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.
Fermentation Processes
Fermentation processes play a crucial role in the biotechnology, food, and pharmaceutical industries. This Reprint focuses on recent advances in modeling, optimization, and control strategies applied to fermentation systems. The accurate modeling of microbial kinetics and metabolic pathways allows for the better understanding and prediction of process dynamics; optimization techniques, including machine learning and evolutionary algorithms, enable the identification of ideal operational conditions to maximize yield and productivity; advanced control strategies ensure robust performance under varying conditions. The integration of these approaches contributes to improved efficiency, reduced costs, and higher product quality. This Reprint presents cutting-edge research and novel methodologies that push the boundaries of fermentation technology.
Applied Artificial Intelligence for Industrial Nondestructive Evaluation NDE4.0
This Special Issue reprint, "Applied Artificial Intelligence for Industrial Nondestructive Evaluation" (NDE4.0), brings together a collection of innovative research that showcases the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on modern industrial inspection and monitoring. As industries face growing demands for reliability, safety, and efficiency, AI has emerged as a powerful tool for addressing the long-standing challenges of nondestructive evaluation, namely, noisy data environments, complex defect characterization, and the integration of intelligent systems into real-world workflows.Across 11 peer-reviewed contributions, the reprint covers a diverse range of applications, including additive manufacturing, battery health monitoring, rolling element diagnostics, pipeline inspection, surface defect detection, and thermographic data interpretation. Techniques such as deep learning, attention mechanisms, time-series modeling, and hybrid optimization approaches are applied to achieve enhanced precision and predictive capabilities.
Mission Analysis and Design of Lighter-than-Air Flying Vehicles
This Special Issue presents engineers with a summary of the most active lines of research related to the development of lighter-than-air (LTA) technology. The progress that LTA technology is currently experiencing, fostered by the development of electricity-based solutions for propulsion, energy harvesting, and storage with improved power-to-weight and energy-to-weight metrics, has once again triggered investigations into the potential of airships and balloons for diverse missions. However, while emerging technologies have enabled new potential designs and applications for LTA platforms, they have also increased the general complexity of the design and characterization phases when developing a novel airship concept, in turn requiring deeper insight into more technological aspects than in previous decades. In this sense, the present Special Issue offers a glimpse into some of the most interesting aspects of the ongoing research on lighter-than-air flying machines.
Application and Optimization of CCUS Technology in Shale Gas Production and Storage
Worldwide climate change poses a significant challenge to current energy consumption patterns, prompting heightened interest in the development of comprehensive technologies that can enhance energy supply while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions. Against this backdrop, Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) in shale gas production and storage has garnered increasing attention in recent years. This technique offers dual benefits: extracting energy from geological formations while simultaneously sequestering CO₂ underground. Shale gas reservoirs are widely regarded as suitable geological targets for CCUS deployment. However, the technology remains insufficiently mature for large-scale field implementation. Consequently, shale-based CCUS has become a focal point of extensive scientific research, which has motivated the organization of this Special Issue.
Robotics and Parallel Kinematic Machines
Parallel kinematic machines (PKMs) are widely recognized for their higher stiffness, high payload-to-weight ratio, and superior precision compared to serial robots. Their applications span high-speed machining, medical robotics, and space. Despite these advantages, PKMs face inherent challenges in design and control due to complex kinematics, limited workspaces, and intricate singularity conditions. Recent research and industrial developments have focused on improved modeling techniques, analysis of singular configurations, and reconfigurable architectures. Considerable attention has been given to workspace optimization, singularity avoidance, robust design procedures, and the integration of compliant components to meet evolving application demands. Still, several theoretical and practical aspects remain underexplored, including cuspidal configurations-where a robot can shift between multiple inverse kinematic solutions without singularities-and self-motion conditions, in which the end-effector moves even with locked actuators.Emerging topics such as modular PKM architectures, dynamic performance evaluation, and control-aware design optimization are also attracting attention, particularly for high-precision applications under uncertain or varying load conditions.This Special Issue brings together eight articles addressing PKMs and their potential applications to meet growing industrial demands, providing researchers and industry experts with deeper insights into PKM analysis and architecture-based applications.
Nonlinear Phenomena, Chaos, Control and Applications to Engineering and Science and Experimental Aspects of Complex Systems
The aims of this Reprint are to publish theories and techniques in nonlinear systems, chaos and complexity to stimulate more interest in nonlinearity and complexity. This Reprint will focus on the recent developments, findings and progress in theories, principles, methodology and computational techniques in nonlinear systems and mathematics with engineering applications. This Reprint covers a broad scope of topics, including nonlinear dynamical systems and complex systems, and each one contributes theoretical analyses, practical applications, and numerical simulations to advance the understanding of complex nonlinear phenomena.
Advances in Human-Machine Systems, Human-Machine Interfaces and Human Wearable Device Performance
The rapid advancement of technology has led to the emergence of innovative devices such as AR and VR devices. Based on cutting-edge technologies, these devices are equipped with powerful processing capabilities, real-time data transmission, and immersive interactive features. From medical simulations to industrial design and entertainment, VR and AR have unlocked a wide range of applications, revolutionizing the ways in which humans interact with digital environments. Given the increasing integration of these devices into various fields, scientists are actively investigating their usability, efficiency, and compatibility with human operators. Understanding human performance and potential ergonomic challenges when using such devices is crucial for optimizing their design and functionality. To address these concerns, a Special Issue on Advances in Human-Machine Systems, Human-Machine Interfaces, and Human Wearable Device Performance was curated, compiling ten rigorously reviewed research articles published over a three-and-a-quarter-year period. These studies focus on human-machine interfaces, wearable device performance, and user interaction dynamics, providing critical insights into how humans adapt to and utilize these advanced systems. The primary objective of this collection is to identify key challenges, evaluate user experiences, and propose improvements that can guide future developments in human-machine interfaces. We sincerely hope that readers will benefit from the articles we collected in these aspects.
