positively related to green transportation behavior (TRAN).*

**H2c.** *SN is positively related to recycling and resource conservation behavior (REC).*

#### 2.3.3. Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC)

PBC reflects the role of past experiences and expected hindrances in influencing individuals' specific behavioral decisions [22]. Hines et al. [41] used meta-analysis to synthesize previous research on SCB and indicated that consumers who have PBC believe that they can influence the environment and are more inclined to adopt SCB.

PBC can be divided into two components: self-efficacy [55] and perceived controllability [56]. The former refers to the conviction that one could successfully perform a specific behavior based on the consumer's perceived effectiveness and knowledge of SCB. The latter is the individual's assessment of the impact of these factors in facilitating or hindering

specific behaviors [22]. Higher perceived behavioral controllability promotes SCB based on a survey of 626 consumers [57]. The findings of Kim et al. using structural model equations suggest that the higher the perceived behavioral controllability of consumers, the higher the likelihood of actually engaging in SCB [58]. Based on the above discussion, the following hypotheses have been postulated:

**H3a.** *PBC is positively related to green purchase behavior (PUR).*

**H3b.** *PBC is positively related to green transportation behavior (TRAN).*

**H3c.** *PBC is positively related to recycling and resource conservation behavior (REC).*


**5. Conclusions**

We have given a new proof of a roughness result for linear systems with an exponential dichotomy different than the one in [8]. This new proof has the advantage that it is is more direct, can be easily extended to system having an exponential dichotomy on the whole line and gives a precise estimate on the norm of the difference of the projections of the dichotomies of the perturbed and the unperturbed system. Moreover it extends also to more general situations. Indeed the assumptions that sup*t*∈*I*|*B*(*t*)| < *ε* is used just to prove that the map

$$\mathbf{x}(t) \mapsto X(t)P\xi + \int\_0^\infty \Gamma(t,s)B(s)\mathbf{x}(s)ds\omega$$

where

$$\Gamma(t,s) = \begin{cases} X(t)PX(s)^{-1} & \text{if } 0 \le s \le t \\\ -X(t)(\mathbb{I}-P)X(s)^{-1} & \text{if } 0 \le t < s\_\tau \end{cases}$$

is a contraction on *C*0*b*. According to [7] this holds also under the weaker assumption that

$$\inf\_{t,T>0} \sup\_{t\geq 0} \int\_{t}^{t+T} |B(s)| ds \left(\frac{k}{1 - e^{-aT}} + \frac{k}{1 - e^{-\beta T}}\right) < 1\tag{10}$$

and the fixed point *x*(*t*,*s*) satisfies again *x* ≤ *C*|*ξ*|, for a suitable constant *C*. The remaining part of the proof showing that this fixed point indeed belongs to *C*0*δ* just depends on the fact that |*B*(*t*)| ∈ *L*1(R+). Hence Theorem 3 holds also under the weaker condition (10) instead of sup*t*≥0|*B*(*t*)| < *ε*.

**Author Contributions:** Investigation, M.F.; Methodology, F.B. The contributions of all authors are equal. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript .

**Funding:** Partially supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract No. APVV-18-0308 and by the Slovak Grant Agency VEGA No. 1/0358/20 and No. 2/0127/20.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.


**2. Background and Related Work**

This section introduces how ENF can be generated from multimedia streams and how ENF can be used for the environmental fingerprint. Following that, we describe typical consensus protocols in blockchain and provide related work on IoT-blockchain integration.

## *2.1. ENF as a Region-of-Recording Fingerprint*

ENF is the supply frequency in power distribution grids, which has a nominal frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz depending on the location of the power grids. Due to environmental effects in the grid such as load variations and control mechanisms, the instantaneous ENF usually fluctuates around its nominal value. At a given time, variation trends of ENF fluctuations from all locations of the same grid are almost identical due to the interconnected nature of the grid [13]. ENF fluctuations are embedded in audio/video recordings either due to electromagnetic induction or background hum from devices connected to the power grid [14]. Thanks to the consistency and reliability of ENF at a time instant, ENF has been adopted as a forensic tool for identifying forgeries in multimedia recordings. All ENF signals estimated from simultaneous multimedia recordings at different locations have similar fluctuations throughout the power grid. Thus, there are multiple forensic applications based on ENF, such as validating the time-of-recording of an ENF-containing multimedia signal [14] and estimating its location-of-recording [15].

