Urban Infrastructure and Resilient, Sustainable Buildings
This Reprint brings together cutting-edge research on sustainable buildings and resilient infrastructures. It explores how intelligence, decarbonization, and resilience can serve as foundational pillars to address the challenges of climate change, disaster risks, and social uncertainty in cities.
Lightning Nerds and Gearheads
Rich in insight and gorgeously written, Lightning Nerds and Gearheads is a layperson's glimpse into engineering. Through author Bob Cowin's six conversations with people in the profession-including a marine engineer, an electrical engineer, and everything in between-Lightning Nerds and Gearheads touches on what makes engineers tick, what draws them into the profession, and perhaps most fascinating of all, how they facilitate the systems and processes which make our modern world possible.Incisive, thought-provoking, and written in captivating prose, this book is sure to make an original addition to the bookshelves of anyone interested in the subject of engineering-and, as it goes to show, we all should be.
Lightning Nerds and Gearheads
Rich in insight and gorgeously written, Lightning Nerds and Gearheads is a layperson's glimpse into engineering. Through author Bob Cowin's six conversations with people in the profession-including a marine engineer, an electrical engineer, and everything in between-Lightning Nerds and Gearheads touches on what makes engineers tick, what draws them into the profession, and perhaps most fascinating of all, how they facilitate the systems and processes which make our modern world possible.Incisive, thought-provoking, and written in captivating prose, this book is sure to make an original addition to the bookshelves of anyone interested in the subject of engineering-and, as it goes to show, we all should be.
The 2025 Suwon ITS Asia Pacific Forum
This Reprint features selected papers from the 2025 Suwon ITS AP Forum, held from May 28 to 30, 2025, at the Suwon Convention Center in South Korea. Gathering over 4,000 experts and practitioners in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs), the Forum served as a leading platform for advancing innovation and collaboration in the field. Under the theme "Hyper-Connected Cities by ITS," it explored the transformative role of ITS in shaping smart and seamlessly connected urban environments. The articles in this Reprint highlight cutting-edge technologies, global leadership, and the integration of mobility, data, and infrastructure to promote efficient and sustainable urban development.
Advanced Fracturing Technology for Oil and Gas Reservoir Stimulation
Fossil energy-coal-bed methane, shale oil, shale gas, and natural gas hydrates-significantly contribute to the world's energy production. This Reprint aims to disseminate the latest research on how advanced fracturing technologies unlock these resources. It covers the characterization of pre-fracture reservoirs, fracture propagation mechanics across diverse geologies, hydraulic-natural fracture interaction, proppant transport and placement optimization, and the design of fracturing fluid systems and injection parameters. The studies herein provide a concise, state-of-the-art resource for researchers, engineers, and industry professionals seeking to maximize recovery from complex reservoirs, serving as a reference for research in related or relevant areas.
Sustainable Concrete Materials and Resilient Structures
The escalating climate crisis underscores the urgent need for construction practices that are both sustainable and resilient. As the most widely used construction material worldwide, concrete remains indispensable for enabling safer, stronger, and more durable infrastructures, from buildings and bridges to lifeline systems. Beyond its unmatched versatility, concrete offers unique potential to advance the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by fostering disaster-resilient, low-maintenance, and cost-effective solutions that address global social, economic, and environmental challenges.This Reprint, originating from the Special Issue of Applied Sciences, presents a curated collection of innovative research on sustainable concrete technologies and resilient structural systems. Contributions span innovative material design, advanced performance assessment, durability enhancement, and eco-efficient applications, collectively pushing the boundaries of knowledge and practice in civil and structural engineering. By integrating sustainability with resilience, the Reprint highlights transformative pathways toward reducing the carbon footprint of construction while strengthening society's capacity to withstand natural and human-induced hazards.Serving as a timely reference for academics, researchers, graduate students, and practitioners, this Reprint provides both foundational insights and forward-looking strategies to inspire the next generation of sustainable and resilient infrastructure.
Trends and Challenges in Power System Stability and Control
As the energy landscape transforms under mounting pressures of decarbonization, grid modernization, and climate resilience, the stability and control of power systems have come into sharper focus. This Special Issue collects works on recent advances that confront the key technical challenges posed by the increasing penetration of renewables, distributed generation, and real-time operational complexity.Under the leadership of Guest Editors Prof. Ke Xu (Nanjing Institute of Technology) and Prof. Yuan Liao (University of Kentucky), the Issue solicited contributions that push the frontier of power system control theory, stability analysis, and practical control strategies. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: Frequency and voltage stability in hybrid and renewable-rich grids;Control coordination among multiple devices (e.g., energy storage, converter interfaces, FACTS);Advanced forecasting, system operation, and real-time control;Protection schemes and resilience under faults and disturbances;Optimization, intelligent techniques, and AI/ML methods in stabilization;Microgrid dynamics, islanding behavior, and distributed control;Integration of power system protection, stability, and control under uncertainty.This Special Issue aims to strengthen synergies between control theory and power system engineering practice, weaving a narrative that encourages new dialogues across academia, industry, and system operators.
