How to Pass the UK’s National Firefighter Selection Process
Mike Bryon gives expert advice relevant to the three main stages of the selection process: the initial application form and applicant questionnaire, the written and fitness tests and the interview, team exercise and work related physical tests, plus photographs relevant to the observation test.
Energetic Compounds
This book discusses methods for the assessment of energetic compounds through heat of detonation, detonation pressure, velocity and temperature, Gurney energy and power. The authors focus on the detonation pressure and detonation velocity of non-ideal aluminized energetic compounds. This 2nd Edition includes an updated and improved presentation of simple, reliable methods for the design, synthesis and development of novel energetic compounds.
Fly ash based geopolymer concrete
About book In recent time, the importance and use of fly ash in concrete has grown so much that it has almost become a common ingredient in concrete, particularly for making high strength and high-performance concrete. Extensive research has been done all over the world on the benefits that could be accrued in the utilization of fly ash as a supplementary cementitious material. High volume fly ash concrete as a subject of current interest all over the world. This book comprises study of structural behaviour of fly ash based geopolymer concrete for compressive strength and tensile strength. It studies physical, chemical & mechanical properties of ingredients of fly ash based geopolymer concrete.
Developments and Challenges
The microstructures of both martensite and bainite, although sharing some common features, depict a plethora of subtle differences that made them unique when studied in further detail. Tailoring the final properties of a microstructure based on one or the other as well as in combination with others and exploring more sophisticated concepts, such as Q&P and nanostructured bainite, are the topics which are the focus of research around the world. In understanding the key microstructural parameters controlling the final properties as well as definition of adequate process parameters to attain the desired microstructures requires that a proper understanding of the mechanism ruling their transformation and a detailed characterization first be acheived. The development of new and powerful scientific techniques and equipment (EBSD, APT, HRTEM, etc.) allow us to gain fundamental insights that help to establish some of the principles by which those microstructures are known. The developments accompanying such findings lead to further developments and intensive research providing the required metallurgical support.
Wood Properties and Processing
Wood-based materials are CO2-neutral, renewable, and considered to be environmentally friendly. The huge variety of wood species and wood-based composites allows a wide scope of creative and esthetic alternatives to materials with higher environmental impacts during production, use and disposal. Quality of wood is influenced by the genetic and environmental factors. One of the emerging uses of wood are building and construction applications. Modern building and construction practices would not be possible without use of wood or wood-based composites. The use of composites enables using wood of lower quality for the production of materials with engineered properties for specific target applications. Even more, the utilization of such reinforcing particles as carbon nanotubes and nanocellulose enables development of a new generation of composites with even better properties. The positive aspect of decomposability of waste wood can turn into the opposite when wood or wood-based materials are exposed to weathering, moisture oscillations, different discolorations, and degrading organisms. Protective measures are therefore unavoidable for many outdoor applications. Resistance of wood against different aging factors is always a combined effect of toxic or inhibiting ingredients on the one hand, and of structural, anatomical, or chemical ways of excluding moisture on the other.
Sustainable Utilization of MetalsProcessing, Recovery and Recycling
The high demand for advanced metallic materials raises the need for an extensive recycling of metals and such a sustainable use of raw materials. "Sustainable Utilization of Metals - Processing, Recovery and Recycling" comprises the latest scientific achievements in efficient production of metals and such addresses sustainable resource use as part of the circular economy strategy. This policy drives the present contributions, aiming on the recirculation of EoL-streams such as Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), multi-metal alloys or composite materials back into metal production. This needs a holistic approach, resulting in the maximal avoidance of waste. Considering both aspects, circular economy and material design, recovery and use of minor metals play an essential role, since their importance for technological applications often goes along with a lack of supply on the world market. Additionally, their ignoble character and low concentration in recycling materials cause an insufficient recycling rate of these metals, awarding them the status of "critical metals". In order to minimize losses and energy consumption, this issue explores concepts for the optimization concerning the interface between mechanical and thermal pre-treatment and metallurgical processes. Such new approaches in material design, structural engineering and substitution are provided in the chapters.
Detectors and Sources for THz and IR
IR and THz technologies are widely used in security screening and surveillance, astronomy, spectroscopy, biomedicine, food and package inspection, detection of concealed weapons, vision through camouflage, etc. There are increasing demands for the fast transmission of large amounts of data. THz radiation penetrates dielectric materials like plastics, ceramics or cardboard allowing contact-free testing. Medical imaging technologies can provide guidance for surgeons in delimiting the margins of tumors, help clinicians to visualize diseased areas, etc.
