The book highlights the research contributions of the interdigitated (IDT) sensors over a period of two decades in the field of sensing technology. It presents theory, design, and practical realization of the IDT sensors working over wide frequency rage for scientific, industrial, and consumer applications. The IDT sensors have been widely investigated for wide range of sensing applications including agriculture, environmental monitoring, structural health monitoring, health care, food and beverage testing, testing of dielectric material, proximity sensing, microfluidic application, automatic dispensing system etc. Hence, importance of IDT sensors is growing continuously for future applications. As such, it offers a key reference guide on IDT sensors for students, applied physicists, material scientists, engineers, sensors designers and technicians.

This book gathers four papers authored by Victor Bravo and Nicolas Di Sbroiavacca, Oil and Natural Gas Engineers, specialized in Energy Economics. The main axis of the book is the application of the exploitation techniques of Oil and Natural Gas in Argentina, by the so-called "conventional" methods, in comparison with the so-called "Fracking",(name massively used in the First World and particularly in the United States of America). Argentina has important Oil and Natural Gas resources in different regions of its wide geography. To develop these "non-conventional" techniques has generated endless controversies all over the world, mostly due to its estimated environmental impact and the need of significant requirement of large capitals for investment. Argentina is not out of this relevant controversy because in the mind of the maximum national authorities, fracking is one of the main factors that may contribute to generate monetary funds devoted to the payment of the immense foreign debt of this country. Other authors estimate that it is not possible to develop our country just on the basis of the massive exploitation and boundless export of natural resources. Consequently, fracking is undoubtedly a topic of National Energy Politics. In this scenario, a previous analysis of the National Energy Politics of the recent governments of Argentina, after the bloody military dictatorship of 1976-1983 and the return to democratic governments in December 1983. This analysis is done over the chapters "Analysis of the National Law N 27007 (known as the "Hydrocarbon Resources Law") and the Oil and Natural Gas politics", the "Oil and Natural Gas Politics of the period from 2003 to 2014" and "The Argentine Energy Politics during the 2014-2018 period". Later on, the "Fracking" case is fully developed with two complementary analyses. One of them is basically centered on the technical and prospective scenarios for "fracking": "Shale Oil and Shale Gas in Argentina: Situation and Perspectives". The other one, "A technical opinion about Fracking", contemplates the impacts resulting from the use of these techniques, especially those concerning the environment. Anyhow, each of the chapters are self-contained, thus permitting separate reading of any of them.

The book covers the latest developments in biologically-inspired and derived nanomedicine for cancer therapy. The purpose of the book is to illustrate the significance of naturally-mimicking systems for enhancing the dose delivered to the tumor, to improve stability, and prolong the circulation time. Moreover, readers are presented with advanced materials such as adjuvants for immunostimulation in cancer vaccines. The book also provides a comprehensive overview of the current status of academic research. This is an ideal book for students, researchers, and professors working in nanotechnology, cancer, targeted drug delivery, controlled drug release, materials science, and biomaterials as well as companies developing cancer immunotherapy.

This book presents peer-reviewed articles from the International Conference on Optics and Electro-optics, ICOL-2019, held at Dehradun in India. It brings together leading researchers and professionals in the field of optics/optical engineering/optical materials and provides a platform to present and establish collaborations in this important area, with the theme "Trends in Electro-optics Instrumentation for Strategic Applications". Topics covered but not limited to are Optical Engineering, Optical Thin Films, Optical Materials, IR Sensors, Image Processing & Systems, Photonic Band Gap Materials, Adaptive Optics, Optical Image Processing & Holography, Lasers, Fiber Lasers & its Applications, Diffractive Optics, Innovative packaging of Optical Systems, Nanophotonics Devices and Applications, Optical Interferometry & Metrology, Terahertz, Millimeter Wave & Microwave Photonics, Fiber, Integrated & Nonlinear Optics and Optics and Electro-optics for Strategic Applications.

This book studies electron resonant tunneling in two- and three-dimensional quantum waveguides of variable cross-sections in the time-independent approach. Mathematical models are suggested for the resonant tunneling and develop asymptotic and numerical approaches for investigating the models. Also, schemes are presented for several electronics devices based on the phenomenon of resonant tunneling. Compared to its first edition, this book includes four new chapters, redistributes the content between chapters and modifies the estimates of the remainders in the asymptotics of resonant tunneling characteristics. The book is addressed to mathematicians, physicists, and engineers interested in waveguide theory and its applications in electronics.

This book highlights the present scenario of energy demand and power generation technologies in tropical countries. The tropics are well known to receive direct sunlight. Furthermore, different than four-season countries, tropical countries have a continuous summer-like season, and therefore, they are rich in clean energy sources, like solar and biomass. Home to 40% of the world's population, the demand for energy in these countries keeps increasing. With the present serious global concern on the environment, the choice of power generation is no doubt the cleanest possible resources. This book delves into the opportunity that various tropical countries have in pursuing environmentally friendly power generation systems.

This book provides comprehensive coverage of the most recent progress and developments in the field of magnetic nanoparticles, with special emphasis on new materials design approaches for magnetic nanoarchitectures, advanced characterization techniques, and a wide range of applications areas including permanent magnets, biomedicine, and life sciences. The book also features an exhaustive section on fundamentals, covering single particle effects, surface effects, and interparticle interactions. The book delivers a strong focus throughout on the multidisciplinarity of the subject spanning physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, medicine, and environmental science. This forward-looking contributed volume highlights future perspectives and areas of emerging research, and will be of great interest to advanced undergraduates, as well as researchers in academia and industry.