Leveraging Industrial Management Principles to Improve Sustainability and Efficiency in Food Process
This book delves into the application of industrial management principles to address critical challenges in the global food processing industry, such as resource depletion, environmental impacts, and inefficiencies in production. The study explores how Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Total Quality Management (TQM), and Industry 4.0 technologies can revolutionize sustainability and operational efficiency in food processing. Lean Manufacturing principles focus on waste reduction and process optimization, employing tools like 5S, Value Stream Mapping, and Just-in-Time (JIT) production to streamline operations. Six Sigma enhances quality and consistency through data-driven methods, while TQM promotes continuous improvement and fosters a culture of excellence across all organizational levels. The integration of Industry 4.0 technologies-such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data Analytics, and Cyber-Physical Systems-enables real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and greater process control. These technologies reduce waste, optimize energy usage, and enhance product quality, paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient food supply chain. This book highlights the potential of combining these methodologies to create holistic solutions for the industry. For instance, Lean Six Sigma blends the strengths of both approaches, improving efficiency and reducing environmental impacts. Similarly, the synergy between TQM and Industry 4.0 technologies facilitates rapid, data-driven decision-making while ensuring compliance with stringent food safety standards. Despite the benefits, the book acknowledges the challenges in adopting these principles, including high implementation costs, workforce training requirements, and technological integration hurdles. Recommendations include developing clear implementation strategies, enhancing employee training, and fostering a culture of change to overcome these barriers. By adopting these principles, the food processing industry can achieve sustainable growth, reduce its environmental footprint, and ensure long-term food security while maintaining profitability and high product standards.
Zero-Carton Fuel Turbulent Combustion Flow Characteristics in Gas Turbine
Turbulent combustion is an extremely complex process, the core issues are the turbulence structure and the combustion flame structure as well as components, diffusion mixing of fuel and air, interactions between vortex and flame, flame propagation and stability, et al. To meet the future development requirements of gas turbine with high parameters, low emissions, wide load range, and multi-fuel capabilities (including hydrogen or ammonia fuels), advanced combustion technologies must be developed to match these needs. The issue of gas turbines adaptability to different zero-carbon fuels and variable loads urgently necessitates the updating of airflow/combustion organization modes and combustion methods. This book deals mainly with zero-carton fuel combustion flow characteristics in different combustors of gas turbine, such as swirl combustion, multiple direct-injection combustion, jet combustion coupling guide ring, and bidirectional vortex combustion, to reveal the core issues of turbulence combustion, and provide the theoretical insights for engineering applications.
Emerging methodologies in waterbody delineation
In an era where sustainable water management is critical, the accurate identification and delineation of waterbodies have never been more important. Emerging Methodologies in Waterbody Delineation: An In-depth Review offers a comprehensive exploration of the cutting-edge techniques shaping the field today. From traditional cartographic practices to modern innovations such as satellite remote sensing, GIS-based mapping, and AI-driven algorithms, this book delves into the evolution of waterbody delineation. It examines the strengths and limitations of various approaches while highlighting the importance of integrating technology with environmental stewardship. Whether you're a researcher, environmentalist, or policymaker, this book provides the insights needed to navigate the complexities of hydrological mapping in a rapidly changing world. Authored by S. Rajeswari and P. Rathika, it stands as a definitive resource for advancing knowledge and practices in this crucial domain.
Engineering the Future
In an era of rapid technological advancement, the future of engineering depends on creating systems that are not only high-performing but also resilient and adaptable to constant change. Engineering the Future: Mastering Systems Design and Resilience offers a comprehensive exploration of how robotics, artificial intelligence, and digital systems integration are transforming engineering practices and enabling the development of scalable, intelligent solutions for tomorrow's challenges. This book focuses on the essential principles of systems engineering, providing a clear roadmap for designing systems that can withstand disruption while remaining flexible enough to evolve with emerging technologies. With robotics and digital integration at the forefront, the book explores how to create solutions that optimize efficiency, enhance operational performance, and drive innovation across industries. The emphasis on resilience throughout the book underscores the importance of designing systems that can not only meet immediate demands but also adapt over time to new technologies, market shifts, and evolving industry needs. Readers will gain valuable insights into how to build future-proof systems that are both efficient and sustainable, leveraging the latest advances in robotics and AI to stay ahead of the curve. Through actionable strategies and practical advice, Engineering the Future empowers engineers, technology leaders, and innovators to navigate the challenges of digital transformation and harness the full potential of integrated systems. Whether you're designing automation solutions, integrating AI into complex systems, or preparing your organization for the digital future, this book provides the essential tools and knowledge for mastering systems design and resilience in a rapidly changing world.