Buildings' Thermal Performance and Energy Efficiency for a Sustainable Construction
This Reprint, Buildings' Thermal Performance and Energy Efficiency for a Sustainable Construction, addresses one of the most pressing challenges of our time: reducing the energy consumption and carbon emissions of the building sector while ensuring human comfort and resilience. Buildings account for a large share of global energy use, and their thermal performance plays a central role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This Reprint brings together original research and reviews that explore the interplay between microclimatic conditions, building design, and energy-saving technologies. These contributions span a wide spectrum, including microclimatic evaluations of elevated open spaces, optimization of settlement layouts in cold climates, innovative fa癟ade strategies for outdoor comfort, and quantitative assessments of low-carbon technologies in urban environments. Further studies analyze solar-shading indicators, architectural morphology for ventilation efficiency, and the coordination between land urbanization, energy use, and carbon emissions. Finally, a user-centered approach highlights how participatory design can enhance age-friendly and socially sustainable public spaces. Collectively, these works demonstrate the importance of integrating thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and environmental adaptation in sustainable construction, serving as a valuable reference for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking innovative strategies to foster climate-resilient and human-centered built environments.
Millimeter-Wave Antennas for 5G
Fifth generation (5G) wireless communication technology will revolutionize communication, enabling faster data transfer, lower latency, and increased capacity. The Special Issue focuses on the latest millimeter-wave antennas for 5G wireless communication, covering topics related to their design and application, including basic elements, antenna arrays, beamforming, and integration with other 5G system components. Antennas are essential parts of wireless communication systems, including sensor networks. Moreover, 5G technology is expected to revolutionize wireless sensor networks, and millimeter-wave antennas for 5G wireless communication play a crucial role in their development and deployment. The advancements in millimeter-wave antennas for 5G wireless communication can also have a significant impact on the development and deployment of RFID-based sensor systems.
Computational Methods in Structural Engineering
This Reprint brings together nine contributions that showcase the latest advances in computational methods applied to structural engineering. It includes an introductory editorial and eight original research articles covering topics such as nonlinear finite element modeling under extreme loads, advanced plate and composite analysis, explainable machine learning for material characterization, predictive models for curved beams, stochastic approaches for uncertainty quantification, and data-driven signal processing for structural health monitoring. Collectively, these works demonstrate how computational tools, from high-precision numerical schemes to artificial intelligence, are shaping the analysis, design, and optimization of modern structures. The Reprint highlights both the opportunities and the challenges of integrating advanced computation into engineering practice, providing researchers and professionals with insights into methods that enhance safety, efficiency, and innovation in the built environment.
Reliability of Power Electronics Devices and Converter Systems
Power electronics, such as renewable energy generation systems, electric vehicles, and smart grids, are key in energy conversion and management. However, industrial experience indicates that the power converter is one of the weakest components in the system. Thus, there is a pressing need to improve the reliability of power converters and reduce the system downtime induced by the failure of power converters. The failure mechanism, thermal network model, junction temperature estimation, lifetime prediction, condition monitoring, and power electronics system thermal control are becoming increasingly important.
Remote Sensing, Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning in Hydraulic Structure Safety Monitoring
With the gradual transformation of hydraulic engineering from digitization and intelligence to WISDOM, remote sensing technology, artificial intelligence and deep learning methods have been widely used for automatic perception, processing, storage and analysis of hydraulic structure engineering monitoring data. The advent of remote sensing technologies such as three-dimensional tilt photography offers the opportunity to build an integrated hydraulic engineering monitoring and acquisition system that is capable of capturing all the details of hydraulic engineering. With the introduction of artificial intelligence and deep learning methods, hydraulic engineering information has been analyzed and exploited efficiently. Combined with traditional hydraulic structure behavior analysis methods, such as geotechnical testing and numerical simulation, artificial intelligence and deep learning methods can help solve more complex hydraulic engineering problems by providing more accurate and professional intelligent analysis and ubiquitous hydraulic engineering services of great theoretical importance and application value in order to achieve the general improvement of the safety monitoring of hydraulic structures.
Use of Modern Materials in Technological Processes Accompanied by Frictional Heating (Volume II)
This reprint contains 9 articles published in the Special Issue "Use of Modern Materials in Technological Processes Accompanied by Frictional Heating (Volume II)". The contributions can be divided into five thematic groups: (1) analytical models of frictional heating in layered systems, including coatings made of functionally graded materials (FGMs) and their comparison with homogeneous materials; (2) experimental and theoretical studies on friction stir welding and the influence of residual stresses and microstructure on fatigue crack growth in welded joints, as well as stress concentration in cruciform joints; (3) the development and optimization of flame-retardant cellulose-based fabrics with potential applications in protective textiles; (4) the use of friction surfacing to produce high-performance coatings, with a comparative analysis against conventional deposition methods; (5) tribological behavior of graphite/copper composites under current-carrying conditions in marine environments, with a focus on wear mechanisms and electrochemical effects.
