Emerging Micro Manufacturing Technologies and Applications
he is a reprint of the Special Issue 'Emerging Micro Manufacturing Technologies and Applications' published in the journal Micromachines (MDPI). It contains eleven articles, including one Editorial, nine research papers, and one review.
The Future Equation
"The Future Equation: Balancing Humanity and Technology" is a collection of essays that navigate the complexities of technology's influence on society and humankind. This thought-provoking book examines the transformative impact of emerging innovations and invites readers to reflect on our ever-evolving world. Each essay offers unique perspectives, stimulating contemplation on the interplay between technology and our shared human experience.Within the pages of this book, you can explore the evolution and future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) while grappling with its ethical challenges. Uncover the implications of Virtual Reality (VR) beyond games, analyzing its influence on social interaction, mental health, and the future of workspaces. By serving as a platform for examining the intricate relationship between humanity and technology, "The Future Equation" prompts readers to consider the broader significance of these advancements.Moreover, this insightful collection extends its focus beyond technology to address critical issues shaping our society. It invites readers to ponder the complexities of privacy in the age of big data and contemplate the delicate balance between surveillance technologies and society. The book also explores the far-reaching impact of social media on modern democracy and the emergence of novel models of democratic governance. Furthermore, it looks at the human impact of climate change, ethical considerations surrounding gene editing, and the silent epidemic of mental health."The Future Equation" goes beyond providing surface-level insights; it offers different viewpoints into the challenges we face as a global community. By exploring these topics through engaging essays, the book ignites curiosity and encourages dialogue, reflection, and proactive shaping of the future we all share. With its diverse range of subjects and thought-provoking content, it prompts readers to ponder the ongoing equation between humanity and technology.
The Creativity Complex
"Creativity" is a word that excites and dazzles us. It promises brilliance and achievement, a shield against conformity, a channel for innovation across the arts, sciences, technology, and education, and a mechanism for economic revival and personal success. But it has not always evoked these ideas. The Creativity Complex traces the history of how creativity has come to mean the things it now does, and explores the ethical implications of how we use this term today for both the arts and for the social world more broadly. Richly researched, the book explores how creativity has been invoked in arenas as varied as Enlightenment debates over the nature of cognition, Victorian-era intelligence research, the Cold War technology race, contemporary K-12 education, and even modern electoral politics. Ultimately, The Creativity Complex asks how our ideas about creativity are bound up with those of self-fulfillment, responsibility, and the individual, and how these might seduce us into joining a worldview and even a set of social imperatives that we might otherwise find troubling.
Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue Damage of Materials and Structures
One of the most important aspects of the engineering assessment of the technical condition of structures and materials is the ability to assess the fatigue behavior of materials and structures. In addition, another important topic is the design of materials or structures that can resist fatigue and fracture. Modern science provides us with an increasing number of new materials, from superalloys of metals manufactured conventionally as well as via additive manufacturing to functionally advanced composites. Against this background, fundamental knowledge of the fatigue behavior and fracture mechanics of different material groups provides a convenient platform for communication between different interested groups and fields: from material science, numerical engineering and mathematical modeling to hybrid methods for fatigue life prediction. This Special Issue facilitates such an exchange of ideas on recent developments in the field of fatigue and fracture and is especially focused on fatigue crack growth analysis, the description of fatigue damage in metals and composites, probabilistic approaches and fracture mechanics analysis, as well as fatigue failure analysis and lifetime prediction.
Recent Advances in Underwater Signal Processing
Seventy-one percent of the Earth is covered by oceans, which plays an important role in human life (ecological regulation, living resources, mineral resources, etc.). Underwater equipment including sonar and radar can help us to better understand the ocean. Using these technologies, topography, underwater communication, target detection, localization, imaging, and ocean monitoring can be easily carried out. Signal processing and electronics techniques have achieved great progress in recent years. Thanks to these developments, the novel theories, mechanisms, and processing techniques of underwater equipment have also been pushed into a new era.This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advancements, developments, and applications in underwater signal processing methodologies including characterization, simulation, real data processing, as well as applications to underwater engineering. In general, any contributions related to underwater signal processing or ocean signal processing will be considered.
Sustainability in Maritime Transport
This Special Issue, "Sustainability in Maritime Transport: Advances, Solutions and Pending Tasks", provides an up-to-date overview of the use of new technologies to develop more sustainable maritime transport based on new combustibles, working procedures and related industries, all of which are in agreement with the technical limitations indicated by safety on board.
Efficient Intelligence with Applications in Embedded Sensing
This book delves into the realm of efficient intelligence, encompassing fundamental and applied research. It explores the applications of embedded sensing in a variety of embedded devices, including industrial robots, unmanned vehicles, elevator traction machines, fuel cells, and more. Special attention is given to collaborative autonomous navigation, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), target object tracking, LiDAR point cloud analysis, prognostic methods for fuel cells, fabric defect detection in manufacturing, elevator traction machine recognition, object detection, vision-based autonomous forklifts, among others.