In IoVT systems, ENF signals extracted from video recordings are in the form of illumination frequency (120 Hz). The video recordings made under indoor artificial light include ENF fluctuations. The estimation of ENF signals depends on the type of imaging sensor used in a camera. The most commonly used imaging sensors are complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOSs) and charge-coupled device (CCD) sensors, which have different shutter mechanisms. In this work, we assume that ENF signals are extracted from video recordings generated by cameras with CMOS imaging sensors in an indoor setting with artificial light [11,16]. The estimation of ENF involves various signal processing techniques such as power spectral analysis and spectrogram-based techniques, which are beyond the scope of this paper.


*4.2.3 Magnetic resonance imaging*

*Liver Disease and Surgery*

**Figure 3.**

**Figure 4.**

*Heterogeneous matrix. Ball of wool sign (CE4).*

areas with high risk of affectation [30, 32, 33]. Due to the difficult differentiation of certain forms of alveolar echinococcosis from other kinds of hepatic tumors, CEUS is being increasingly used in certain regions with endemic affectation of

Sometimes, the ultrasound does not help much in the diagnosis of liver hydatidosis for different reasons, such as obesity, presence of abundant intestinal gas, hydatid recurrence, or residual cavities secondary to previous surgery. When that is the case, CT is used, taking advantage of its higher sensitivity and specificity. Unenhanced CT allows to have a better radiological diagnosis of the different forms of cyst calcification [33]. The contrast-enhanced CT aids in choosing the best surgical techniques according to the different forms of presentation or complications related to the disease, e.g., by allowing a more accurate appreciation of the involvement of the vasculature and biliary tree. CT also aids in diagnosing the cystic migration to the thorax and the biliary tree [35, 36]. Another advantage of the use of contrast-enhanced CT is to achieve a better differential diagnosis from other

**154**

this pathology [34].

*4.2.2 Computed tomography*

focal liver lesions [37] (**Figures 5–11A**, **B**).

*Calcified anterior wall of cyst. Arciform image (white arrow).*

MRI is useful for diagnosis of cases of cholangiohydatidosis. Compared to US and CT, the MRI T2-weighted sequence is better at defining the internal structure of the cyst. In general, it is indicated for patients that present difficulties when performing ultrasound, such as bowel gas excess, previous surgeries, disseminated hydatidosis, and obesity. In addition, MRI is recommended when CT is contraindicated due to comorbidities. MRC is used to determine the existence of cysto-biliary fistula and the presence of hydatid material in the biliary tree. It also visualizes the cysto-biliary fistula both toward the bronchi and to the biliary tree [38, 39] (**Figures 11a**, **b**–**17**).


*Supporting open minds since 2005*

Quantum Dots - Fundamental and Applications http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83206 Edited by Faten Divsar

#### Contributors

Ramalingam Gopal, Poopathy Kathikamanagthan, Ganasen Ravi, Elangovan Thanagvel, Bojarajan Arjun Kumar, Anatolii Isaev, Ning Tu, Dmitry Biryukov, Anatoly Zatsepin, Faten Divsar

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**2. Origins of research in the area**

Perhaps the first formal and scientific mention of female sexual deviancy was in *Psychopatia Sexualis* by Richard von Krafft-Ebing in 1886. Standing as a reference in law and psychiatry by classifying case studies regarding sexually related psychopathology, this work popularized terms such as sadism and masochism. It introduced satyriasis, which is the idea that females sought sexual contact with males of all ages, including children [7]. This case-based work started the conversation about female child sexual offending. When focused on the topic of pedophilia, von Krafft-Ebing only mentioned one case involving a female who sent her children away out of fear she would molest them [7].

It is important to note that this discussion began in the Victorian Era, which was known for socially imposed perspectives on gender and sexuality. As the research progressed, some suggested that female perversions were related to mental disease or defect. Women could be "sexual criminals" who could sexually abuse and exploit children [8, 9]. Due to the emerging popularity and support of psychoanalytic approaches, it was not until the introduction of Freud's work that understanding the patterns and motivations of female sexual offending began to change [10].

## **3. Prominent theoretical influence**

The most prominent theoretical influences in female sex offender research are *Behaviorist* and *Psychodynamic*, and both are prominent throughout modern literature. Together, these theoretical perspectives prove helpful when investigating this phenomenon.

The Freudian concept of the Oedipal complex might have served as a source of confusion and a reason for the lack of investigation in female sexual offending cases for many years [10]. With that said, psychodynamics' positive contribution is much more evident in the more recent literature. The application of psychodynamic theory in exploring female sexual offenders focuses on the offender herself and the personal deficits that may drive the sexual offending behavior [11]. This approach emphasizes how the subconscious mind stimulates behavior and how deficits are a product of a failure to resolve earlier life problems [11].