New Advances in Indoor Acoustics and Thermal Comfort for Sustainable Buildings
Nowadays, the concept of "sustainable building" is gaining increasing interest. The European plan on climate change, the general situation regarding global pollution and the anthropogenic greenhouse effect, as well as the increased comfort expectations of building occupants are all driving the idea of urban development aimed at combating climate change.The United Nations estimates that by 2050, about 70% of the world's population will live in cities, which means that a correct design of urban environments is more necessary than ever: this is needed in order to minimize the consumption of water and energy, as well as to create living spaces that are both comfortable and free of pollution, be it acoustic, aquatic or in the air.Designing only in accordance with current regulations means designing a building that is already obsolete from a thermodynamic and acoustic point of view. Standards related to the insulation of nZEB and passive houses, which are already compliant with or able to meet future requirements, are highly recommended.The advent of new, sustainable and highly efficient thermo-acoustic insulating materials, the development of modern numerical methods and software for the computer-aided design of whole-building physics, as well as state or local incentives for increasing building efficiency are all aspects that make this book published after a Special Issue a real opportunity to showcase cutting edge and pioneering scientific research on these topics.
Towards Sustainable Construction
"Towards Sustainable Construction: Green Building Materials and Technologies Reshaping the Industry for a Greener Future" explores the innovative materials and technologies reshaping the construction industry toward sustainability. This book delves into various eco-friendly building materials, including recycled materials, bio-based products, and energy-efficient solutions. Each chapter presents detailed case studies highlighting successful applications, sustainability assessments, and the environmental impacts of these materials. Readers will gain insight into the benefits of green materials, such as reduced carbon footprints, improved indoor air quality, and enhanced durability. The book also addresses the challenges of adopting these materials, offering practical guidance for architects, builders, and policymakers on integrating sustainability into their projects. With expert contributions and up-to-date research, this comprehensive resource serves as a vital tool for navigating the modern landscape of eco-friendly construction, inspiring a shift towards a more sustainable future in the built environment.
An Intelligent Approach for Seizure Detection Using Data Analysis
Blurb for the Book: An Intelligent Approach for Seizure Detection using Data Analysis In an era of advanced healthcare technology, the battle against epilepsy demands innovative solutions. An Intelligent Approach for Seizure Detection using Data Analysis delves into the transformative role of artificial intelligence and data science in detecting and predicting seizures with precision. This groundbreaking book explores cutting-edge methodologies, including machine learning algorithms and EEG signal analysis, to uncover patterns and insights that enhance diagnosis and patient care. Designed for researchers, clinicians, and technology enthusiasts, this work bridges the gap between medicine and technology, offering a path to improved lives through intelligent healthcare systems.
Mixture of Human and Machine Intelligence in Digital Manufacturing
This Reprint examines the evolving role of human-machine interfaces (HMI) within the context of Industry 4.0 and digital manufacturing, where human and machine intelligence are increasingly integrated to enhance design, production, and decision-making. It highlights research on advanced interaction technologies that move beyond traditional tools toward dynamic, collaborative relationships between humans and autonomous systems. Topics include novel design patterns in perception, control, and arbitration; the application of human expertise in machine decision-making; and the use of sensory data for informed, adaptive manufacturing processes. By bringing together contributions from both academic and industrial perspectives, the Reprint provides a comprehensive view of the opportunities, challenges, and future directions for human-machine collaboration in digital manufacturing.
Cutting-Edge Construction Technologies for Complex Structures
With the advancement of society, the functions of buildings have evolved beyond mere residential and office purposes. Modern architectural aesthetics strive for individuality and innovation, while urban competition drives the creation of iconic structures to enhance a city's image. These landmarks often possess unique forms that captivate attention. The the Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland Project is the world's first natural ecological hotel built in an abandoned 88 meter underground pit. The aluminum alloy shell in the Nanjing Niushou Mountain Buddha Palace project is the largest free-form surface aluminum alloy shell structure in Asia, supported by four tree shaped steel structural columns. The Ningbo International Conference Center Project incorporates elements of Chinese traditional culture into its architectural style, resulting in the world's first corrido bridge international conference center. These intricate building designs pose significant challenges to engineering construction. Taking these representative complex building in China as an example, this book provides detailed insights into innovative construction technologies employed in such projects. It covers various aspects including BIM technology application throughout the entire construction process and across all professions involved in complex building projects; Self-balancing elevating construction scheme used in large-scale tree-shaped steel structure projects; construction methods for large-span steel lattice shell structures; Cumulative slip construction approaches for large-span space aluminum alloy structures and reverse construction methodologies applied to underground five-star hotels. By implementing these innovative technologies, further advancements can be made towards promoting scientific and technological progress within the building industry.
Advances in Boundary Lubrication
This Reprint summarises recent advancements in the science and application of boundary lubrication. The collection of articles addresses the fundamental mechanisms of friction and wear at contacting interfaces, including molecular dynamics simulations, predictive statistical models, and methodologies for tribological testing. Experimental studies emphasise the importance of advanced additives, such as MXenes and carbon quantum dots, alongside sustainable formulations derived from vegetable oils and esters. Contributions also investigate tribosystem robustness, forging processes utilising bio-based lubricants, and the integration of modelling with experimental validation. By combining theoretical insights, innovative materials research, and practical testing strategies, this Reprint provides a comprehensive overview of how boundary lubrication is evolving in response to the demands of modern machinery and sustainable engineering. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners seeking to understand and enhance lubricant performance under challenging contact conditions.
Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering
Explore the frontiers of regenerative medicine with Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering, a comprehensive guide through the development, materials, and innovative techniques that shape the future of bone repair. Focusing on a novel bionanocomposite by blending PLA and PBAT with nanoclay fillers, and applying advanced 3D printing and CO₂ foaming techniques to create structures that mimic natural bone, this work provides a robust foundation for the future of bone regeneration. Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering bridges the gap combining rigorous scientific inquiry from laboratory research with practical clinical applications, offering cutting-edge solutions to overcome the limitations of traditional grafting and implant technology, making it essential for those dedicated to advancing regenerative medicine and transforming the landscape of bone tissue engineering.