Design and Development of Nanostructured Thin Films
Due to their unique size-dependent physicochemical properties, nanostructured thin films are used in a wide range of applications from smart coating and drug delivery to electrocatalysis and highly-sensitive sensors. Depending on the targeted application and the deposition technique, these materials have been designed and developed by tuning their atomic-molecular 2D- and/or 3D-aggregation, thickness, crystallinity, and porosity, having effects on their optical, mechanical, catalytic, and conductive properties. Several open questions remain about the impact of nanomaterial production and use on environment and health. Many efforts are currently being made not only to prevent nanotechnologies and nanomaterials from contributing to environmental pollution but also to design nanomaterials to support, control, and protect the environment. This Special Issue aims to cover the recent advances in designing nanostructured films focusing on environmental issues related to their fabrication processes (e.g., low power and low cost technologies, the use of environmentally friendly solvents), their precursors (e.g., waste-recycled, bio-based, biodegradable, and natural materials), their applications (e.g., controlled release of chemicals, mimicking of natural processes, and clean energy conversion and storage), and their use in monitoring environment pollution (e.g., sensors optically- or electrically-sensitive to pollutants)
Advanced Applications of Polysaccharides and their Composites
Polysaccharides and their composites are highly promising materials for food, pharmaceutical and biomedical applications; including drug delivery, tissue engineering and packaging. Fiber- and nano-reinforced composites are good alternatives to non-biodegradable petroleum‐based polymers. The great advantage of these materials is that they are both environment friendly and nontoxic.
GPS Declassified
GPS Declassified examines the development of GPS from its secret, Cold War military roots to its emergence as a worldwide consumer industry.Drawing on previously unexplored documents, Richard D. Easton and Eric F. Frazier examine how military rivalries influenced the creation of GPS and shaped public perceptions about its origin. Since the United States' first program to launch a satellite in the late 1950s, the nation has pursued dual paths into space--one military and secret, the other scientific and public. Among the many commercial spinoffs this approach has produced, GPS arguably boasts the greatest impact on our daily lives. Told by a son of a navy insider--whose work helped lay the foundations for the system--and a science and technology journalist, the story chronicles the research and technological advances required for the development of GPS. Easton and Frazier note how the technology moved from the laboratory and the battlefield to the dashboard and the smartphone, and they raise the specter of how this technology and its surrounding industry affect public policy. Insights into how the system works and how it fits into a long history of advances in navigation tie into discussions of the myriad applications for GPS.
The ViscousTheViscousSlime, Stickiness, Fondling, Mixtures
Slime, goo, gunge, gloop, gels, sols, globules, jellies, emulsions, greases, soaps, syrups, glues, lubricants, liquid crystals, moulds, plasmas, and protoplasms - the viscous is not one thing, but rather a quality of resistance and flow, of stickiness and slipperiness. It is a state of matter that oozes into the gaps of our everyday existence, across age groups, between cultures and disciplines.Since the large-scale extraction of petroleum in the 19th century, the viscous has witnessed a proliferation in the variety of its forms. Mechanized industry required lubricants and oil distillation produced waste products that were refined to form Vaseline. From this age, new viscous forms and technologies emerged: products from plastic (and plastic explosives) to cosmetics, glycerine, asphalt, sexual lubrication, hydro- and aero-gels, and even anti-climb paint.Based on unique and wide-ranging research, The Viscous is the first major investigation of encounters with and possibilities of the viscous over the course of the last century, not simply as a material state, but also as an imaginative event. We enter into a story of matter at its most wayward, deviant, hesitant, and resistant.From asphalt lakes to industrial molasses tanks, from liquid crystals squirming in our screens to milk fetishes, The Viscous discloses gooeyness as a peculiarly modern phase of matter. "Everything oozes," as Beckett's Estragon famously proclaims in Waiting for Godot. Viscous dynamics are exposed as not only hugely various in a post-industrial age, but particularly useful ways of thinking, feeling, writing, and making in a time of ecological anxiety.Freddie Mason is a writer, researcher, and filmmaker living in London. He received his doctorate from the Royal College of art in 2019, on the history and futures of semi-states. Before The Viscous, he published Ada Kaleh (Little Island Press, 2016).
The Incompleat Sound Operator
A "how-to" book for people who operate sound systems that covers all aspects of "doing sound." It includes information about pre-event planning, setup, and operation. It covers gain structure (getting the volume right) mixing and sound equalization. There are recommendations and tips for all aspects of sound operation. Also it includes a visual glossary.
Microflows
From the reviews of the first edition: "For those who want to compute flows at the micro scale, this monograph is a must ...Those who wonder what new fluid dynamics there is in the microworld are served by the overview of theory and treasures of numerical methods." --EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MECHANICS B / FLUIDS This monograph focusing on gas flows addresses mostly theoretical issues and develops semi-analytical models as well as numerical methods for stimulating micro flows. It is appropriate for researchers in fluid mechanics interested in this new flow field as well as for electrical or mechanical engineers or physicists who need to incorporate flow modeling into their work.