Handgunology
Discover the key to unraveling the mysteries of motion and forces with "Handgunology: From Newton to Firepower" - an enthralling exploration of the captivating world of recoil-actuated pistols. This comprehensive book takes readers on an illuminating journey through the fundamental principles, intricate mechanisms, and dynamic forces that define these remarkable firearms. Delve into the fascinating realm of dynamics, where you will explore the governing principles of object motion and the forces that act upon them. From foundational concepts to advanced theories, this meticulously crafted guide offers a profound understanding of the subject. "Handgunology" adeptly demystifies the complexities of semi-automatic handguns with utmost clarity and precision. Drawing upon centuries of scientific knowledge and engineering expertise, it unveils the secrets behind projectile velocity, bullet mass, and the generation of momentum, providing a profound comprehension of the forces at play. Unleash your potential and attain mastery over dynamics as you uncover the secrets behind acceleration, momentum, and the interplay of forces. With lucid explanations, practical examples, and insightful illustrations, you will effortlessly grasp essential concepts. Through engaging prose, detailed illustrations, and meticulous analysis, "Handgunology" delves into the ingenious technical solutions employed in recoil-actuated firearms, presenting a comprehensive perspective on the mechanics of these autoloaders. Whether you are a firearm enthusiast, a mechanical engineering aficionado, or simply driven by curiosity about the inner workings of these popular weapons, "Handgunology" serves as an essential companion for those seeking a comprehensive understanding of handguns. It caters to individuals who appreciate the artistry, ingenuity, and profound significance of the laws of physics that govern these firearms. Embark on this captivating journey as we unravel the basic mechanisms and timeles
Metamaterials and Metasurfaces
Metamaterials and metasurfaces have recently attracted increasing attention due to their anomalous and largely flexible properties. Their performance mainly depends on their subwavelength separation and geometric parameters. Metamaterials comprise a class of artificial materials whose physical properties can be engineered to exhibit various desired characteristics. A metasurface is a 2D metamaterial whose thickness is well below the wavelength of impinging lights. Metamaterials and metasurfaces have unique interface transmission and reflection properties resulting from surface impedance, which can cause multiple advanced functionalities such as light focusing, hologram generation, polarization control, etc. Their extremely small hardware footprint enables them to be embedded in various components of the environment in a cost-effective way. In recent years, they have emerged as a powerful technology with a broad range of applications; however, there are many challenges yet to be addressed in order for them to fulfil their potential in practical applications.This Special Issue reprint covers all aspects of metamaterials and metasurfaces. It also aims to highlight the exciting developments, ongoing trends, and latest achievements in their design and construction.
Next Generation Innovation
The United States has a long history as a leader of global innovation and of funding pioneering technologies that prove to be of benefit to the nation. The present moment is no exception. In fact, the next decade is likely to see increased involvement from the Federal government bringing to market the most innovative technologies under development. Author Kelly Carnes identifies the current moment as a golden age of opportunity for American innovators to partner with government, a moment in which there is bipartisan support for investing more aggressively in the development and deployment of leading-edge technology.Next Generation Innovation collects insights from Carnes' experience as an attorney for technology companies, her time spent working as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology in the Office of Technology Policy, and her current entrepreneurial effort, TechVision21-a company offering exclusive assistance to technology visionaries interested in doing well by doing good for the nation. TechVision21 offers its clients the opportunity to collaborate with an expert team that is deeply knowledgeable about theories and models of innovation, the history of science and technology policy, and the details of U.S. government programs and budget-making processes.Carnes' wide-ranging experience makes her uniquely sensitive to the challenges facing entrepreneurs taking ideas and projects from inception to commercialization. With full awareness of those challenges, Carnes argues that technology organizations of all sizes and capabilities could be doing more to leverage U.S. government policies, programs, and funding opportunities to achieve their fullest potential. She writes, "In my company's work helping innovators establish and sustain productive relationships with the Federal government, I try never to lose sight of two important details: the government wants to support projects that serve the national good-whether promoting security, health, a clean environment, ensuring a stable and safe food supply, promoting high quality job opportunities, or addressing climate change-and many innovators are driven by a desire to contribute to the national or global good. ...From the long-term partnerships between government and industry that I have both participated in and witnessed, doing good is the truest satisfaction drawn by both partners."Next Generation Innovation sets as its task not only encouraging more entrepreneurs to consider the value of their ideas for promoting the national good but also guiding readers through a careful consideration of every step in the partnering process-from evaluating the partnership appropriateness of specific projects to setting priorities and developing a strategy that maximizes opportunity over the long term. In so doing, Carnes highlights the value of ongoing engagement with both program managers and policy makers as critical parts of any effort to promote one's technology and achieve business goals.There is much to consider and much to do when it comes to engaging in fruitful long-term relationships with the Federal government. Carnes couches her down-to-earth, detailed practical advice within an overall approach that recognizes the significant amount of effort and know-how involved: "I emphasize the importance of finding early on people to integrate into your team who can take you all the way through that journey-from initial research and strategizing to plotting effective communications across a variety of audiences, to finding ways of further enhancing successful, established partnerships."In response to the need for strategic, concerted effort, Next Generation Innovation can be read both as a primer for companies newly considering establishing government partnerships and as a timely reference for those looking to refresh and renew their approach.