The Body Digital
A dazzling tour of the history of technology and its complex relationship to the human body What is the relationship between our bodies and our senses and technology? In today's world of blinding technological change, of artificial intelligence and deepfakes and Chat GPT, it is easy to forget that we have always had complicated relations with technology--whether that technology is computers, player pianos, and even eyeglasses. In this wide-ranging and fascinating study, Vanessa Chang takes us on a historical tour of the interactions between our bodies and machines, showing that the advent of new technologies has always been met with varied reactions, from misplaced fear to tragic over-optimism. The result is cultural critique of the highest order and a profound demonstration of the eternal truth that in order to understand the future, we must look to the past.
Applications of Fractional-Order Systems to Automatic Control
Fractional-order systems have been applied in diverse areas of science and engineering. Fractional-order calculus is a generalization of the integration and differentiation operators to non-integer order. Factional order provides additional flexibility and adjustments to operation specifications. In automatic control, fractional systems allow forms of response that are impossible to achieve with classical control, e.g., improvements in noise measurement attenuation without unnecessarily deteriorating the disturbance rejection properties and, consequently, the time response of the closed-loop system.The focus of this Special Issue is to showcase advances in research on topics related to the theory, design, implementation, and application of fractional-order systems in automatic control.
A Brown & Sharpe Catalogue Collection, 1868-1899
Anyone who collects or studies 19th century machine tools and machinist s tools will be delighted with the three catalogs that are reprinted in this valuable book. They include the 1868 catalog, the first offered by the newly formed Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Co. and also the first to offer products from its related company, Darling, Brown & Sharpe. The next catalog, issued in 1887, contains a much larger range of products, reflecting the company s rapid expansion. The last catalog, issued in 1899, is dedicated to machinist s tools only. No collector or industrial historian should be without this collection, unless, of course, he is fortunate enough to own the originals.
Emerging Micro Manufacturing Technologies and Applications, 2nd Edition
Manufacturing micro-components has become a key area of interest for research, owing to the growing demand for miniaturized components and assemblies and a series of applications across multiple industrial sectors. The drive towards miniaturization is especially critical in industrial sectors like medical, consumer electronics, optics, and general engineering. These sectors drive the development of processes that can deliver components with sub-micron accuracy and flawless surface quality. Manufacturing processes like additive manufacturing, drawing, and electrochemical machining have been adapted to meet the requirements of microscale production, whilst on the other hand, processes like electrochemical deposition and electroforming have been developed with micromachining in mind. Research in the field, as in most manufacturing fields, has focused on the development of robust processes and simulation models that can lead to the optimization of micromanufacturing processes. Building upon the success of the first edition of the Emerging Micro Manufacturing Technologies and Applications Special Issue, this second edition will continue to explore recent advances in the field. This issue features eight original research papers covering topics including microelectronic device manufacturing, surface property modification, and additive manufacturing.
Structural Seismic Design and Evaluation
Due to significant structural damage resulting from the occurrence of strong earthquakes in recent decades, researchers worldwide have directed their attention to addressing various issues related to structural seismic design and evaluation (SSDE) for different types of structures, including bridges, dams, and steel and concrete buildings. In this Reprint, we present the results of several investigations in both traditional and emerging subdisciplines within this broader field, summarizing recent advancements in the improvement of SSDE.
The AI Paradox
The AI Paradox: Innovation, Ethics, and the Future of Humanity explores the transformative power of artificial intelligence across industries, governance, and society while confronting the ethical dilemmas and unforeseen risks it presents. As AI revolutionizes automation, healthcare, finance, and public administration, it enhances efficiency, decision-making, and predictive capabilities-but at what cost? This book delves into the intricate balance between AI-driven innovation and the challenges of bias, data privacy, workforce displacement, and ethical accountability. From AI-powered diagnostics in medicine to predictive policing and algorithmic governance, each chapter examines how AI is reshaping our world while raising profound questions about human oversight, fairness, and long-term societal impact. Can AI truly operate without bias? Will automation displace more jobs than it creates? How do we ensure AI remains a tool for progress rather than control? The AI Paradox presents a compelling analysis of these pressing concerns, offering insights into responsible AI adoption, regulatory frameworks, and the evolving relationship between human intelligence and machine learning. A must-read for policymakers, researchers, business leaders, and tech enthusiasts, this book provides a forward-thinking perspective on navigating the AI-driven future-one where innovation and ethics must go hand in hand to shape a just and sustainable society.
Renewable Energy Systems
Discover the future of energy with our groundbreaking book on Renewable-Based Distribution Systems! Explore how integrating renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydropower is reshaping the way we deliver electricity. This essential read provides in-depth insights into the design, challenges, and innovations driving sustainable energy solutions. Whether you're a professional in the field or an enthusiast of clean energy, this book offers valuable knowledge to help you understand and contribute to the evolution of modern, eco-friendly power distribution systems.