Mathematical Music Theory: Algebraic, Geometric, Combinatorial, Topological and Applied Approaches to Understanding Musical Phenomena
Questions about variation, similarity, enumeration, and classification of musical structures have long intrigued both musicians and mathematicians. Mathematical models can be found from theoretical analysis to actual composition or sound production. Increasingly in the last few decades, musical scholarship has incorporated modern mathematical content. One example is the application of methods from Algebraic Combinatorics, or Topology and Graph Theory, to the classification of different musical objects. However, these applications of mathematics in the understanding of music have also led to interesting open problems in mathematics itself.The reach and depth of the contributions on mathematical music theory presented in this volume is significant. Each contribution is in a section within these subjects: (i) Algebraic and Combinatorial Approaches; (ii) Geometric, Topological, and Graph-Theoretical Approaches; and (iii) Distance and Similarity Measures in Music.
PLA Modernisation and Likely Force Structure 2025
China is modernizing her military very rapidly and as her economy strengthens, the pace of military modernization is going to touch higher trajectories. This book is an effort in this direction and attempts to find some answers to the questions posed. The trends of modernization of the four services of the PLA have been analyzed and a capability suggested that the PLA is likely to have by 2025.
The New Soldier in the Age of Asymmetric Conflict
The New Soldier is, in essence, a traditional soldier but one who is endowed with compassion, empathy and cultural understanding. This soldier is better able to navigate through the unknown terrain of ideological, emotional and psychological conflicts within the realm of global terrorism. The New Soldier is a strategic tool in combating global terrorism. The practical uses of the New Soldier in the context of fragile states is analyzed in great depth in the book.
First Responder Fire And Rescue
Today, more than ever, we know how important our first responders are. This notebook is one in a series of five first responder journals. This one has been dedicated to honoring firefighters in their first responder duties.First responders like firefighters work tirelessly on our behalf. On the back of this notebook you will find the words "First Responders Proud To Serve."This notebook is ready to lift the spirits of firefighters as they document their notes and experiences. 6 x 9 inch lined notebook with a soft high quality matt cover, great for note-taking anywhere Filled with 120 pages (60 sheets) of bright white lined paper An attractive and practical gift for any firefigher A notebook to honor first responders but that doesn't mean they need to use it on the job. It could be used at home as a gratitude journal, daily journal, fitness journal, idea journal, writing or planning journal, poetry journal, prayer journal, and the list goes on So, who is the firefighter you want to show appreciation to by gifting them this unique journal? Go ahead and add this notebook to your cart, or save it to your wish list for later. Makes the terrific gift book for under $10 Be sure to check out the other journal designs by this author.
Novel Smart Textiles
The sensing, adapting, responding, multifunctionality, low energy, small size and weight, ease of forming, and low-cost attributes of smart textiles and their multidisciplinary scope offer numerous end uses in medical, sports and fitness, military, fashion, automotive, aerospace, the built environment, and energy industries. The research and development on these new and high-value materials cross scientific boundaries, redefine material science design and engineering, and enhance quality of life and our environment. "Novel Smart Textiles" is a focused Special Issue that reports the latest research of this field and facilitates dissemination, networking, discussion, and debate.
Functional Polyurethanes － In Memory of Prof. J籀zsef Karger－Kocsis
This book is a collection of 22 per-reviewed scientific papers on the synthesis and characterization of polyurethanes with special chemical and physical properties. In our "plastic age", polyurethanes are one of the most versatile polymers with broad and excellent mechanical and chemical properties. These polyurethanes can be found in many areas of our every day`s life ranging from insulators through hard and soft foams to various biomedical devices. The huge number of possible variations in the types of reactants allows the scientists to design and tailor the properties of polyurethanes to specific needs. The fascinating chemistry and materials science of polyurethanes have attracted interests of many scientists. As a result, the progress in this field made by these scholars are summarized in this book with special emphasizes on the structure-property relationships and biomedical applications of polyurethanes as well as their environmental aspects are also highlighted in some papers. Thus, this collection of papers is recommended to all readers who are interested not only in the synthesis and properties of polyurethanes but want to be familiar with the theoretical description of their formation as well.
Manufacturing and Application of Stainless Steels
Stainless steels represent a quite interesting material family, both from a scientific and commercial point of view, following to their excellent combination in terms of strength and ductility together with corrosion resistance. Thanks to such properties, stainless steels have been indispensable for the technological progress during the last century and their annual consumption increased faster than other materials. They find application in all these fields requiring good corrosion resistance together with ability to be worked into complex geometries. Despite to their diffusion as a consolidated materials, many research fields are active regarding the possibility to increase stainless steels mechanical properties and corrosion resistance by grain refinement or by alloying by interstitial elements. At the same time innovations are coming from the manufacturing process of such a family of materials, also including the possibility to manufacture them starting from metals powder for 3D printing. The Special Issue scope embraces interdisciplinary work covering physical metallurgy and processes, reporting about experimental and theoretical progress concerning microstructural evolution during processing, microstructure-properties relations, applications including automotive, energy and structural.