Advances in Construction and Project Management
The construction industry makes a significant contribution to the global economy. Effective management of construction projects is essential to ensuring timely completion that meets quality standards within a project's prescribed scope and budget. Furthermore, assuring sustainability is crucial to reducing the impact of construction on the environment. The construction industry is also affected by globalization and increasing susceptibility to disasters highlighting the need for health and safety and resilience in the industry, especially after global pandemics and natural disasters. Digitalization and industrialization pave the way to the solution or mitigation of numerous issues in the construction industry by transforming business operations, improving productivity and safety, ensuring quality and compliance to standards, increasing sustainability, among other measures. It is imperative for project managers and other construction stakeholders to be digitally oriented.This reprint comprises of a collection of cutting-edge research articles in construction and project management that explores advances in digital, sustainable, and industrialized construction solutions for prevalent issues in construction and project management and investigates the needs of health and safety and resilience in the construction industry.
Advances in Construction and Project Management
The construction industry makes a significant contribution to the global economy. Effective management of construction projects is essential to ensuring timely completion that meets quality standards within a project's prescribed scope and budget. Furthermore, assuring sustainability is crucial to reducing the impact of construction on the environment. The construction industry is also affected by globalization and increasing susceptibility to disasters highlighting the need for health and safety and resilience in the industry, especially after global pandemics and natural disasters. Digitalization and industrialization pave the way to the solution or mitigation of numerous issues in the construction industry by transforming business operations, improving productivity and safety, ensuring quality and compliance to standards, increasing sustainability, among other measures. It is imperative for project managers and other construction stakeholders to be digitally oriented.This reprint comprises of a collection of cutting-edge research articles in construction and project management that explores advances in digital, sustainable, and industrialized construction solutions for prevalent issues in construction and project management and investigates the needs of health and safety and resilience in the construction industry.
Advances in Construction and Project Management
The construction industry makes a significant contribution to the global economy. Effective management of construction projects is essential to ensuring timely completion that meets quality standards within a project's prescribed scope and budget. Furthermore, assuring sustainability is crucial to reducing the impact of construction on the environment. The construction industry is also affected by globalization and increasing susceptibility to disasters highlighting the need for health and safety and resilience in the industry, especially after global pandemics and natural disasters. Digitalization and industrialization pave the way to the solution or mitigation of numerous issues in the construction industry by transforming business operations, improving productivity and safety, ensuring quality and compliance to standards, increasing sustainability, among other measures. It is imperative for project managers and other construction stakeholders to be digitally oriented.This reprint comprises of a collection of cutting-edge research articles in construction and project management that explores advances in digital, sustainable, and industrialized construction solutions for prevalent issues in construction and project management and investigates the needs of health and safety and resilience in the construction industry.
Advanced X-by-Wire Technologies in Design, Control and Measurement for Vehicular Electrified Chassis
Advanced X-by-wire technologies for vehicular electrified chassis play an essential role in the development of new energy intelligent vehicles, which is the inevitable choice for intelligent vehicles in the future. This technology is involved in mechanical engineering, electronic and electrical engineering, computer technology, control engineering, signal processing, and artificial intelligence. Advanced electrified chassis control technology transmits control signals through cables and acts directly on the actuator to implement corresponding actions. The application of X-by-wire technologies for vehicular electrified chassis has changed the complex mechanical connections among actuators and hydraulic and pneumatic equipment in the past, greatly promoting energy efficiency, integration, and intelligence. This book focuses on advanced X-by-wire technologies in strong reliability design, modeling, integration control, thermal management, energy management, fault diagnosis, and fault-tolerant control with the vehicular electrified chassis. Therefore, the aim of this book is to solicit recent advanced X-by-wire technologies for vehicular electrified chassis.
Medical Data Processing and Analysis
Medical data can be defined as obtaining information from patients (such as signals, images, sounds, chemical components and their concentration, body temperature, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and different treatment measurements) to quantify the patient's status and disease stage. Computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) systems use classical image processing, computer vision, machine learning, and deep learning methods for image analysis. Using image classification or segmentation algorithms, they find a region of interest (ROI) pointing to a specific location within the given image or an outcome of interest in the form of a label pointing to a diagnosis or prognosis. Computer science, with the evolution of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques, facilitates the modeling and interpretation of results-from carrying out measurements to experiments and observations. Employing technological tools for collection, processing, and analysis incorporates understanding the patient's status and developing the treatment plan. Achieving highly accurate models requires a huge dataset. This issue can be solved by having enough knowledge around medical data processing and their analysis. This book shows state-of-the-art research in the field of medical data processing and analysis. The medical data are represented in signals, images, raw data, protein sequences, etc. Processing and analysis of any kind can indicate specific issues in the medical sector such as diagnosis, detection, prediction, and segmentation to enhance the visualization of the processed data
High-Efficiency and High-Performance Power Electronics for Power Grids and Electrical Drives
This book collects papers addressing valuable techniques to improve the efficiency and performance of power electronics when applied to power grids and electrical drives. The proposed techniques leverage several approaches, e.g., advanced converter topologies, innovative control algorithms, and wide bandgap power devices. Diverse application domains were covered: interfacing Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) and Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) with AC or DC microgrids; recharging ESSs in electric vehicles; increasing performance in variable speed electrical drives and direct online induction motors; applying electrical loss minimization techniques to microgrids based on RESs. After a short description of each contribution, some perspectives for future developments are also briefly given.