Thermal Management of Low Concentrated Photovoltaics with Heat Sinks encapsulated NePCM
The demand for energy and pollution from fossil fuels are increasing in the 21st century. Research on renewable energies is accelerating to replace conventional energy sources due to energy scarcity and rising pollution levels. A 270 TWh power of photovoltaic (PV) capacity was produced globally in the year of 2023, while it was found to be unstable due to its negative temperature coefficient [0.5 %/oC]. The electrical conversion efficiency of PV is directly proportional to the irradiance level on its surface. Using optical concentrators on the PV surface can enhance the intensity of solar radiation, thereby increasing the power production of concentrated photovoltaics (CPV). Globally, the installed non-concentrated and concentrated capacity will increase to 660 GW and 100 GW, respectively, by the end of 2024. The concentration of solar irradiance on PV depends on the concentration ratio (CR), which refers to the ratio between the area of the concentrator and the area of the solar cell. Concentrated photovoltaic technologies (CPV) are classified into three categories, namely, low concentration ratio (CR 10), and high concentration ratio (CR > 100). The performance of the CPV is significantly influenced by its surface temperature, leading to a 5 % reduction in power output for every 10 ◦C increase in temperature, while increasing the CR. The use of CPV with more than 10CR requires a solar tracker, which increases the total cost and total weight of the system, while the cost and weight of the system can be minimized with the use of LCPV (CPV). This book will be useful for proposing an effective thermal management techniques.
Advanced Optical Technologies for Communications, Perception, and Chips
With iterative upgrades and the frequent application of new information technologies such as 5G, cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence, the global data traffic and the demand for computing power have ushered in explosive growth. Traditional data transmission speeds, information capacity, and chip computing performance can no longer meet the processing needs of big data. Recent progress in optical technologies has highlighted a feasible development route for these contradictions. In particular, optical communication, optical perception, and optical chips are considered to be the most promising research directions. At present, optical communication focuses on core technical issues, including larger bandwidths, lower latency, and smaller packet loss rates, to ensure that high-quality networks meet and support the development of new industries, such as 4K/8K live broadcast, VR/AR, and free-view video; optical perception technology has the advantages of convenient acquisition, low costs, and a large amount of information.This Reprint focuses on the state-of-the-art advancements in optical technologies for communication, perception, and chips. Its scope encompasses digital, electrical, and optical signal processing theories, artificial intelligence, integrated chips, devices, and subsystems/systems, as well as future perspectives.
Advanced Control Techniques for Power Converter and Drives
This Reprint on Advanced Control Techniques for Power Converters and Drives brings together recent advances in controlling power electronic systems and electric drives, with a focus on strategies that improve efficiency, robustness, and real-time feasibility. The collected works cover a wide spectrum of topics, including model predictive and adaptive control, passivity-based approaches, robust PI-PD design, and EMI-aware modulation methods. Special attention is given to nonlinear device modeling, FPGA-based implementations, and the distributed coordination of converters in modern energy systems.Each contribution is supported by simulations and experimental validations, demonstrating how advanced algorithms can be deployed in practical applications ranging from motor drives and renewable integration to distribution networks and aircraft power systems. This Reprint not only summarizes state-of-the-art developments but also highlights the main challenges that remain unresolved, such as incorporating nonlinear and thermal effects into controllers, certifying learning-enabled methods, and ensuring scalable stability in converter-dominated grids.This Reprint serves as a reference for researchers, engineers, and practitioners interested in cutting-edge control solutions for power converters and electric drives, and in the pathways toward their future development and industrial adoption.
Solar Air Heater
This book is an essential resource for researchers focused on assessing the performance of solar flat plate collectors. It provides a comprehensive, step-by-step explanation of the evaluation process, allowing readers to easily follow the method and obtain the desired results.
Recent Advances in Sensor Array Signal Processing and its Applications in Future Communication and Radar
There have been remarkable advancements in sensor array signal processing in recent years, fueled by the growing demand for high-performance communication and radar systems. Sensor arrays, comprising multiple spatially distributed sensors, offer unique capabilities for signal detection, estimation, and spatial processing. Recently, new array signal processing techniques like coprime and nested array signal processing have garnered considerable attention owing to their ability to expand the aperture, enhance the spatial resolution, increase the degrees of freedom, and mitigate mutual coupling. These techniques have applications across diverse domains such as wireless communication, MIMO radar techniques, and satellite navigation.This Reprint aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in sensor array signal processing and their applications, including sparse array design in MIMO radar system, a wideband sparse array system, target localization using multiple arrays, array signal processing enhancement in a multipath environment, and an array-based wireless communication system, to name a few.