Advanced Technologies in Optical Wireless Communications
Optical wireless communication (OWC) is an innovative technology that combines the advantages of optical fiber and radio frequency (RF) communication, enabling high-speed broadband wireless data transmission without the requirement for licensing the used optical frequency band. As a result, there is a significant increase in interest in developing OWC technologies for a range of wireless applications, such as indoor visible light communications (VLC), underwater OWC, and space communications.While significant progress has been made in developing OWC related technologies over the past decade, many critical challenges remain unsolved or require further advancement. This Reprint of the Special Issue published by Photonics aims to address some of the ongoing challenges in OWC by presenting a collection of 16 peer-reviewed articles. The contributions come from research institutions and universities across nine countries, including Australia, Belgium, China, Japan, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain, and Ecuador, reflecting the global interest and collaborative effort to advance this field.
Mastering Electronic Components
Discover the Building Blocks of Modern Electronics! Step into the exciting world of electronics with Mastering Electronic Components, a comprehensive guide designed for beginners, students, and professionals alike. This book breaks down the complexity of electronic components into simple, easy-to-understand explanations, making it an essential resource for anyone eager to master the fundamentals of electronics. From passive components like resistors, capacitors, and inductors to active elements such as diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits, Mastering Electronic Components explores the essential parts of every electronic device. Learn their functions, features, testing methods, and practical applications with real-world examples and illustrations. Whether you want to build your first circuit, repair electronic devices, or deepen your understanding of how electronics work, this book is your go-to reference. It includes step-by-step guides, troubleshooting tips, and exercises to reinforce your knowledge, ensuring you gain both theoretical insights and practical skills. Key Features: 1. A complete overview of electronic components: passive, active, electromechanical, optoelectronic, and integrated circuits. 2. Detailed testing methods using multimeters and other tools. 3. Practical examples and exercises to apply your knowledge. 4. Insights into modern technologies like semiconductors and voltage regulation. 5. Ideal for DIY enthusiasts, students, and engineers. Electronics power the modern world. With Mastering Electronic Components, you'll gain the confidence to explore, design, and repair electronic systems. Whether it's for work, study, or hobby, this book equips you with the skills to thrive in the ever-evolving field of electronics. Take your first step into the fascinating universe of electronics today!
Insulating Materials for Future Power Systems
A wide variety of electrical materials, including polymeric insulating materials, energy storage materials, functional ceramics, semiconductive sensing materials, and high-conductive metallic materials, comprise the complex power transmission system. Recently, modern renewable energy systems are replacing traditional energy systems due to the more precise and controlled power stations. In this context, insulation materials, as one of the core components in electrical power equipment, will face unprecedented challenges and opportunities that may enhance operational complexity while reducing the power system's safety and reliability.The variations in operational conditions raise questions about the insulation strength of the numerous ultra-high voltage (UHV) assets that have been newly developed. Consequently, there is an essential need for a credible performance analysis, defect detection, and condition assessment of insulation materials in UHV equipment.Therefore, in this reprint, we discuss several interesting topics focusing on the fabrication, performance analysis, deterioration mechanisms, defect detection, and condition assessment of new electrical materials.
Failure Behavior and Mechanism of a Slope Under the Action of Earthquake and Rainfall
Earthquake and rainfall may be coupled, which will lead to landslides easily, but the studies about this problem are at the initial stage. In this paper, the failure behavior and mechanism of a slope under the action of earthquake after rainfall were investigated with a shaking table test, based on similarity law. The experimental results showed that the failure process of the slope during earthquake after rainfall undergoes four characteristic stages. There exist velocity zoning in the slope during failure. The moisture content of soil in the slope has different growth rates at different positions during rainfall. Transient and cumulative pore water pressure occurs in the slope during earthquake after rainfall. However, due to the short period of earthquake action, the soil moisture content is not very sensitive to this action, but the pore water pressure changes sharply during earthquake. Under the combined action of rainfall and earthquake, there is a multi-physical field effect in the slope. Rainfall weakens the strength of the soil, mainly causes local instability of the slope. More extensive damage of the slope is caused under the combined action of seismic inertia force.
Optimization of Intelligent Transport Systems Planning Energy Efficiency and Environmental Responsibility
This Special Issue of Energies, "Optimization of Intelligent Transport Systems Planning Energy Efficiency and Environmental Responsibility," will consist of manuscripts describing problems and challenges for transport systems. The modern approach to city planning generates new expectations for mobility. The geographic space is a type of limited resource. Currently, dynamic changes in land-use are being observed. During such processes, administrative units do not always prepare for land-use planning when considering sustainable development. Vehicle numbers are increasing, as are the number of trips being made. This results from changes in people's lifestyles, the habits created, and the increased convenience associated with personal transport. This development of individual transport, which contributes to the deterioration of road conditions (congestion), is harming the environment due to air and noise pollution and energy consumption and is causing the deterioration of residents' health (due to increased use of personal transport).