New Frontiers in Parallel Robots
The parallel robot, a kind of robot that utilizes multiple closed-loop branch chains jointly connecting and driving the moving platform, is an important part of modern robotics, with outstanding advantages of high stiffness, high precision and high speed. Parallel robots can efficiently change performance through the configuration of synthesis and design. The rich variety of configurations and the existence of a large number of passive joints also brought abundant challenges and research topics to the modeling, optimization, calibration and trajectory planning of parallel robots. This book focuses on the research frontiers of parallel robots from fundamental theory to application technology. Special attention is paid to kinematics/dynamics modeling, error modeling and calibration, impedance control and the machining stability of parallel robots. Notably, a considerable portion of the book focuses on cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs) that integrate cable-driven kinematic chains and parallel mechanism theory. CDPRs inherit the high dynamics and heavy load capacities of parallel robots and significantly improve the workspace, cost and energy efficiency simultaneously, following the cutting-edge trend of rigid-flexible fusion.
Animal Nutrition and Productions
The externalization of animals' genetic potential is determined by a number of external factors, of which feeding plays a major role. Animals' nourishment is one of the most important levers to ensure the efficiency of animal production due to both the high share of feed costs in the total cost of products and the influence this has on the growth, reproduction, and health of animals as well as the quality of products obtained from these. This field is one of the most dynamic in the field of husbandry sciences due to the takeover and permanent use of numerous results obtained from research on energy metabolism and nutrients related to the composition of feed and its influence on animal products. This is also due to the great advances in genetics, which create new types of animals with increasing productive potential, but also with different food requirements.This Special Issue collated innovative papers on animal nutrition, physiology, chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, reproduction, and breeding technologies. The articles covered a wide range of topics related to feed quality, the influence of food on the production level, the quality of production, and also on animals' health.
Development of a battery of executive functions
Executive Functions are among the most complex aspects of cognition and involve different components, and such complexity is also reflected in conceptual definitions, since there is still no consensus about their definition. Currently, however, several authors agree that Executive Functions are an integrated system comprising distinct domains such as flexibility, updating, inhibition, alternation, and planning. The complexity of the construct reflects directly on the assessment of executive functions and the construction of appropriate tasks, since they do not measure only one skill. Additionally, several studies emphasize that executive functions develop throughout the child's growth, and the relationship with academic performance is well established in the literature. This research is part of a larger project whose main objective is to develop and propose a battery that evaluates distinct domains of executive functions, so that it can be used with several participants of different age groups, from infancy to adulthood, and also by different intellectual and socioeconomic levels.
Emerging Trends and Innovations in Industries of the Developing World
ISC 2022 is dedicated to the Niti Aayog policies to promote sustainability through exchange of ideas emerging out of the academia. The ISC is an annual conference that is held in virtual mode until COVID restrictions on travel exist. The vision of the conference is to capacitate Academia with the necessary ideas that provide insights of the grassroot level development to various stakeholders of the Niti-Aayog policies. Towards this goal, the conference creates a conjunction of various stakeholders of Niti-Aayog policies that include- academic institutions, government bodies, policy makers and industry. The ISC organizers make concerted efforts to promote academic research that would technological, scientific, management & business practices, and insights into policy merits & disruptions. The framework of exchange of ideas is geared towards adoption of deep technologies, fundamental sciences & engineering, energy research, energy policies, advances in medicine & related case studies. This framework enables the round table discussions between the academia, industry and policy makers through its range of plenary and keynote speakers.
Data Centre Essentials
Data Centre Essentials Understand the design, construction and operation of data centres with this easy-to-use reference Data centres are spaces where computer systems, physical network technology and associated components are housed, operated and monitored, and any industry or business that employs computer systems or networked systems at any scale will interact with data centres. Data centres are complex and expensive to build and operate, and successful project delivery requires a wide range of specialised knowledge and skills. This accessible reference lays out the requirements for creating these essential facilities. Data Centre Essentials is a comprehensive survey of the essential principles of data centre design, construction and operation. It is designed to provide those involved in a data centre project or providing professional service deliverables to the data centre industry but do not have a technical background or deep sector experience with the understanding required to participate in such projects. The non-technical language and thorough engagement with key considerations make it ideal for anyone looking to understand one of the pillars of a digital society. Data Centre Essentials readers will also find: An authorial team with decades of combined experience in engineering and construction consultancy Detailed information about every stage in the process, including securing investment and the building process Working lexicon of key data centre terminology Data Centre Essentials is a must-own for contractors, engineers and construction project managers involved in data centre projects and will be invaluable for professionals such as lawyers, financial and insurance advisors, surveyors, engineers and architects who do not necessarily have deep domain experience but find themselves involved in or are interested in engaging in, data centre projects.