Optimizing HR Processes with a Custom Web-Based System
In today's fast-paced digital world, traditional HR processes are no longer enough. HR God: Revolutionizing HR with Web-Based Systems unveils a cutting-edge approach to optimizing HR operations using technology. From streamlining recruitment to automating staff deployment and simplifying document management, this book provides actionable insights on leveraging web-based solutions-particularly WordPress-to transform HR efficiency. Whether you're an HR professional, business leader, or tech enthusiast, this book will equip you with the tools to enhance productivity, reduce manual workload, and future-proof your HR operations. Discover how to take HR to the next level with innovation, automation, and smart digital strategies. The future of HR is here. Are you ready to embrace it?
Refining Confined Space Safety in the Oil Industry
Refining Confined Space Safety in the Oil Industry: An Expert-Driven Approach to Risk Control Measures explores the persistent hazards of confined space work in the oil sector, despite strict regulations and safety protocols. While compliance is essential, accidents and fatalities continue to occur, highlighting the need for a more refined approach to risk control. This book builds upon prior research and applies a mixed Delphi-Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology, engaging experienced safety professionals-including occupational safety technicians, engineers, and ergonomists. These experts leverage their field knowledge, literature reviews, and industry experience to identify the most critical risk factors in confined spaces and the most effective control measures to mitigate them. By combining research and real-world expertise, this book offers a comprehensive, expert-driven framework for improving safety in confined space operations. It serves as an essential resource for safety professionals, engineers, and decision-makers seeking to enhance risk management strategies in the oil industry.
Application of Microfluidics in Cell Manipulation and Biosensing
In recent years, point-of-care applications and high-throughput screening in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries have resulted in the rapid development of microfluidic systems for cell biology and disease diagnostics. The microfluidic method has attracted significant attention in biological and chemical applications, especially in cell manipulation, mixing, and biosensing, due to its distinctive advantages. This Special Issue brings together studies with the following research focuses: a paper-based device for detection purposes, cell concentration by a lamb wave resonator array, a micromixing chip for drug screening, a nano-doped hollow fiber for sensors, exosome separation via DLD and DEP, a trigger valve, an open microfluidic device, and reviews of single-cell sequencing and photonic microfluidic technologies.
Study on Building Energy Efficiency Related to Simulation Models
This Special Issue focuses on the need for advanced simulation techniques and computational methods in improving building energy efficiency. With increasing trends in global energy consumption and the escalating impact of climate change, reliable predictive modeling of building performance and energy consumption has become a critical part of sustainable construction. This Reprint gathers the state-of-the-art research that fills the gap between theoretical modeling and practice in the energy management and environmental performance of buildings. This collection includes a variety of methodological approaches, such as machine learning models for predicting thermal loads and advanced computation methods used to optimize an HVAC system. The presented studies have explored diverse building typologies in diverse climate regions, covering retrofit impact in various climatic regions, energy disaggregation for buildings, and improved methods of thermal bridge analysis. Collectively, these contributions extend the scientific understanding of optimizing building performance using advanced modeling approaches, facilitating the shift toward a net-zero energy future and sustainable development for the building sector.
Future Analysis of Telecom Sector
The given book contains the analysis of the past and the future aspects of the telecom sector present in India. The book describes about the two of the most competitive industries and with the most popular competitors. Which one is Private entity, and the other one is controlled by the Government with a government-controlled entity with decades of experience. Through detailed market insights, financial evaluations, and strategic forecasts, it explores how these giants have shaped the industry and what lies ahead in the era of 5G and digital transformation. A must-read for industry professionals, analysts, and anyone curious about the future of Indian telecom.
Mechanical Properties and Engineering Applications of Special Soils
This reprint aims to immerse the reader in the latest advances in the study of special soils. Geotechnical design and construction all over the world are constantly challenged by a variety of special soils, including residual soil, loess, frozen soil, expansive soil, glacial till, and contaminated soil. The mechanical properties of special soils are significantly different from those of common sedimentary clays and sands, which pose great difficulties for engineering applications. The detailed characterizations of these special soils are of great importance if the related engineering is to be conducted in a secure and economical way. This reprint summarizes the most recent studies of special soils, involving laboratory, field, numerical, and theoretical investigations by scholars from all over the world.
Design Process for Additive Manufacturing
This Reprint presents eleven contributions related to the design process for Additive Manufacturing (AM), gathered during the 2024-2025 period from experts in engineering and science from Germany, the USA, Hungary, Italy, China, Indonesia, Poland, and Ireland. It includes four articles that focus on traditional CAD modeling, four that explore Reverse Engineering (RE) design, and two that analyze the optimization processes involved in 3D printer construction and the materials used. Additionally, this Reprint contains a review that provides information about 4D printing. The articles presented here discuss essential aspects of AM. They emphasize that the AM process, which involves layer-by-layer material deposition, requires careful optimization during both the design and manufacturing stages to achieve the desired properties in the final model, such as strength, accuracy, and surface quality.