Catalysis by Precious Metals, Past and Future
The future of the precious metals is shiny and resistant. Although expensive and potentially replaceable by transition metal catalysts, precious metal implementation in research and industry shows potential. These metals catalyze oxidation and hydrogenation due to their dissociative behavior toward hydrogen and oxygen, dehydrogenation, isomerization, and aromatization, etc. The precious metal catalysts, especially platinum-based catalysts, are involved in a variety of industrial processes. Examples include Pt-Rh gauze for nitric acid production, the Pt/Al2O3 catalyst for cyclohexane and propylene production, and Pd/Al2O3 catalysts for petrochemical hydropurification reactions, etc. A quick search of the number of published articles in the last five years containing a combination of corresponding "metals" (Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh and Au) and "catalysts" as keywords indicates the importance of the Pt catalysts, but also the continuous increase in the contribution of Pd and Au. This Special Issue reveals the importance of precious metals in catalysis and focuses on mono- and bi-metallic formulations of any supported precious metals and their promotional catalytic effect of other transition metals. The application of precious metals in diverse reactions, either homogeneous or heterogeneous, and studies of the preparation, characterization, and applications of the supported precious metal catalysts, are presented.
Water Governance and Management in India
This book highlights the need for effective water governance in India given the fact that the country has been facing serious water stress in recent years. The water management in the country needs a serious scientific understanding coupled with the cooperative approach rather than a competitive one. It looks at current water regulations and underlines the need for overhaul of some laws to ensure that high water usage efficiency is attained, groundwater depletion is arrested and management of available resources is carried out in a disciplined manner. It also looks at the role of stakeholder engagement and pricing as a mechanism to manage demand in the wake of rapid population growth and industrialization.
Optoelectronic Nanodevices
During the last decade, novel graphene related materials (GRMs), perovskites, as well as metal oxides and other metal nanostructures have received the interest of the scientific community. Due to their extraordinary physical, optical, thermal, and electrical properties, which are correlated with their 2D ultrathin atomic layer structure, large interlayer distance, ease of functionalization, and bandgap tunability, these nanomaterials have been applied in the development or the improvement of innovative optoelectronic applications, as well as the expansion of theoretical studies and simulations in the fast-growing fields of energy (photovoltaics, energy storage, fuel cells, hydrogen storage, catalysis, etc.), electronics, photonics, spintronics, and sensing devices. The continuous nanostructure-based applications development has provided the ability to significantly improve existing products and to explore the design of materials and devices with novel functionalities. This book demonstrates some of the most recent trends and advances in the interdisciplinary field of optoelectronics. Most articles focus on light emitting diodes (LEDs) and solar cells (SCs), including organic, inorganic, and hybrid configurations, whereas the rest address photodetectors, transistors, and other well-known dynamic optoelectronic devices. In this context, this exceptional collection of articles is directed at a broad scientific audience of chemists, materials scientists, physicists, and engineers, with the goals of highlighting the potential of innovative optoelectronic applications incorporating nanostructures and inspiring their realization.
Glass Fibers 2018
Glass fibres are melt-spun, silica-based inorganic materials. Their main application is in glass fibre-reinforced composites, which account for more than 90% of all fibre-reinforced composites currently produced. Nevertheless, improvement of the key properties of composites remains challenging. The objective of this reprint is to focus on actual research topics related to glass fibres comprising multifunctional nanostructured surfaces, e.g., graphene, which can lead to electrically conductive fibres and their interphases in composites that are capable of uptake under a variety of mechanical, chemical, humidity, and thermal conditions for in situ sensing functions. Sizing of glass fibres help to protect the filaments from failure during processing and improves wetting and adhesion strength. Furthermore, the interphase may be varied by suppressing or promoting heterogeneous nucleation of a thermoplastic matrix and, thus, the transcrystalline layer can improve the mechanical performance. Improved interfacial shear strength was shown with chitosan as a coupling agent in phosphate glass fiber/polycaprolactone composites. Modulus mapping of plasma-synthesised interphases in glass fibre/polyester composites was used to examine the local mechanical properties across the interphase region. In addition, numerous analytical techniques were applied to investigate changes within the surface of unsized boron-free E-glass fibers after thermal conditioning at temperatures up to 700 簞C.
Recent Advances in Surface and Coatings Technology
Development of new surfaces and coatings has resulted in scientific and technological progress. Coatings technology offers the possibility of producing advanced surface with tailored physicochemical and biological properties to meet requirements for food, biomedical, and environmental applications. This e-book gathers recently published papers that have attracted considerable attention and consideration, providing updates on this research topic. Specifically, this book collects new information on designed surfaces, coatings, and materials based on metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites. Some research describes the techniques for the preparation and characterization of gel, functional surfaces, and coatings, and their potential application in drug delivery or films for food preservation. Other studies outline different surface preparation processes or novel techniques for modifying the surface features for load-bearing implant applications. One paper focuses on the synthesis of stimuli-responsive hydrogels for new perspectives such as active coatings for cotton-cellulose fabric. A review is devoted to probiotic microencapsulation technology. The collection delivers scientific findings to both academic and industrial readers.