Design Thinking for Engineering
The core of engineering learning is the ability to solve problems in specific fields; thus, engineering courses emerge as places where design thinking is a useful tool in training future engineers. Design Thinking for Engineering: A practical guide provides support for master's level courses based on design thinking, as well as describing the experience of applying this approach to related and different branches of engineering. The book takes the reader through the various stages of design thinking and includes case studies and tools for readers to use in practice. The chapter contributors have all participated in educational projects in cooperation with the editors, and this collaborative approach is extended through discussions to real world experiences and projects. The book targets advanced engineering students who will gain insight to applied design thinking approaches that will be invaluable in their progression towards a successful engineering career. Engineers and students from a wide range of fields, including mechanical engineering, electronics, aerospace, telecommunication and computer science, amongst others, will find this book to be a valuable resource.
Innovative Robot Designs and Approaches
This reprint aims to disseminate the latest research achievements, findings, and ideas in the robotics field, with particular focus on the Italian scenario. It covers a range of topics related to the theory, design, practice, and applications of robots, such as robot design and kinematics, dynamics of robots and multi-body systems, linkages and manipulators, control of robotic systems, trajectory planning and optimization, innovative robots and applications, industrial robotics, collaborative robotics, medical robotics, assistive robotics, and service robotics. The reprints contributions include (but are not limited to) revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers that were presented at the 2nd International Conference of IFToMM, Italy (IFIT 2018).
Development and Optimization of Mathematical Models for Operations Research
The development of mathematical models and their optimization are fundamental for the effective resolution of many problems in operational research. In recent years, increased insights into real-world problems have led to the development of new mathematical models and optimization algorithms, contributing to the development of a research area with increasing practical relevance. This Special Issue is dedicated to works at the interface of mathematical modeling, optimization, and operations research, with a special focus on their real-world applications. The interest of the scientific community was significant, with submissions from authors from different countries from five continents, including Australia, China, Egypt, India, Israel, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States of America. Ten papers were accepted for publication after thorough peer review by dedicated reviewers with expertise in the relevant fields. We are confident that the papers selected for this Special Issue will attract a significant audience in the scientific community and will further stimulate research involving the development of mathematical models and their optimization.
Innovative Techniques for Safety, Reliability, and Security in Control Systems
Control systems play a vital role in the advancement of many engineering and science fields. The increasing demand for safety and reliability has led to the development of fault diagnosis (FD) and fault-tolerant control (FTC) systems, which play a paramount role in safety-critical systems, such as water distribution networks, aircrafts, spacecrafts, chemical, and biochemical plants, and nuclear power plants, where even minor faults can lead to catastrophic consequences. FD has primary importance since it enables online monitoring processes, allowing for the implementation of so-called active FTC systems. In an active FTC system, the FD module determines which component exhibits abnormal behavior and feeds this information to the controller. Based on this information, it redistributes or adapts the control law to maintain stability with a controlled degradation of the system's performance. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in creating new techniques or adapting the existing fault diagnosis and fault-tolerant methods to make the above-mentioned systems secure. At the same time, control theory is developing ceaselessly, and new theoretical results are continually being discovered that can be used in innovative fault diagnosis and fault-tolerant control techniques.
Computer Vision and Machine Learning for Intelligent Sensing Systems
The reprint offers a selection of high-quality research articles that tackle the major difficulties in computer vision and machine learning for intelligent sensing systems from both theoretical and practical standpoints. This publication includes intelligent sensing techniques, twelve foundational investigations into sense-making methods, and discusses particular uses of intelligent sensing systems in autonomous driving and virtual reality.
Mechanical Behavior of Shape Memory Alloys
In recent years, the fascination with shape memory alloys (SMAs) has grown across industries such as aerospace, automotive, naval, civil, and biology. SMAs possess unique properties, including the ability to recover from deformation when heated, exhibit pseudoelastic stress-strain behavior for large deformations, and exceptional biocompatibility for bioengineering applications. However, a comprehensive understanding of critical characteristics like transformation temperature and stress values is necessary to fully utilize SMAs. The shape memory effect, where SMAs regain their original shape after deformation under specific thermal conditions, has driven innovative applications in various sectors. In aerospace, SMAs are used in wing structures and actuation systems, enabling morphing and improving aerodynamics. In healthcare, they are integrated into orthopedic devices, simplifying surgical procedures and providing necessary support. The automotive industry also benefits from SMAs, using them in seatbelts and vibration damping systems for enhanced safety and comfort. Accurate knowledge of critical characteristics is essential for effective utilization of SMAs, unlocking their potential in different fields. The remarkable versatility of SMAs, with their deformation recovery, pseudoelasticity, and biocompatibility, positions them as a material of immense interest. As research and development continue, SMAs are poised to drive future innovations, shaping various industries.