Comparative Analysis of Structure Wall Framed Tube System and Framed Tube System Using ETABS
With the growing cost and demand of clients as well as architects, it is imperative to deliver a robust and economical structural design. Framed tube and structural wall systems are relatively unexplored and have the potential to be the leading structural system of choice among engineers to withstand lateral seismic loads, even if many other structural systems have been utilised to provide an appropriate design. The most common approach for analyzing the distribution of seismic force was response spectrum analysis, and the preferred software for both analysis and design is ETABS. In the present study, analysis of building with structure wall framed system was compared with that of frame tube system using ETABS software. The primary gaol of the study was to examine the stiffness, base shear, drift, and deflections of two structural systems, namely the structure wall framed tube system and the frame tube system, for earthquake and gravity loads. The analytical findings demonstrated a substantial decrease in the dynamic response of the structure, namely in terms of base shear. The inclusion of structurally framed walls resulted in a reduction of 9.11% and 16.88% in x and y-direction, respectively. Additionally, there was a substantial decrease in the displacement, story drift, and fundamental time period of the structure.
Enhanced Efficiency in Organic/ Inorganic Hybrid Silicon Solar Cells
It explores transformative innovations in hybrid solar cell technologies. This comprehensive resource highlights the convergence of organic and inorganic materials to create next-generation energy solutions, emphasizing cutting-edge approaches that revolutionize the performance of hybrid silicon solar cells. The book thoroughly examines the role of breakthrough technique in enhancing charge carrier mobility and reducing energy losses, resulting in significantly improved photovoltaic performance. Complementing this, the text delves into advanced surface engineering methods that optimize light capture, electron transport, and recombination processes. Through precise surface modifications, the challenges of energy conversion inefficiency are systematically mitigated. A core focus of the book is the donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) organic material design, an innovative approach that integrates strategically designed molecular structures into hybrid systems. These materials play a crucial role in enhancing optoelectronic properties and ensuring seamless integration within silicon-based substrates, unlocking new potentials in power conversion capabilities. By incorporating these methodologies, the book documents the progression of solar cell efficiency from 2.948% to a remarkable 17.5%. Rich with experimental data, theoretical models, and detailed case studies, this text bridges the gap between fundamental research and practical applications. It provides insights into fabrication techniques, characterization tools, and performance optimization strategies. Aimed at researchers, engineers, and students, it serves as both an advanced academic reference and a guide to practical implementation. With a strong emphasis on sustainable energy solutions, the book underscores the pivotal role of hybrid solar cells in meeting global energy demands. It invites readers to explore the future of renewable energy, where innovation transforms challenges into opportunities for a greener world.
Monitoring the Coagulation/Flocculation Mechanism and Process During Wastewater Treatment
The coagulation-flocculation process is an important step and operation, most often used as a pretreatment before separation processes of the liquid and solid phases. The fundamental mechanisms of this process have been the subject of several studies in recent years. However, it is still difficult to predict the required amounts of the coagulants as well as the flocculants to achieve these processes properly. Indeed, these amounts are can be considered as a crucial parameter because any execs can lead to generate a secondary pollution in addition to the cost of these products. In this context, a new approach was carried out to investigate the complex impedance Z*(ω) measurements as well as others dielectric/electrical characteristics including the complex permittivity ε*(ω), complex modulus M*(ω) and complex conductivity σ*(ω) were explored. It is revealed from our study that the analysis of the dielectric and electric properties could be very useful to address these criteria for estimating the optimal amount the coagulants and flocculants. This approach was employed to investigate these properties in the case for effluents from the textile industry. Calcium oxide and aluminum sulfate were used as coagulants, while a cationic polymer was used as a flocculants. For coagulation process: The analysis and modeling of the electrical dielectric properties of the samples exhibited a significant change the evolution of conductivity by decreasing and reaching a minimum value at (3%) of calcium oxide then started to increases. Moreover, the relaxation time and dielectric strength increased in the first phase up to (3%), indicating the formation of more compact aggregations during the coagulation process, and decreased in the second phase above (3%). These results were supported and revealed a good agreement by a complementary analysis of the rheological properties. The evolution of the viscosity exhibited a similar behavior to the evolution of conductivity by decreasing and reaching a minimum value at (3%).
FCH - Free Cooling and Heating
The author of this book has made a critical assessment of the state of CO2 emissions and solutions that have been implemented by 2025 and has shown a new direction by 2050, which should mobilize scientists and institutions around the world to work very intensively on the development and implementation of FCH HVAC technology. This technology is the only one that reduces the consumption of primary energy in existing infrastructure by using CO2 at a level not achieved so far, undermining the current very expensive ecological game. The author also asks the question why science, research institutes and universities around the world have not noticed these unlimited, full stores of free energy located under every building, which have been available for millions of years without any additional investment and have a power many times greater than the entire energy production in the world? The presented studies on profitability and environmental protection and the further increase in temperatures leave no illusions. The author presents in the book the results based on scientific research conducted since 2015. The analysis included the results of BMS FCH HVAC Buildings located throughout Poland from Gdansk through Warsaw to Sosnowiec, existing buildings, newly designed, historic and technical buildings. The author shows graphs from the period of operation, as well as simulations based on IX-CHART, Plus v.8.1., Design Builder v4.2.0.05 programs. The comparison of traditional HVAC installations, heat pumps and FCH is impressive and provides huge opportunities to reduce operating costs and CO2 emissions by at least 50%. Anyone who buys the book and introduces FCH in their own home with an area of up to 300 m⊃2; will receive a free license from the author, owner of the technology and patents, to perform and use the installation without time limits.