Understanding Cyber Warfare and Its Implications for Indian Armed Forces
The book is divided into two parts. Part 1 deals with cyber warfare in general bringing out the unique characteristics of cyber space, the recent cyber attack on Estonia and the Stuxnet attack on Iranian Nuclear facilities, how the established Principles of War can be applied in cyberspace, cyber strategy of US and China, offensive and defensive aspects of cyber warfare cyber deterrence and the new challenge facing the militaries the world over- leadership in cyber domain. Part 2 is devoted to the Indian context. It discusses in detail the impact of ICT on the life of an ordinary Indian citizen, the cyber challenges facing the country and the implications for the Indian Armed Forces. A few recommendations have been summarised in the end.
Self-Assembled Bio-Nanomaterials
Biomolecular self-assembly provides a green, facile, and highly effective method to synthesize various functional nanomaterials that have exhibited considerable potential in the fields of nanotechnology, materials science, biomedicine, tissue engineering, food science, energy storage, and environmental science. In this collection of articles, we presented recent advance in the synthesis, characterization, and applications of self-assembled bio-nanomaterials. In a comprehensive review article, the controlled self-assembly of biomolecules including DNA, protein, peptide, enzymes, virus, and biopolymers via internal interactions and external simulations is introduced and discussed in detail. In other research articles, the self-assembly of DNA, protein, peptide, bio-drugs, liquid crystal polycarbonates, and diblock copolymers to various biomimetic/bioinspired nanomaterials and their potential applications in nanopatterning, sensors/biosensors, drug delivery, anti-parasite, and water purification are demonstrated.
Intrinsically Biocompatible Polymer Systems
Biocompatibility refers to the ability of a biomaterial to perform its desired function with respect to a medical therapy, without eliciting any undesirable local or systemic effects in the recipient or beneficiary of that therapy, but generating the most appropriate beneficial cellular or tissue response in that specific situation, and optimizing the clinically relevant performance of that therapy, which reflects current developments in the area of intrinsically biocompatible polymer systems. Polymeric biomaterials are presently used as, for example, long-term implantable medical devices, degradable implantable systems, transient invasive intravascular devices, and, recently, as tissue engineering scaffolds. This Special Issue welcomes full papers and short communications highlighting the aspects of the current trends in the area of intrinsically biocompatible polymer systems.
Biomaterials and Implant Biocompatibility
The scientific advances in life sciences and engineering are constantly challenging, expanding, and redefining concepts related to the biocompatibility and safety of medical devices. New biomaterials, new products, and new testing regimes are being introduced to scientific research practices. In order to provide clinically predictive results and to ensure a high benefit-risk ratio for patients, we need to optimize material and implant characteristics, and to adapt performance and safety evaluation practices for these innovative medical devices. Various characteristics related to materials and implant development such as raw materials composition, implant surface morphology, design, geometry, porosity, and mechanical properties need to be thoroughly characterized before evaluating the biological performance of implants. Furthermore, with the increase of regulatory demands, biological evaluation needs to ensure appropriate models and methods for each implant development stage. This book is a result of the Special Issue of Materials on "Biomaterials and Implant Biocompatibility", which focused on the recent progress in development, material testing, and the biocompatibility and bioactivity evaluation of various materials including, but not limited to, bioceramics, biopolymers, biometals, composite materials, biomimetic materials, hybrid biomaterials, and drug/device combinations for implants and prostheses with medical applications spanning from soft to hard tissue regeneration. The book covers aspects ranging from investigations into material characterization to in vitro and in vivo testing for the assessment of biological performance of advanced, novel biomaterials and implants.
Soft Material－Enabled Electronics for Medicine， Healthcare， and Human－Machine Interfaces
Soft material-enabled electronics offer distinct advantage, over conventional rigid and bulky devices, for numerous wearable and implantable applications. Soft materials allow for seamless integration with skin and tissues due to enhanced mechanical flexibility and stretchability. Wearable devices, such as sensors, offer continuous, real-time monitoring of biosignals and movements, which can be applied in rehabilitation and diagnostics, among other applications. Soft implantable electronics offer similar functionalities, but with improved compatibility with human tissues. Biodegradable soft implantable electronics are also being developed for transient monitoring, such as in the weeks following surgery. To further advance soft electronics, materials, integration strategies, and fabrication techniques are being developed. This paper reviews recent progress in these areas, toward the development of soft material-enabled electronics for medicine, healthcare, and human-machine interfaces.
Gobernanza y Desarrollo Territorial
Uno de los acuerdos y consensos m獺s trascendentales que han tomado las instituciones p繳blicas y privadas incluyendo a la sociedad civil, a nivel nacional e internacional, es que todo esfuerzo econ籀mico, material o tangible incluyendo el manejo y protecci籀n de los recursos naturales y animales (environment) orientado al desarrollo de una naci籀n, tienen que enfocarse en beneficios concretos en la calidad de vida de la personas. Espec穩ficamente en sus capacidades y habilidades para defenderse ante las situaciones que les toca vivir, pero a su vez, para acceder plenamente a una ciudadan穩a que lo integre pol穩tica y culturalmente a estos modelos de desarrollo; ah穩 radican los esfuerzos organizados que buscan el llamado cambio social.