Ultra-Low-Power ICs for the Internet of Things
This collection of research papers focuses on ultra-low-power (ULP) integrated circuits (ICs) that operate within a constrained power budget. This is a requirement in the design of electronic devices that rely less and less on batteries in order to enable the Internet of Things (IoT). Several ULP IC design solutions and building blocks are explored and described.
Technical Communication for Environmental Action
Climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing the global community in the twenty-first century. With its position at the border of people, technology, science, and communication, technical communication has a significant role to play in helping to solve these complex environmental problems. This collection of essays engages scholars and practitioners in a conversation about how the field has contributed to pragmatic and democratic action to address climate change. Compared to most prior work--which offers theoretical perspectives of environmental communication--this collection explores the actual practice of international technical communicators who participate in government projects, corporate processes, nonprofit programs, and international agency work, demonstrating how technical communication theories such as participatory design, social justice, and ethics can help shape pragmatic environmental action. SUNY Press has collaborated with Knowledge Unlatched to unlock KU Focus Collection titles. The Knowledge Unlatched titles have been made open access through libraries coming together to crowd fund the publication cost. Each monograph has been released as open access making the eBook freely available to readers worldwide. Discover more about the Knowledge Unlatched program here: https: //www.knowledgeunlatched.org/. It can also be found in the SUNY Open Access Repository at https: //soar.suny.edu/handle/20.500.12648/8482 .
Selling the American People
How marketers learned to dream of optimization and speak in the idiom of management science well before the widespread use of the Internet. Algorithms, data extraction, digital marketers monetizing "eyeballs" these all seem like such recent features of our lives. And yet, Lee McGuigan tells us in this eye-opening book, digital advertising was well underway before the widespread use of the Internet. Explaining how marketers have brandished the tools of automation and management science to exploit new profit opportunities, Selling the American People traces data-driven surveillance all the way back to the 1950s, when the computerization of the advertising business began to blend science, technology, and calculative cultures in an ideology of optimization. With that ideology came adtech, a major infrastructure of digital capitalism. To help make sense of today's attention merchants and choice architects, McGuigan explores a few key questions: How did technical experts working at the intersection of data processing and management sciences come to command the center of gravity in the advertising and media industries? How did their ambition to remake marketing through mathematical optimization shape and reflect developments in digital technology? In short, where did adtech come from, and how did data-driven marketing come to mediate the daily encounters of people, products, and public spheres? His answers show how the advertising industry's efforts to bend information technologies toward its dream of efficiency and rational management helped to make "surveillance capitalism" one of the defining experiences of public life.
Machineries of Oil
The emergence of the international oil corporation as a political actor in the twentieth century, seen in BP's infrastructure and information arrangements in Iran. In the early twentieth century, international oil corporations emerged as a new kind of political actor. The development of the world oil industry, argues Katayoun Shafiee, was one of the era's largest political projects of techno-economic development. In this book, Shafiee maps the machinery of oil operations in the Anglo-Iranian oil industry between 1901 and 1954, tracking the organizational work involved in moving oil through a variety of technical, legal, scientific, and administrative networks. She shows that, in a series of disagreements, the British-controlled Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC, which later became BP) relied on various forms of information management to transform political disputes into techno-economic calculation, guaranteeing the company complete control over profits, labor, and production regimes. She argues that the building of alliances and connections that constituted Anglo-Iranian oil's infrastructure reconfigured local politics of oil regions and examines how these arrangements in turn shaped the emergence of both nation-state and transnational oil corporation. Drawing on her extensive archival and field research in Iran, Shafiee investigates the surprising ways in which nature, technology, and politics came together in battles over mineral rights; standardizing petroleum expertise; formulas for calculating profits, production rates, and labor; the "Persianization" of employees; nationalism and oil nationalization; and the long-distance machinery of an international corporation. Her account shows that the politics of oil cannot be understood in isolation from its technical dimensions. The open access edition of this book was made possible by generous funding from Knowledge Unlatched.
Marine Engines Performance and Emissions II
Marine engines are efficient machines, but stricter legislation about emissions makes continuous research necessary in order to reduce their consumption and improve their efficiency. This Special Issue, "Marine Engines Performance and Emissions II", is a continuation of "Marine Engines Performance and Emissions". It contains a set of peer-reviewed works about marine engine performance and emissions.
My STEM Workbook 1
My STEM Workbook 1 is part of a trilogy of STEM workbooks for primary students Years 1-6. Each workbook has eight challenges. Each addresses one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They are: Zero Hunger (Goal 2) Health and Well Being (Goal 3) Clean Water and Sanitation (Goal 6) Affordable and Clean Energy (Goal 7) Sustainable Cities and Communities (Goal 11) Climate Action (Goal 13) Life Below Water (Goal 14) Life on Land (Goal 15)Students apply their knowledge and skills of Science, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics to propose solutions to contextually appropriate real-world challenges. The STEM PBL framework proposed by Forbes, Chandra, Pfeiffer and Sheffield (2020) was used to design the activities. Students need to tackle each challenge through the following steps: Ask ➔ Imagine ➔ Plan ➔ Create ➔ ImproveThrough these steps students apply their design-thinking skills to propose solutions to real-world challenges. Workplace Health and Safety is an integral part of each activity. Students are expected to handle tools, equipment and materials with care. Teachers are also expected to reinforce the use of safety gear - that is, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as needed.