Fungal Enzymes
Existing circumstances demand a more sustainable, ecofriendly and cost-effective dealings worldwide to deal with the growing troubles of environmental issues. The main aspiration of this effort is to opt for such ideas and technologies which involve cleaner and greener procedures for utilizing waste materials for deriving value added products. The soil pertaining to areas of oil mills contains densely population of various microbes', especially fungal origin. These microbes are rich in lipase content (due to oil source). Isolation of fungal colonies from oil rich soil to ferment them under various conditions to extract fungal enzyme i.e. lipase and then used it for further applications. Lipases are highly versatile and industrially important enzymes. Deriving the lipases from waste soil is the main appeal of this work and is a venture strategizing the "best from waste" approach.
Strain in Carbon Fiber Laminates
Carbon fiber composites have become the core material of modern industry with their lightweight and high strength properties, but their complex orthogonal anisotropy, multi-angle layup and multi-layer structural properties pose great challenges for accurate strain measurement and calculation. Breaking through the traditional research framework, this book presents a set of methods for internal strain assessment of carbon fiber laminates based on experimental measurement techniques, injecting new perspectives into this field. By selecting carbon fiber laminate samples with different layup angles and thicknesses, this book systematically compares the synergistic application of traditional measurement tools such as tensiometers and strain gauges with HyperMesh finite element simulation, and accurately analyzes the distribution of strain in the main direction of internal layers. The high agreement between experimental data and simulation results not only verifies the reliability of the method, but also reveals the mechanical response mechanism of multilayer composites. The methodology proposed in the book provides a set of quantifiable and reproducible practical framework for the structural optimization design, performance evaluation and engineering application of composite materials.
The Art of Audio
Discover the Art of Audio In a world where technology continuously pushes the boundaries of creativity, ""The Art of Audio: Generating Text and Images"" offers an illuminating journey into the innovative intersection of sound, language, and visuals through machine learning. Explore how neural networks transform raw audio into meaningful text and captivating imagery, revealing the profound possibilities of multimodal artificial intelligence. From groundbreaking research to practical applications, this book delves into the methods, challenges, and triumphs of harnessing audio data to create a seamless bridge between different forms of expression. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a data scientist, or an AI researcher, this book offers: Insights into state-of-the-art machine learning techniques. Real-world applications of audio-to-text and text-to-image synthesis. A compelling vision of the future of multimodal AI. Join Krishnaja Jayan on this transformative exploration of how machines can redefine creativity and bring new dimensions to storytelling.
Wear-Resistant Coatings and Film Materials
Wear-resistant coatings and film materials are essential in many industries, such as manufacturing and aerospace. These coatings and materials provide protection against wear and tear, extending the lifespan and durability of various products.One of the key benefits of wear-resistant coatings, such as nanomaterials and polyurethane, is their ability to reduce friction. These coatings are commonly used in applications such as bearings. Another advantage of wear-resistant coatings is their ability to resist chemical and environmental degradation. This extends their lifespan and reduces maintenance costs in harsh environments. Moreover, wear-resistant coatings can also enhance the esthetic appeal of products with different colors or textures. This is particularly important for automotive and consumer electronics, where design plays a crucial role in customer perception. Despite the numerous benefits of wear-resistant coatings, there are also challenges and limitations.
Study of Compressive Strength on Red Mud Concrete Using Rebound Hammer Test
Red mud, a by-product of the Bayer process used for refining bauxite into alumina, has become a major environmental concern due to its vast accumulation and disposal challenges. However, recent studies have explored the use of red mud as an alternative material in concrete production, given its availability, cost-effectiveness, and potential to enhance the properties of concrete. Red mud is typically rich in iron oxide, silica, and alumina, which can influence the mechanical properties of concrete.
Advances in Grid-tied PV Inverters II
The renewable energy industry has grown dramatically in recent years as a result of global green missions. PVs are widely regarded as the most cost-effective renewable energy source. For PV-battery hybrid systems, the system operates in various scenarios depending on PV power, load power, and battery status, and the control loop may need to switch. Chapter 2 presents a generalized mode control method for avoiding loop switching in a variety of scenarios. PV DC arc-faults have the potential to start fires, damage property, and endanger people's lives. An AI-based DC arc detection technique is proposed in Chapter 3. High reliability and long lifespan are always the goals for power conversion systems, especially in PV applications. Chapter 4 investigates active low-frequency current absorbing method applied in PV systems to replace electrolytic capacitors with film capacitors.
Structural Identification and Damage Evaluation by Integrating Physics-Based Models with Data
This Reprint presents a comprehensive collection of cutting-edge research on structural identification and damage evaluation through the integration of physics-based models with data-driven approaches. The compilation addresses one of the most critical challenges in structural health monitoring: combining the theoretical rigor of physics-based numerical models with the adaptive capabilities of modern data science techniques.The featured studies demonstrate innovative methodologies that bridge traditional finite element model updating approaches with advanced machine learning algorithms, physics-informed neural networks, and Bayesian inference techniques. Researchers explore novel applications including deep learning-enhanced stress identification in prestressed structures, automated concrete crack detection using computer vision, and real-time structural assessment through digital twin technologies.Key contributions encompass deterministic and stochastic finite element model updating, physics-guided machine learning for damage detection, hybrid modeling frameworks for structural systems, and uncertainty quantification in structural assessment. The Reprint showcases practical implementations across diverse structural types, from high-rise buildings and bridge systems to specialized infrastructure components like lightning rod structures and prestressed concrete girders.