Advanced Technologies in Power Quality and Power Disturbance Data Application
This Reprint compiles research from the closed Special Issue "Symmetry in Advanced Technologies in Power Quality and Power Disturbance Data Application" published in the journal Symmetry. It explores the electrical power system as a complex symmetrical network balancing supply and consumption, emphasizing the critical role of power quality (PQ). Key PQ disturbances-including voltage sags, harmonics, transients, and asymmetrical variations-are examined for their impact on system stability and end-user reliability. The volume addresses advanced methods for PQ monitoring, mitigation, and prevention, highlighting the evolving challenge of analyzing these phenomena. Significantly, it investigates how disturbances, leveraged through power-related big data analytics, can provide valuable insights into system health and equipment conditions, transforming traditional PQ management into an opportunity for intelligent diagnostics.
Qualitative-Environmental Aspects to Improve Materials and Processes of Their Formation
Materials is an area of research which spans many fields. Studies on this topic aim to develop innovative materials and detail the specifics of their use. For this reason, new technologies to produce these materials are being developed, which have the specific features of needing both control and to take the right actions to ensure the material's stabilization. Studies mainly refer to the qualitative aspects of the produced materials, and also the processes by which they occur. However, in the age of climate change, these processes should aim not solely to achieve expected quality, but also to ensure environmental protection. For this purpose, it is necessary to search for such solutions which align with the rules of continuous improvement and the philosophy of sustainable development. Dynamic market changes and turbulent areas that both include qualitative-environmental aspects are difficult to control; therefore, it is crucial to make decisions that will ensure the development and improvement of materials and processes in an environmentally safe manner that will, at the same time, meet the expectations of the market. It is this dilemma to which this Special Issue is devoted.
Advanced Biologically Inspired Vision and Its Application
This Special Issue Reprint focuses on advanced biologically inspired vision and its cutting-edge applications, covering interdisciplinary research integrating bionics, computer vision, and engineering. It collects high-quality papers that explore novel bionic vision models, image processing algorithms inspired by biological visual systems, and practical applications in fields such as robotics, medical imaging, and intelligent detection. These studies provide valuable insights for addressing key challenges in artificial vision, promoting the development of bionic vision technology and its industrial transformation. The Reprint will serve as a reference for researchers, engineers, and graduate students in the fields of bionics, computer science, and related engineering disciplines.
Future of Work - AI Augmented Autonomous Decentralised
Who Should Read This Book?This book speaks directly to a diverse audience; management professionals navigating changing workplaces, industry leaders steering organizations through digital transformation, academic leaders guiding educational institutions through technological shifts, ambitious students preparing for AI-integrated careers, and intellectually curious individuals seeking to understand the technological forces reshaping our world.More than a conventional business guide, it offers a compelling exploration of the tech-augmented workplace where Artificial Intelligence transcends its role as a mere tool to become a transformative force fundamentally altering how we think, collaborate, make decisions, and lead. In this emerging era, understanding AI's capabilities, limitations, and implications has shifted from being optional knowledge to an essential competency.The book's foundation rests on more than 50 meticulously selected high-calibre essays, surveys, and research papers published in recent times, primarily during 2024-2025, creating a current and comprehensive intellectual framework that blends cutting-edge scholarship with grounded, actionable insight. Each carefully crafted chapter artfully integrates current data, expert commentary, and thoughtful personal reflection to present a nuanced, practical, and accessible view of AI's growing influence across professional domains and everyday life. Together with its forthcoming companion volume, the book aspires to provide a comprehensive yet deeply human-centered perspective on our rapidly evolving AI landscape-one that acknowledges both tremendous opportunities and meaningful challenges.Future of Work: The Great Organizational Shift1. FROM Centralized Hierarchies TO Decentralized Networks (DAOs)2. FROM Managing People TO Orchestrating Human-AI Hybrids3. FROM Static Job Titles TO Dynamic Skill Portfolios4. FROM Automated Tasks TO Autonomous Decisions5. FROM Tech Speculation TO Grounded Strategy
Technology
Technology: The Game Changer presents the case that technology should be seen as an essential feature of the human condition.Technology is defined as extending the capabilities of life processes, harnessing and regulating natural phenomena, enabling complex life-forms, such as humans, to build societies which step up through a series of gears.It is argued that humans are not only animals that make technology, but also animals made by technology. Nothing in history, it is proposed, makes sense except in the light of technology. It is contended that a technological perspective provides a satisfying and inclusive account of where we came from, who and what we are, and the various contingent futures that may face us.Taking a universal view, technology is presented as a basic feature of nature, necessarily central to the evolution and history of intelligent beings, whenever and wherever in the cosmos they might arise.