New Concepts in Oxidation Processes
This Special Issue of Catalysts aims to cover the recent progress and novel trends in the field of catalytic oxidation reaction. Topics addressed in this special issue concern the influence of different parameters on catalytic activity at various scales (atomic, laboratory, pilot, or industrial scales), the development of new catalytic materials of environmental or industrial importance, as well as the development of new methods, both microscopic and spectroscopic, to analyze oxidation processes.
Natural Fiber－Reinforced Hybrid Composites
In the last few decades, natural fibers have received growing attention as an alternative to the synthetic fibers used in the reinforcement of polymeric composites, thanks to their specific properties, low price, health advantages, renewability, and recyclability. Furthermore, natural fibers have a CO2-neutral life cycle, in contrast to their synthetic counterparts. As is widely known, natural fibers also possess some drawbacks, e.g., a hydrophilic nature, low and variable mechanical properties, poor adhesion to polymeric matrices, high susceptibility to moisture absorption, low aging resistance, etc. This implies that their applications are limited to non-structural interior products. To overcome this problem, the hybridization of natural fibers with synthetic ones (i.e., glass, carbon, and basalt) or different natural fibers can be a solution. For this reason, extensive research concerning natural-synthetic and natural-natural hybrid composites has been done in the last years. In this context, this book aims to collect some interesting papers concerning the use of natural fibers together with synthetic ones with the aim of obtaining hybrid structures with good compromise between high properties (e.g., mechanical performances, thermal behavior, aging tolerance in humid or aggressive environments, and so on) and environment care.
Advanced Flame Retardant Materials
Recent disasters caused by the spread of fire in buildings and in transportations remind us of the importance of fire protection. Using flame-retardant materials is one important element of the firefighting strategy, which aims to prevent fire development and propagation. These materials are used in different applications, such as in textiles, coatings, foams, furniture, and cables. The development of more efficient and environmentally friendly flame-retardant additives is an active multidisciplinary approach that has attracted a great deal of interest. Studies have aimed at the development of new, sustainable, and flame-retardant additives/materials, providing high performance and low toxicity. Also studied were their properties during ageing and recycling, as well as modeling physical and chemical processes occuring before ignition and during their combustion. The development of sustainable flame retardants and understanding their modes of action provide a strong link between these topics and cover many fields from organic chemistry, materials engineering, and toxicology, to physics and mathematics.
The Origin Of The Red Cross (Un Souvenir De Solferino)
The Origin Of The Red Cross (Un Souvenir De Solferino): Translated From The French By Mrs. David H. Wright This book is a result of an effort made by us towards making a contribution to the preservation and repair of original classic literature. In an attempt to preserve, improve and recreate the original content, we have worked towards: 1. Type-setting & Reformatting: The complete work has been re-designed via professional layout, formatting and type-setting tools to re-create the same edition with rich typography, graphics, high quality images, and table elements, giving our readers the feel of holding a 'fresh and newly' reprinted and/or revised edition, as opposed to other scanned & printed (Optical Character Recognition - OCR) reproductions. 2. Correction of imperfections: As the work was re-created from the scratch, therefore, it was vetted to rectify certain conventional norms with regard to typographical mistakes, hyphenations, punctuations, blurred images, missing content/pages, and/or other related subject matters, upon our consideration. Every attempt was made to rectify the imperfections related to omitted constructs in the original edition via other references. However, a few of such imperfections which could not be rectified due to intentional\unintentional omission of content in the original edition, were inherited and preserved from the original work to maintain the authenticity and construct, relevant to the work. We believe that this work holds historical, cultural and/or intellectual importance in the literary works community, therefore despite the oddities, we accounted the work for print as a part of our continuing effort towards preservation of literary work and our contribution towards the development of the society as a whole, driven by our beliefs. We are grateful to our readers for putting their faith in us and accepting our imperfections with regard to preservation of the historical content. HAPPY READING!
Elon Musk
ELON MUSK Elon Musk has been busy improving humanity's chance of long term survival for nearly 20 years. After helping to form PayPal, Musk went on to form a company whose work has since replaced the space shuttle when it comes to NASA flights to the space station and is behind the recent expansion in the number of electric cars on the road as well. In addition to being a compelling story of triumphing against adversity, 'Elon Musk: Best Lessons for Life, Business, Success and Entrepreneurship!' has plenty to teach when it comes to learning the lessons that Musk has taken to heart to achieve his success. Musk is a symbol of the American dream, despite not being American, he is truly self-made, working his way through college and starting his first business in time to take advantage of the burgeoning internet scene to become a millionaire before the age of 30. Unlike many people who might think that was enough, Musk instead put his money into another startup which quintupled his net worth when his company was purchased by eBay. From there he went on to become the CEO of two companies which are each worth $1 billion. Do yourself a favor, learn from what Musk has done, and read this book today. Here Is What You'll Learn About... Who Is Elon Musk What Makes Elon So Successful Elon's Biggest Successes Elon's Biggest Failures What Elon Has Planned For The Future Lessons You Can Learn From Elon Musk How To Replicate Elon's Success Much, Much More!