Conceptual Design and Analysis of a Roller-Based Obstacle Deflector for Rail Safety
Revolutionizing Rail Safety with Roller-Based Obstacle Deflectors Introduction Train accidents involving animals and humans on railway tracks remain a significant safety issue, particularly in areas where railways intersect wildlife habitats or densely populated regions. Traditional obstacle deflectors focus primarily on clearing obstacles to maintain operational efficiency. However, these devices often disregard the impact they have on the lives of those involved, whether they are humans or animals. This project proposes an innovative solution: a roller-based obstacle deflector designed to minimize injuries while ensuring the smooth functioning of railways. This device aims to reduce the force of collisions and redirect obstacles safely, prioritizing safety and humane treatment. Conceptual Design Objectives The primary objectives of the roller-based obstacle deflector are: To minimize injuries to humans and animals during collisions. To ensure obstacles are safely redirected away from the tracks. To maintain railway operational efficiency without compromising safety. Design Features The obstacle deflector is equipped with cushioning polyethylene rollers that absorb impact energy and reduce the force of collisions. These rollers are strategically positioned to redirect obstacles sideways off the tracks. The design is tailored to handle collisions with humans, cattle, and even large animals like elephants, especially at speeds up to 30 km/h. The design process was carried out using CATIA software, adhering to the specifications of Indian Railways. The rollers are engineered to be durable, lightweight, and highly energy-absorbent, ensuring both efficiency and effectiveness.
Advanced Insights into the Utilization of Oxidized Coal Residues in Coalfield Fire
Coalfield fires pose significant environmental, safety, and resource utilization challenges, generating vast quantities of oxidized coal residues with altered structural and chemical properties. This book delves into the scientific mechanisms, thermodynamic characteristics, and innovative catalytic strategies required to transform these residues into valuable resources. By addressing fundamental and applied aspects, the book presents a pathway for enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of coal utilization in fire-affected zones.
Recent Developments in Automatic Control and Systems Engineering
The industry's pursuit of digitalization, with a focus on automating solutions, is presently being complemented by efforts to develop autonomous systems, where artificial intelligence (AI), advanced control, modeling, and optimization play a significant role. In this context, this Special Issue presents some recent developments in automatic control and systems engineering, including practical and experimental applications in various areas, ranging from autonomous vehicles to industrial processes. A core aim of this Issue is to capture many of the important themes being pursued by researchers in this area, which in turn will allow other researchers to plan further research into these areas.
Contact Line Dynamics and Droplet Spreading
Contact line dynamics occurs when a liquid encounters a solid surface. The physics of the moving contact line and droplet spreading involves interfacial physics and fluid dynamics. Contact line dynamics and droplet spreading are important in various technologies including healthcare/medicine, energy, and electronics. This Special Issue provides the advances in the area of a moving contact line and droplet spreading and their applications in biotechnology, microfluidics, nanofluidics, printing and coating technologies, as well as heat transfer.
Reclaiming the Internet
How the Internet lost its way--and how to fix it Recovering the Internet is an indictment of how Big Tech cloaks ruthless commercial exploitation in the language of free speech. Olivier Sylvain, a leading legal scholar and former senior advisor at the Federal Trade Commission, exposes the incentives behind social media design, revealing how they trap users in cycles of addiction, misinformation, and harm--from fatal TikTok challenges to AI chatbot codependency. With clarity and urgency, Sylvain dismantles the libertarian mythology that shaped internet law and calls for a new legal regime that protects users over platforms. Recovering the Internet is a powerful, original intervention into the most urgent policy debate of our time--what it will take to reclaim the digital public sphere.
Advances in Grid-tied PV Inverters
The renewable energy industry has grown dramatically in recent years as a result of global green missions. PV energy is considered the most cost-effective and reliable renewable energy source. Power electronics, an important interface between PV renewables and the grid, has advanced rapidly in recent years. As the percentage of PV renewables integration increases, new challenges emerge, such as high-quality grid current controlling, potential induced degradation suppression, DC-bus voltage balancing, and so on. These new issues create new challenges for PV power electronic inverter. As a result, in-depth discussions on these issues are required in order to provide technical support for the global energy transition. It is simple to implement conventional current control with a PI controller. However, system stability and dynamic performance are not perfect, particularly when operating under unfavorable conditions. In Chapter 2, an improved control method is proposed by introducing a compensation unit. The compensation unit can effectively compensate the system's phase around the crossover frequency, greatly enhancing the system's phase margin and stability. It is also capable of handling weak-grid conditions. Researchers have discovered that there are various degradation mechanisms affecting PV module. One of the degradation mechanisms is the PID, which is regarded as one of the leading causes of PV module degradation. In Chapter 3, a PID suppression method is proposed, in which a PID suppression unit is added between DC negative bus and ground. The idea is to regulate the output voltage of the added power supply, and then correspondingly raise the voltage of the PV module to the ground to suppress the PID effect. Chapter 4 investigates the dc-bus voltage balancing for 3-level DC/DC converters. Based on duty cycle and operating modes, four different cases are illustrated, and the output voltages under four cases are detailed. The dc-bus voltage balancing situation becomes worse when the system is in the condition of D>0.5 and DCM. Therefore, three methods are proposed to solve the issue raised.