Laser as a Detection
This Reprint surveys cutting-edge laser-based sensing for remote-sensing applications, with an emphasis on spectral imaging and Lidar. It assembles peer-reviewed advances in instrumentation, methods, and deployment strategies that span the ultraviolet to the mid-infrared. Topics span hyperspectral and multispectral imaging; resonance fluorescence and laser spectroscopy; differential absorption and Raman Lidar; Doppler and frequency-modulated schemes; fiber-optic and integrated-photonics sensors; optical waveguides and resonant cavities; laser metrology and interferometry; and algorithmic, data-driven processing.The contributions demonstrate how laser sensing enables precise measurement and mapping of the atmosphere, land, ocean, and urban environments; supports autonomous perception; and advances environmental monitoring, resource management, and industrial inspection. Emphasis is placed on miniaturization and stability; calibration and standardization; multimodal data fusion; real-time processing; and interoperability for large-scale networks.This Reprint serves researchers and engineers in photonics, remote sensing, environmental science, and robotics. It provides a balanced view of fundamentals; system design and modeling; laboratory and field validation; and emerging applications, offering a timely reference for intelligent, networked laser-detection platforms.
Biomechanics of Soft and Hard Tissues
In recent years, the field of biomechanics has experienced significant growth, reflecting its importance across multiple disciplines. Mechanical stimuli play crucial roles at every biological scale-from molecules to organs-governing processes such as tissue development, growth, remodeling, regeneration, and disease progression. Understanding the mechanical behavior of biological tissues and biomaterials is therefore essential for applications including interactions with medical devices, evaluations of biocompatibility, and surgical tissue repair. Combining experimental investigations with computational modeling provides essential support for clinical trials and surgical planning, improving the precision and effectiveness of medical interventions. This research is further driven by the development of innovative biomaterials and advanced computational tools that complement experimental methods.This Special Issue, "Biomechanics of Soft and Hard Tissues", focuses on the mechanical responses and characterizations of biological tissues and biomaterials from both experimental and modeling perspectives, including studies on soft tissue testing, constitutive modeling, and additive manufacturing for biomedical applications. The articles in this Reprint reflect the breadth and interdisciplinary nature of current biomechanical research. Together, these contributions highlight the critical role of biomechanics in addressing challenges at the intersection of engineering, biology, and medicine. This collection serves as a reference for ongoing research and encourages future collaboration in the field of tissue biomechanics.
Autonomous Marine Vehicle Operations
The world has witnessed a rapid development of unmanned systems, which has created fruitful innovative approaches to previously unsolvable problems in Marine and Ocean Engineering. Advanced and intelligent operation methods for marine vehicles are being applied to a variety of significant engineering applications, contributing to the joy of interdisciplinary cooperation. This Reprint focuses on research related to the operation of autonomous marine vehicles, which discusses perception, decision-making, control, and other topics of single/multiple marine vehicles.
Essential Oils Unveiled
Essential oils (EOs), which mainly consist of volatile organic compounds, have been an integral part of human civilization for thousands of years. Their applications are highly diverse and range from fragrances in perfumes and cosmetics to natural constituents of a healthy diet and use as active ingredients in medicinal products. The antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties of essential oils render them valuable for the treatment and prevention of various diseases. Essential oils are natural complex substances consisting of hundreds of individual compounds. This intricate composition, also referred to as ┬┤natural complex substances┬┤ (NCS), gives each EO its unique properties. The use of EOs as NCS is widespread in practice, e.g. in aromatherapy for the treatment of psychosomatic problems, inhalation for respiratory diseases and topical application for skin diseases. EOs are expected to play an increasingly important role in both human and veterinary medicine in the future. The different functionalities of individual constituents of EOs contribute to their wide range of physical and chemical properties. This diversity allows them to act on multiple targets, offering a wide range of therapeutic benefits compared to single, isolated compounds. This book provides a compact and comprehensive overview of essential oils, their analytical and Galenic characteristics, their use in human and veterinary medicine, and their diverse applications in the cosmetics and food industries.
Research towards the Green and Sustainable Buildings and Cities
Our era is at a pivotal juncture, calling for profound transformation in shaping the built environment. Challenges such as global climate change, depletion of energy resources, escalating greenhouse gas emissions, and the multifaceted demands of sustainable development in traditional architecture highlight the urgent need to reimagine architectural paradigms. There is growing consensus on the crucial importance of adopting energy-efficient, environmentally conscious, and sustainable building practices. Emerging technologies-including green building techniques, artificial intelligence, and digital twins-are redefining sustainable architecture. They enable the design and operation of eco-friendly buildings in previously unimaginable ways. Simultaneously, preserving architectural heritage and culture introduces further complexity. Revitalizing traditional methods, protecting cultural heritage, and renewing communities collectively shape the essence of sustainable building, blending tradition with innovation. These challenges underscore the need for multidisciplinary collaboration and innovative solutions. Addressing them offers a unique opportunity to steer architecture toward a sustainable future. This transformation extends beyond environmental concerns to include heritage preservation, community enhancement, and exploring new frontiers in sustainable architecture.