Exploring female sexual offending behaviors through the behaviorist lens that tends to describe a person's behavior as a byproduct of life events or antecedents focuses on the behavior itself rather than the deficits of the individual [11]. In opposition to the conventional psychodynamic view, some suggest a separation of behavior and the mind [12]. Put simply, behaviorist approaches focus on how an individual has been conditioned to behave in a particular manner due to trauma and other life events. As opposed to an internalized developmental deficit, the individual's behavior can be conceptualized as a byproduct of their conditioning [11].


**1. Introduction**

The increasing demand of water resources in the world is the main problem for the sustainable utilization of water resources [1]. Water scarcity is mainly caused by over-exploitation of water resources, population growth, pollution, and increasing demand for economic development [2,3]. The ever-increasing population and economic development put more stress on the hydrological cycle

and water resources, particularly in the river basin [1]. These pressures also cause the decline of available water resources in the basin. Climate change has also affected the hydrological cycles and water resources [4,5]. Recently, water resources allocation got much attention across the globe since climate change and population growth pushed to their natural limits [6]. Still, the scope of the problem becomes a research area in many regions of the world [7–16].

Efficient and optimal allocation of water resources plays a great role in balancing the demand and supply of water resources based on economic development [2]. However, the allocation fails to meet the acquired demand when the water demand exceeds the available water. The problems become worse with increasing water demand and economic growth.

The Awash River Basin is the most utilized basin in Ethiopia. It covers a total area of 114,123 km2 that encompasses five regional states; Amhara, Oromia, Afar, SNNP, and Somali including two administrative councils, Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa [17]. The mean annual rainfall of the basin ranges from 100 to 1700 mm with great spatiotemporal variation. The basin also has a potential of 8.2 BCM and 10.3 BCM surface and groundwater, respectively, with 300 m exploration [18]. The temporal variation shares 71% and 29% of the rainy season (June to October) and dry season (November to May) respectively. The Awash River is the biggest contributor of water for the Awash River Basin. The river basin water is becoming scarce due to increasing demands and poor water resources management [19]. Hence, there is a need to allocate the water among the demanding sectors and to build water storage systems such as water harvesting, reservoirs, and dams. Water resources management models play a great role in addressing the water shortage of river basins by formulating prior allocation of water rights [20–22].

Nowadays, a water resource is modeled with various models such as MODSIM [23], WAS [20], CWAM [24], WEAP [25], and MOEA [6]. In this study, the water evaluation and planning (WEAP) model was chosen as it incorporates different hydrological components in data scarce areas, and because of its flexibility, simplicity, inclusiveness, and possibility of modeling the impact of climate change scenario on reservoirs and evaluating water resources using a scenario-based system. The model also simulated domestic, irrigation, and ecological water consumption in time and space as compared to other allocation models. The WEAP model resolves problems faced by water resources managers and planners using a scenario-based system by providing a set of objects and procedures which can be applied to reservoirs, river basins, and watersheds [19,26].

Previously, several distributed hydrological models have been applied to the Awash River Basin to model the hydrological characteristics. For example, Berhe et al. (2012), modeled the Awash River Basin using the MODSIM based allocation model under three different scenarios and the findings suggested that the model could be effective for water allocation [23]. Adeba et al. (2015), also tried to assess the water scarcity of the basin using the SWAT model [25]. Similarly, Mesfin et al. (2018), modeled the upper Awash River Basin using the SWAT model to evaluate the climate forecast system reanalysis weather data for watershed modeling [27]. Karimi, P., et al. (2015) [28], investigated the spatial evapotranspiration, rainfall, and land use data in water accounting that focused on the impact of the error in remote sensing measurements on water accounting and information provided to policymakers.

The studies done so far do not accurately model the water resources of the basin to allocate and address the water scarcity. Therefore, this study assessed the water scarcity of the basin under irrigation expansion and climate change scenarios for sustainable availability of water in the basin in the future. Furthermore, the study strengthened the concept that improving integrated water resources management through optimal and efficient water resources allocation is the key to overcoming the water shortage during dry periods.

Therefore, this paper aimed to develop a water allocation model to allocate the water supplies to demanding sectors based on an economic parameter to maximize the economic benefits.