Understanding Contract Termination Dynamics in Public Building Projects
Seminar paper in the subject Engineering - Civil Engineering, Hawassa University (Tecnology), course: construction tecnology managemnt, language: English, abstract: This research aims to investigate the causes and effects of construction contract termination in public building projects owned by the SNNPRS Industrial Parks Development Corporation. the study will delve into understanding the rate of contract termination, examining the underlying causes, and evaluating the impacts of termination on social and economic aspects. Over a period of six months, the research will employ both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to provide a comprehensive analysis of contract termination dynamics. The significance of this study lies in its potential to contribute to the existing literature on construction contract termination. By identifying the causes and effects of termination, the research will generate valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners, offering effective strategies to manage and mitigate the consequences of contract termination. Public construction projects play a vital role in delivering social and economic benefits, and the implications of their premature termination can be substantial. By conducting this research, policymakers and practitioners will gain a better understanding of contract termination dynamics and be equipped with knowledge to optimize project management practices and minimize the negative impacts associated with termination. To accomplish the research objectives, a budget of 20,000 ETB has been estimated. This allocation will facilitate rigorous data collection and analysis, ensuring the research provides reliable and insightful findings. Ultimately, the findings of this study will contribute to the existing body of knowledge on construction contract termination and serve as a valuable resource for stakeholders involved in public construction projects.
Hot Deformation and Microstructure Evolution of Metallic Materials
Hot deformation is a key method of processing metallic materials and controlling their final properties through structure-forming processes. The ability to exploit the structural potentiality of both traditional alloys and new progressive materials is crucial in terms of sustainable development and economic growth. This reprint focuses not only on conventional technologies (e.g., rolling or forging) but also on modern procedures, such as various types of complex thermomechanical processing and controlled cooling. Most papers are based on the application of advanced hot deformation simulators and structural analysis methods, as well as computer simulations of bulk-forming processes.
New Frontiers in Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Processes
This Special Issue explores recent developments and advanced concepts related to the valorisation of organic wastes and other biomass through the application of anaerobic digestion (AD). Biological phenomena, the efficiency of the AD process, the viability of full-scale AD installations, the integration of hydrogen and biomethane concepts, and biorefineries are some of the themes covered. While AD is addressed under different perspectives, the results all strengthen AD to fulfil its important role as a sustainable and highly versatile technology. Further research and development needs are also presented.
Advanced Propulsion System and Thermal Management Technology
The reprint focused on innovative developments in the fields of advanced propulsion system and thermal management technology. Propulsion systems develop along the direction of wide speed range and long endurance both for civil aircrafts and military applications. The research works of propulsion systems mainly include overall design, combustion, aerodynamic, internal flows and heat transfer etc. High efficiency is pursed not only by optimized designs but also from development of materials as well as application of new fuel. Along with development of high efficiency propulsion system, thermal management technology is also developed to meet the demand of external aerodynamic heating and internal combustion heat at a high flight speed. Common thermal management technology includes blade cooling in gas turbines and regenerative cooling in rocket engines. Thermal protection of engines achieves high efficiency by heat transfer enhancement, such as use of superficial fluid, nanofluids and new designed roughened surfaces. Also, some heat transfer enhancement methods in heat exchangers, battery and fuel cells are also introduced into propulsion systems.
Numerical and Evolutionary Optimization 2021
This reprint was established after the 9th International Workshop on Numerical and Evolutionary Optimization (NEO), representing a collection of papers on the intersection of the two research areas covered at this workshop: numerical optimization and evolutionary search techniques. While focusing on the design of fast and reliable methods lying across these two paradigms, the resulting techniques are strongly applicable to a broad class of real-world problems, such as pattern recognition, routing, energy, lines of production, prediction, and modeling, among others. This volume is intended to serve as a useful reference for mathematicians, engineers, and computer scientists to explore current issues and solutions emerging from these mathematical and computational methods and their applications.
Energy Transfer in Alternative Vehicles
This reprint is a collection of research that contributes to a better understanding of energy transfer related to alternative vehicles. The hybridization of power units and alternative propulsion systems are the mainly developed technology in the automotive field today. The modernization of conventional propulsion sources is justified by the increasingly stringent economic, ecological, and comfort requirements. The common link in any renewable energy source or propulsion system today is electric motors. Their correct use in propulsion offers the possibility of reducing or eliminating harmful emissions both in the form of toxic compounds and noise or unwanted vibrations. The research works were related to energy transfer in both hybrid and electric vehicles, and conversion of energy from renewable sources such as photovoltaic installations to power alternative vehicles. However, you will also find in this reprint papers that are related to modules of alternative propulsion such as drivetrain efficiency analysis, ways of energy accumulation in batteries, and influence of the charging method on the energy consumption of a vehicle during its life cycle.