The Art Of WarTheArt Of WarA New Edition, With Appendices And Maps. Translated From The Fr
The Art Of War: A New Edition, With Appendices And Maps. Translated From The French By Capt. G.H. Mendell And Lieut. W.P. Craighill This book is a result of an effort made by us towards making a contribution to the preservation and repair of original classic literature. In an attempt to preserve, improve and recreate the original content, we have worked towards: 1. Type-setting & Reformatting: The complete work has been re-designed via professional layout, formatting and type-setting tools to re-create the same edition with rich typography, graphics, high quality images, and table elements, giving our readers the feel of holding a 'fresh and newly' reprinted and/or revised edition, as opposed to other scanned & printed (Optical Character Recognition - OCR) reproductions. 2. Correction of imperfections: As the work was re-created from the scratch, therefore, it was vetted to rectify certain conventional norms with regard to typographical mistakes, hyphenations, punctuations, blurred images, missing content/pages, and/or other related subject matters, upon our consideration. Every attempt was made to rectify the imperfections related to omitted constructs in the original edition via other references. However, a few of such imperfections which could not be rectified due to intentional\unintentional omission of content in the original edition, were inherited and preserved from the original work to maintain the authenticity and construct, relevant to the work. We believe that this work holds historical, cultural and/or intellectual importance in the literary works community, therefore despite the oddities, we accounted the work for print as a part of our continuing effort towards preservation of literary work and our contribution towards the development of the society as a whole, driven by our beliefs. We are grateful to our readers for putting their faith in us and accepting our imperfections with regard to preservation of the historical content. HAPPY READING!
Introduction to Live Sound Reinforcement
For live sound engineers, this book is an invaluable resource in the path to career development. This edition builds upon the clear writing and comprehensive illustrations of the previous edition to explain the fundamental concepts of acoustics and the operating principles of all the key components of a live sound reinforcement system. Using easy to understand language, the design and implementation of the live sound system is covered in detail. Extended coverage is given to the use of digital networks and digital audio distribution in the live sound arena, and thorough guidance is given in the practical aspects of executing and managing a live sound session from the engineer's perspective.Creating a solid foundation upon which to build a career is a crucial step in ensuring future success. The practical information surrounding the concepts, implementation, and practices central to live sound reinforcement presented in this book will help you build that foundation.
Surfaces and Interfaces for Renewable Energy
Environmental problems derived from the massive use of conventional energy resources are one of the main issues that our society has been facing in recent decades. Renewable energies (and particularly solar energy) have become a highly competitive means to meet the world's increasing energy demands in a sustainable and clean manner. One of the key research challenges for the commercial deployment of several solar energy technologies is focused on the development of feasible and durable coatings that withstand appropriate optical and thermal performance over the lifetime of the solar facilities. This book addresses a number of relevant aspects related to coatings for renewable energies, including a deep survey of coatings used in photovoltaic solar energy, the development of a superhydrophobic and thermal stable silica coating that is potentially suitable for various industrial applications related to renewable technologies, the development of coatings to improve the resistance of structural materials used in concentrating solar thermal technologies with molten salts, and several research works related to solar reflectors for concentrating solar thermal technologies (such us the advanced analysis of the corrosion, the suitability of anti-soiling coatings, and the development of top protective coatings for high-temperature secondary concentrators).
Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers for Food and Health Applications
The electrospinning method has the unique ability to produce structured polymeric fibers on the micro or nano scale and to generate novel materials for food and healthcare purposes. The potential of electrospun nanofibers for human healthcare applications is promising, for example, in tissue/organ repair and regeneration, in medical diagnostics and instrumentation, and as vectors to deliver drugs and therapeutics, as biocompatible and biodegradable medical implant devices, as protective fabrics against environmental and infectious agents in hospitals and general surroundings. Furthermore, considerable effort has been directed toward developing scaffolds using biodegradable and biocompatible synthetic, natural polymers or renewable materials that enhance in vitro cell growth, while killing pathogenic bacteria cells. This Special Issue "Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers for Food and Health Applications" will cover the latest research of electrospun nanofibres in this field including shape-memory electrospun fibre meshes with programmable cell orientation, water-absorbing nanofiber meshes for efficient removal of excess water from kidney failure patients, and hydrogel nanofibers which can be used as a drug carrier for methylene blue.