**2.5 Ceftriaxone-associated biliary pseudolithiasis**

Ceftriaxone, is a third-generation cephalosporin, and is commonly used as broad-spectrum antibiotic in children. Gall stones or biliary sludge has been reported as a complication of ceftriaxone treatment since long [25]. The incidence of ceftriaxone induced pseudolithiasis is variable from 15–45%, depending on dose, duration and predisposing host factors [26–30]. Since biliary lithiasis is reversible and disappears on discontinuation of drug it has been termed pseudolithiasis [31]. Ceftriaxone is 40% excreted via bile, as an anion it concentrates in bile easily and readily forms an insoluble salt with calcium [calcium-ceftriaxone] that precipitates in gallbladder [32]. The predisposing risk factors for ceftriaxone induced biliary lithiasis are, high dose (>2 g or >200 mg/kg/day), long-term treatment, hypercalcemia, renal failure, and gallbladder stasis [33]. The mechanism of ceftriaxone induced lithiasis is explained in **Figure 1**. Most cases of ceftriaxone induced pseudolithiasis are asymptomatic and detected on sonography. If cholelithiasis is symptomatic, discontinuation of drug is to be done but in incidentally detected asymptomatic cases of there is no need to stop drug. Usually these sludge/stones appear after one week of therapy and disappear after two weeks of discontinuation of therapy, however the time duration may vary with patient [34, 35].


**3. Conclusion**

**2.3. cfDNA genetic variations**

40 Liquid Biopsy

*2.3.2. Mutation of cfDNA*

*2.3.3. SNP of cfDNA*

associated with traditional [63, 64].

**2.4. cfDNA methylation as epigenetic biomarker**

*2.3.1. Copy-number variations of cfDNA*

Cell-free DNA generates from apoptosis or necrosis cells and contains the same genetic variations with intra-tissues. cfDNA is widely used as a genetic biomarker for disease diagnosis and monitoring by detection of the copy-number variations, SNPs, and mutation occurred in cfDNA.

Copy-number variations (CNV) are always associated with the occurrence of complex disorders. The CNV of urine cfDNA in advanced prostate cancer patients is significantly associated with tumor burden, and the CNV change after stage-specific therapies reflected disease progression status and overall survival [51]. Copy-number variations of HLA-DRB5 in 135 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients were higher than that in 219 healthy controls and were associated with the risk of SLE. The copy-number at 6p21.32 is aberrant in the majority of SLE patients [52]. In the plasma of neuroblastoma patients, the copy-number alterations of cfDNA displayed concordant high patterns and can be used as a cost-effective, noninvasive,

Mutation is a widespread phenomenon in biology, the effect of which is permanent alteration of nucleotide sequence. Mutations play a vital role in both normal and abnormal biological processes, such as evolution and cancer. Many studies display that the mutation detection in cfDNA will enable noninvasive tumor diagnosis and monitoring with higher sensitivity and specificity in advance [54, 55]. Many patients with advanced lung cancers that are resistant to AZD9291 therapy carried *EGFR C797S* mutation in cfDNA [56]. EGFR mutations in cfDNA were significantly associated with overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and response to therapy in the EURTAC trial. The EGFR L858R mutations in cfDNA proved to be a novel prognostic marker [57]. In melanoma, BRAF mutation in cfDNA can be detected earlier than primary lesion [58]. KRAS mutation in cfDNA for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) provided a new diagnostic marker and could optimize therapeutic strategies for patients [59].

Single-nucleotide polymorphism is a variation in a single nucleotide occurring in the genome at a specific position. Detection of SNP in circulating cell-free DNA has been widely used in prenatal screening. The detection of SNP located in SRY gene or TSPY gene in Y chromosome proved to be a highly accurate and clinically applicable noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) marker for fetal gender determination [60–62]. The study reported first trimester contingent screening used nuchal translucency and cell-free DNA, the latter has higher detection rate that is up to 98% for trisomy 21, but noninvasive prenatal testing will not be cost-effective

Epigenetic modifications are heritable molecular events that affect gene expression without changing DNA sequences, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and so on.

rapid, robust, and sensitive biomarker for neuroblastoma prognosis [53].

At present, cfDNA has been used as an independent marker for prenatal screening and also has great applicable value in the disease prognosis and monitoring, particularly in cancer. When the concentration of cfDNA is above a baseline 30 ng/ml and is closed to hundreds or even thousands ng/ml, or/and when the size of cfDNA is obviously short and displays ladder pattern, or/and when vital genetic and epigenetic mutations are reported in cfDNA, patients should be recommended for further examination. The appearance of cfDNA conforms to the current trend of precision medicine in the disease and achieves accurate diagnosis and precise treatment. However, there are many challenges in the real clinic applications. Firstly, the detected method is not uniform and the standardization process is lacking [72]. Secondly, the level of cfDNA can be too low, so the detection technology needs to be improved to increase the sensitivity and specificity [73, 74].

The study of cfDNA is still in its infancy, and a lot of in-depth research is needed to further confirm its clinical application value.


**mTOR Signaling in Metabolism and Cancer**

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