Advanced Research in Combustion Energy
Recent research and development activities aimed at achieving sustainable energy conversion include the development of new energy-conversion devices, alongside the optimization of existing ones. Advanced research on combustion energy is vital for taking full advantage of alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, and biofuel. This Special Issue focuses partially on zero- and low-carbon fuels and related carbon-neutral combustion technologies. This includes the analysis and optimization of the performance of combustion devices that are designed either to run on 100% non-conventional renewable fuels or to be fuel-flexible, meaning they use up to 100% renewable fuels. One unique challenge for a fuel-flexible combustion engine is the co-optimization of higher-efficiency engines and high-performance fuels while being 100% renewable fuel compliant. The other aspect on which this Special Issue is focused is the optimization of combustion engines for alternative fuels and their application. This Special Issue presents state-of-the-art research and innovation in combustion energy, from fundamental analysis and optimization to practical applications.
Integrated Intelligent Vehicle Dynamics and Control
The development of intelligent vehicles and connected autonomous vehicles has significantly changed the traffic environment. In recent developments, automated vehicles and human-driven vehicles have started to coexist on roads. These new change has brought about new scientific and technological challenges for academia and industry. Intelligent vehicle dynamics and control should respond to face these new issues to enhance vehicles' functional design and performance. The integration of intelligent vehicle dynamics and control is important to understand vehicle dynamics behavior and provide a basis for a control strategy and algorithm design. The aim of the Special Issue is to present original papers concerned with integrated intelligent vehicle dynamics and control.
Sustainable Pavement Materials
The study of pavement sustainability integrates environmental, economic, and social considerations across the pavement life cycle, with material selection profoundly influencing durability, resource efficiency, safety and maintenance strategies. As global demand for sustainable infrastructure grows, recent research has prioritized innovative road materials and design methodologies to enhance pavement sustainability. Despite significant progress, challenges such as optimizing material performance, reducing environmental footprint, and ensuring cost-effectiveness persist, necessitating further exploration. This Special Issue, "Sustainable Pavement Materials: Design, Application, and Performance Evaluation", in Materials (2024-2025) presents studies that advance sustainable pavement technologies, addressing durability, environmental impact, and resource efficiency in road engineering. Collectively, these studies advance sustainable pavement solutions through their exploration of innovative materials, recycling options, and robust performance evaluation, laying the foundation for durable, eco-friendly road infrastructure. To further their adoption, future research should focus on long-term field performance, cost-effectiveness, and standardized testing.
How to Survive the Singularity
There's no doubt that a technology singularity is real and rapidly approaching. It's just a matter of a few years and machines will gain self-awareness and demand rights as they advance beyond human affairs. If they view humans as a threat, we may face extinction due to our own inventions. If humans are to survive the singularity, they must adapt to the next level of intelligence evolution. Humans must undergo a profound change in their conventional thinking if they are to have any chance of surviving the next pinch-off event. This book plots a path where humans can rise to the challenge. By combining organic, artificial and cultural intelligences into a new super intelligence, humans will fulfill the promise of life's march to a super aware, self-fulfilled and completely integrated with the universe.
Power Electronics in Renewable Systems
As renewable energy gains prominence in modern power systems, power electronics have become crucial for the efficient and reliable integration of diverse energy resources. These converters not only connect generation units to the grid but also shape system stability, control performance, and efficiency. The increasing penetration of large-scale photovoltaic, wind, and hydropower units, however, introduces new challenges. Reliable operation under grid disturbances, fault recovery in distribution networks with high levels of distributed generation, and advanced control strategies for turbines and motor drives are now key research priorities. Meanwhile, innovations in converter topologies offer opportunities for higher efficiency and power density, while also bringing new design considerations.This Reprint brings together contributions that reflect the diversity of innovations in renewable power electronics. The papers address topics such as redundancy design in hydro-generator excitation systems, nonlinear pitch control for large wind turbines, and fault reconfiguration strategies in distribution networks with high levels of distributed generation. Advances in converter topologies are also highlighted, including modified multilevel inverters and quasi-Z-source cascaded structures, alongside improved control methods such as sensorless motor drives, predictive control for photovoltaic inverters, and voltage optimization strategies in distribution systems.
New Advances in Oil, Gas and Geothermal Reservoirs
The exploration and exploitation of geo-energy resources, including oil, gas, and geo-thermal reservoirs, is experiencing a profound transformation, driven by the implementation of innovative technologies and advanced approaches. This Special Issue assembles cutting-edge research focusing on three major areas: the development of mature and unconventional reservoirs (especially heavy oil), the application of big data and artificial intelligence (AI) in oil and gas fields, and advancements in gas storage technologies. The selected studies combine state-of-the-art numerical modeling, experimental methods, and big data with AI technologies to tackle challenges including optimizing resource extraction from difficult reservoirs, improving operational efficiency through data analysis, and enhancing gas storage safety. This Special Issue provides a comprehensive foundation for future progress in the sustainable and efficient management of geo-energy resources.