Advances in Cholesteric Liquid Crystals
With their helical structure, cholesteric liquid crystals figure prominently in liquid crystal science. The selective reflection of light is their flagship property, and they offer a myriad of applications as advanced optical materials with multiscale properties. The cholesteric structure is also a ubiquitous design in the animal and plant kingdoms. This book contains eight contributions on fundamental investigations about defects, textures and structures of cholesteric materials, and experimental studies aimed at applications such as temperature sensors, head-up displays for improving automobile driving safety, or smart windows.
Element-Doped Functional Carbon-Based Materials
Carbon materials are one of the most fascinating materials because of their unique properties and potential use in several applications. They can be obtained from residues or by using advanced synthesis technologies like chemical vapor deposition. The carbon family is very broad, ranging from classical activated carbons to more advanced species such as carbon nanotubes and graphene. The surface chemistry is one of the most interesting aspects of this broad family of materials, which allows the incorporation of different types of chemical functionalities or heteroatoms on the carbon surface, such as O, N, B, S, or P, which can modify the acid-base character, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, or the electronic properties of these materials and, thus, determine the final application. This book represents a collection of original research articles and communications focused on the synthesis, properties, and applications of heteroatom-doped functional carbon materials.
Blood Rites
A New York Times Notable BookAn ALA Notable Book"Original and illuminating." --The Washington PostWhat draws our species to war? What makes us see violence as a kind of sacred duty, or a ritual that boys must undergo to "become" men? Newly reissued in paperback, Blood Rites takes readers on an original journey from the elaborate human sacrifices of the ancient world to the carnage and holocaust of twentieth-century "total war." Ehrenreich sifts deftly through the fragile records of prehistory and discovers the wellspring of war in an unexpected place -- not in a "killer instinct" unique to the males of our species, but in the blood rites early humans performed to reenact their terrifying experiences of predation by stronger carnivores. Brilliant in conception and rich in scope, Blood Rites is a monumental work that continues to transform our understanding of the greatest single threat to human life.
3D Remote Sensing Applications in Forest Ecology
Dear Colleagues, The composition, structure and function of forest ecosystems are the key features characterizing their ecological properties, and can thus be crucially shaped and changed by various biotic and abiotic factors on multiple spatial scales. The magnitude and extent of these changes in recent decades calls for enhanced mitigation and adaption measures. Remote sensing data and methods are the main complementary sources of up-to-date synoptic and objective information of forest ecology. Due to the inherent 3D nature of forest ecosystems, the analysis of 3D sources of remote sensing data is considered to be most appropriate for recreating the forest's compositional, structural and functional dynamics. In this Special Issue of Forests, we published a set of state-of-the-art scientific works including experimental studies, methodological developments and model validations, all dealing with the general topic of 3D remote sensing-assisted applications in forest ecology. We showed applications in forest ecology from a broad collection of method and sensor combinations, including fusion schemes. All in all, the studies and their focuses are as broad as a forest's ecology or the field of remote sensing and, thus, reflect the very diverse usages and directions toward which future research and practice will be directed.
Recent Advances in GPR Imaging
The Special Issue (SI) "Recent Advances in GPR Imaging" offers an up-to-date overview of state-of-the-art research activities dealing with the development of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology and its recent advances in imaging in the different fields of application. In fact, the advances experimented with over the last few decades with regard to the appearance of new GPR systems and the need to manage large amounts of data suggest an increasing interest in the development of new signal processing algorithms and modeling, as well as in the use of three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques.
The Close Linkage between Nutrition and Environment through Biodiversity and Sustainability
The Close Linkage between Nutrition and Environment through Biodiversity and Sustainability: Local Foods, Traditional Recipes, and Sustainable Diets" is focused on the close correlation between the potential benefits and "functional role" of food and territory, and it includes papers on the characterization of local foods and traditional recipes as well as on the promotion of traditional dietary patterns and sustainable diets.
Tsunami Science and Engineering II
Earthquake-tsunamis, including the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and the 2011 Tōhoku Tsunami in Japan, serve as tragic reminders that such waves pose a major natural hazard. Landslide-tsunamis, including the 1958 Lituya Bay case, may exceed 150 m in height, and similar waves generated in lakes and reservoirs may overtop dams and cause significant devastation. This book includes nine peer-review articles from some of the leading experts in the field of tsunami research. The collection represents a wide range of topics covering (i) wave generation, (ii) wave propagation, and (iii) their effects. Within (i), a tsunami source combining an underwater fault rupture and a landslide are addressed in the laboratory. Within (ii), frequency dispersion with the nonlinear shallow-water equations is considered and a detailed account of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, tsunami, and fire in downtown Lisbon is presented. Two articles involve all three phases (i) to (iii), including runup and dam over-topping. Within (iii), a new semi-empirical equation for runup is introduced and the interaction of tsunamis with bridges and pipelines is investigated in large laboratory experiments. This state-of-the-art collection of articles is expected to improve modelling and mitigate the destructive effects of tsunamis and inspire many future research activities in this challenging and exciting research field.