Non-Destructive Testing of Materials and Parts
Non-destructive testing (NDT) is the application of scientific principles of physics, chemistry, and mathematics for the development of adequate procedures and specific equipment that can be used to study a part, object, or complex structure, like a car, airplane, or railway bridge, without causing any harm to the object under examination. NDT is also used in many other industries, and in other non-industrial applications; for example, NDT is used to make sure that parts do not have defects that would make the customer unhappy or that passengers and luggage in an airport comply with the strict safety regulations. Some of the equipment and procedures used in NDT can also be found in the medical field, like with the use of X-rays in dental work or ultrasound in echography. Presently, there is no doubt about the importance of NDT, as it leads to a considerable amount of savings by not destroying parts, some of which are expensive, as it replaces the still too present destructive testing technique. Nowadays, there are many NDT techniques available. The field of quality control works to perfect these technologies year after year, allowing us to effectively replace destructive testing. So, we invite the reader to get acquainted with the themes within this Reprint, as they comprise an interesting set of contributions for the current state on recent NDT techniques and applications with some new insights on the use of methods like acoustic emission, ultrasound, electromagnetic waves, thermal imaging, nanoindentation, thermography, or enhanced radiography.
Tribology of Textured Surfaces
This reprint highlights the latest advances in tribology focused on textured surfaces, showcasing 14 peer-reviewed contributions that explore innovative strategies to reduce friction, enhance lubrication, and improve wear resistance. The volume spans a broad spectrum of texture scales, from micro-dimples as small as 5 μm to millimeter-sized grooves, and covers diverse fabrication methods including laser surface texturing, controlled grinding, and hybrid coatings. The studies demonstrate how precise surface engineering can dramatically enhance the performance of mechanical components such as bearings, seals, piston-cylinder systems, and biomedical implants.A significant portion of the contributions emphasize computational modeling and simulations, including non-linear optimization, computational fluid dynamics, and finite element methods, which complement experimental validation and provide predictive insights into tribological performance. By integrating theory, experiments, and practical applications, this reprint serves as a comprehensive resource for researchers and engineers seeking to design advanced textured surfaces.Together, these contributions underscore the transformative potential of surface texturing in extending component life, improving energy efficiency, and enabling next-generation engineering solutions across industrial and biomedical applications.
Design and Development of Metal Matrix Composites
This Special Issue presents recent advancements in the design, fabrication, and characterization of metal matrix composites (MMCs), highlighting their growing importance in high-performance structural and functional applications. It includes original research focused on innovative processing techniques such as powder metallurgy, additive manufacturing, and casting, as well as investigations into microstructural behavior, mechanical properties, and tribological performance. The contributions offer valuable insights into how MMCs can be tailored for demanding environments in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and energy. By addressing both theoretical developments and practical implementations, this Special Issue provides a comprehensive overview of current trends and future directions in the field of MMCs.
Advanced New Physical Layer Technologies for Next-Generation Wireless Communications
The objective of this Special Issue is to present groundbreaking research on the latest developments in physical-layer technologies that will form the foundation of next-generation 6G wireless communications. We have gathered original research articles that explore innovative solutions to meet the demanding requirements of global convergence, enhanced spectral/energy efficiency, extreme reliability, ultra-low latency, and intelligent security for next-generation wireless communication networks. Building upon established principles of wireless communication theory, this Special Issue pushes the boundaries of current knowledge to address the limitations of 5G technologies. While conventional approaches-such as OFDM and classical information theory-have proven inadequate, revolutionary techniques including new waveforms, advanced multiple-access approaches, novel channel-coding methods, and multi-antenna technologies are now emerging. These innovations are enabling the paradigm shift from conventional terrestrial-only networks to integrated space-air-ground networks. This Special Issue highlights transformative work in key areas: classical and multiuser information theory, electromagnetic information theory, semantic-aware transceiver designs, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, native-AI-empowered architectures, and integrated sensing and communication systems.
New Methods and Applications for UAVs
The aim of this Special Issue Reprint is to present the current state of knowledge regarding Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the field of sensors.With the rapid development of new applications and simulation methods, UAVs can now operate in a wide range of environmental conditions, and are used in an extensive range of human activities due to their flexibility, autonomous control capabilities, size, low cost and high adaptability.The aim of this collection is to bring together the work of leading researchers in the field of UAVs with an interest in their control, design, navigation and autonomy. The papers included in this Reprint present key challenges affecting UAVs. The authors propose new solutions, approaches and methodologies to address current challenges in the use of UAVs as sensors.
Discovering Pompeii
The conference focused on the results of the first year of the Project of Relevant National Interest (PRIN), funded in Italy by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR). SCORPi簷-NIDI, its short name, investigates and analyzes the ballistic impacts found on the extrados of Pompeii's perimeter walls. The city's exceptional history ensures that the damage was inflicted by Roman artillery.Digital documentation of the cavities provided virtual casts used for reverse-engineering analyses. The results enabled the reconstruction of terminal ballistic parameters from the geometric configuration of the cavities. Experimental activities converged on the same objective. The calculated, objectively verifiable parameters will be used to reconstruct accurate replicas of scorpions and ballistae for display both online and offline in support of dedicated platforms.
Multi-Sensor Technology for Target Tracking, Positioning and Navigation
Multi-sensor technology aims to combine information from multiple sensors to improve system accuracy, leading to more specific inferences than those achieved with the use of a single sensor. It has become an indispensable tool for information processing in numerous fields, such as target tracking, positioning, navigation, control, attitude estimation, wireless networks, and so on. Thus, with the development of information sciences and sensor technology, the multi-sensor strategy has received increasing attention for practical application in recent years. This reprint collates about 20 articles representing original studies and reviews on recent advances, solutions, applications, and new challenges for multi-sensor technology in the fields of target tracking, positioning, and navigation.