Standardisation of the Command Language during Manoeuvring under (Tug-)Assistance
Master's Thesis from the year 2020 in the subject Nautical Science, grade: Distinction, University of Plymouth (MLA College), language: English, abstract: The topic of the dissertation is the supplementation of the existing IMO SMCPs with the commands necessary for manoeuvring under tug assistance. For this purpose a number of English language commands have been developed which allow safe manoeuvring of tug assisted vessels in all ports and countries. The dissertation shows the most important international and national (for Germany) legal provisions according to which the captain of the vessel to be piloted and the Bridgeteam have to be informed at all times about the commands given by the pilot to the assisting tugboats or their captains via VHF radio communication. Finally, the conclusion elaborates on the need for a common command language and demonstrates the need for the insertion of these commands in the appropriate place in the SMCPs. The Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) decided in 1973 to use the English language in shipping for communication. In 1977 the Standard Marine Navigational Vocabulary (SMNV - IMO Resolution A380.(10)) was developed and adopted, and in 1985 amended. After a period of application, the IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases - SMCPs -were implemented in international law with the adoption of IMO Resolution A1.918(22) by the 22nd Assembly in November 2001. Today, the SMCPs are used in the shipping industry and are the basis for the training of nautical officers in accordance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). According to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea - SOLAS, a common language shall be used on ships to which the Code applies. This is particularly true about the master's responsibility and authority to make decisions, e.g. with regard to manoeuvring with tugs. As there are no unifo
GPS and GNSS for Land Surveyors, Fifth Edition
Based on the success of the previous four editions, this new fifth edition includes Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in the title, which is part of the Global Positioning System (GPS). The book provides an introduction to the concepts needed to understand and use GPS and GNSS. Neither simplistic nor overly technical, the new edition is thoroughly updated with the changes in GPS and GNSS hardware, software, and procedures. It describes why modern GNSS positions can be acquired with more certainty, increased stability, and improved tracking in obstructed areas. The book offers a rare combination of knowledge and skills that every land surveyor needs to master.FEATURES- Written by a well-known land surveyor with extensive knowledge in satellite navigation and the ability to explain difficult concepts to a broad audience- Includes a useful set of self-assessment exercises and explanations at the end of each chapter- Takes a practical approach to the rapid and continuous technological progress in GNSS- Provides the latest information on GNSS and GPS - Minimizes the reliance on mathematical explanations and maximizes the use of illustrations and examples that allow the reader to visualize and grasp the conceptsIntended for both novices and professionals in the field, this book explains broad concepts in an accessible way. It provides support to undergraduate students in Civil Engineering, Geomatic Engineering, and those taking introductory GPS and GIS Mapping Courses, as well as professionals in the field, a practical approach to GPS and GNSS technology.
Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Energy Systems
This topic has been successfully completed. A total of 180 scientific articles were sent, of which 66 have been accepted for publication. These 66 articles are published in reprint.
Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Energy Systems
This topic has been successfully completed. A total of 180 scientific articles were sent, of which 66 have been accepted for publication. These 66 articles are published in reprint.
Advanced Materials for Clothing and Textile Engineering
This reprint focuses on the research of textile materials for conventional and protective clothing. More than ever, multidisciplinary research applied to the field of new textile materials and new techniques of processing and joining materials is needed. The main research topics of this Special Issue include research and development of new materials and the improvement of their properties, and the mechanical and thermal properties of yarns, materials and clothing. Simulations based on the physical and mechanical properties of fabrics for the purpose of prediction assessment of the appearance and behavior of clothing, as well as 3D virtual garment prototypes using 3D body models and involving 3D human-body scanning, are interesting and significant topics in the field of clothing engineering. The problem of microplastics that are produced during the manufacture or cleaning of synthetic textiles has also been investigated in this Special Issue.
Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Energy Systems
This topic has been successfully completed. A total of 180 scientific articles were sent, of which 66 have been accepted for publication. These 66 articles are published in this reprint.
Entropy in Real-World Datasets and Its Impact on Machine Learning
The topic of the reprint is very important nowadays, because ever-evolving machine learning techniques make it possible to obtain better real-world data. Therefore, this reprint contains information related to real data in fields such as automatic sign language translation, bike-sharing travel characteristics, stock index, sports data, fake news data, and more. However, it should be noted that the reprint also contains a lot of information on new developments in machine learning, new algorithms, algorithm modifications, and a new measure of classification quality assessment that also takes into account the preferences of the decision maker.
Patent Laws of the Republic of Hawaii
Patent Laws of the Republic of Hawaii by Hawaii has been regarded as significant work throughout human history, and in order to ensure that this work is never lost, we have taken steps to ensure its preservation by republishing this book in a contemporary format for both current and future generations. This entire book has been retyped, redesigned, and reformatted. Since these books are not made from scanned copies, the text is readable and clear.