This informative book compiles the most up-to-date applications of nanobiosensors in fields ranging from agriculture to medicine. The introductory section describes different types of nanobiosensors and use of nanobiosensors towards a sustainable environment. The applications are divided into four broad sections for easy reading and understanding. The book discusses how manipulation, control and integration of atoms and molecules are used to form materials, structures, devices and systems in nano-scale. Chapters in the book shed light on the use of nanosensors in diagnostics and medical devices. Application in food processing as well as in cell signaling is also described. Nanobiosensors have immense use, and this book captures the most important ones.

This book provides a complete overview of a wide range of nanomaterials from their synthesis and characterization to current and potential applications with special focus on the use of such nano-based products as functional agents in biomedical, environmental and industrial applications. It addresses the intrinsic relationship between aspects involving the synthesis of nanocompounds, their bio-physico-chemical properties and their interactions occurring in biomedical, environmental and industrial matrix. This book is of interest to engineers, academics and research scholars working in these fields.

This book explains that the coming years undoubtedly bring new developments in mechatronics. These advances are stimulated by the growing demand for intelligent, autonomous solutions in various branches of industry and consumer products. The development of economically justified new mechatronic products is not possible without the ongoing progress in manufacturing technology, metrology, measurements systems, new materials and control techniques. Those are the key for reducing costs and enhancing functionality of new products. Therefore, the scope of the 5th International Conference Mechatronics spanned from advanced mechatronic systems to manufacturing processes. The new results of research in this areas are reported in this book. We strongly believe that the solutions and guidelines presented during the conference held in Szczecin (Poland) from 8th to 10th September 2021 are useful for both researchers and engineers solving problems associated with mechatronic products.

This book gathers the proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Nanotechnologies and Biomedical Engineering, held online on November 3-5, 2021, from Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. It covers fundamental and applied research at the interface between nanotechnologies and biomedical engineering. Chapters report on cutting-edge bio-micro/nanotechnologies, devices for biomedical applications, and advances in bio-imaging and biomedical signal processing, innovative nano-biomaterials as well as advances in e-health, medical robotics, and related topics. With a good balance of theory and practice, the book offers a timely snapshot of multidisciplinary research at the interface between physics, chemistry, biomedicine, materials science, and engineering.

This edited volume brings together the state of the art in polymer nanocomposite theory and modeling, creating a roadmap for scientists and engineers seeking to design new advanced materials. The book opens with a review of molecular and mesoscale models predicting equilibrium and non-equilibrium nanoscale structure of hybrid materials as a function of composition and, especially, filler types. Subsequent chapters cover the methods and analyses used for describing the dynamics of nanocomposites and their mechanical and physical properties. Dedicated chapters present best practices for predicting materials properties of practical interest, including thermal and electrical conductivity, optical properties, barrier properties, and flammability. Each chapter is written by leading academic and industrial scientists working in each respective sub-field. The overview of modeling methodology combined with detailed examples of property predictions for specific systems will make this book useful for academic and industrial practitioners alike.

Force and Position Control of Mechatronic Systems provides an overview of the general concepts and technologies in the area of force and position control. Novel ideas and innovations related to this area are presented and reported in detail, and examples of applications in medical technology are given. The book begins by introducing force sensing, and modelling of contacting objects. In then moves steadily through a variety of topics, including: * disturbance observer-based force estimation; * force-based supervisory control; * stabilization systems; * controller design; and * control of tube insertion procedures. This book will be of interest to researchers, engineers and students interested in force control, particularly those with a focus on medical applications of these ideas. Advances in Industrial Control reports and encourages the transfer of technology in control engineering. The rapid development of control technology has an impact on all areas of the control discipline. The series offers an opportunity for researchers to present an extended exposition of new work in all aspects of industrial control.

This book highlights the main advances in fiber electronics, like fiber-shaped solar cells, batteries, supercapacitors, sensors, light-emitting devices, memristors and communication devices from the standpoints of material synthesis, structure design and property enhancement. It focuses on revealing the separation and transport mechanisms of charges, establishing transport equations for electrons and ions, and emphasizing integration methods in fiber devices. In closing, it reviews emerging applications based on fiber devices that could accelerate their large-scale production in the near future. Given its scope, the book offers a valuable resource for scientists, engineers, graduate students and undergraduate students in a wide variety of fields such as advanced materials, energy, electrochemistry, applied physics, nanoscience and nanotechnology, polymer science and engineering and biomedical science. It also benefits many non-specialist industrialists who are working to promote new technologies.

This book covers remarkable contemporary nanomaterials such as carbon nanomaterials, nanoclays, quantum dots, MXene, and metal-organic frameworks. Each chapter discusses the synthesis techniques, characterization methods, properties, and the nanomaterials' use in different aspects of biomedical, energy, polymers, material construction, biosensors, coatings, and catalysis. Moreover, commercialization challenges and environmental risks of nanomaterials are also covered in depth. The book provides an understanding of the fundamental properties, limitations and challenges in nanomaterials synthesis, serving as a valuable resource for researchers, graduate students, academicians, and consultants working with nanomaterials for engineering applications.

This book highlights a novel and holistic approach to multiscaled PVA bionanocomposite films used for electrical sensing, medical and packaging applications. With a combination of material characterization and modeling to understand the effect of nanoparticle size and shape, as well as 3D interphase properties and features such as interphase modulus and nanoscale dimensions, this book substantiates how excellent mechanical and thermal properties of these materials are achieved. Also it addresses the importance of using economical and ecofriendly bionanocomposites as potential green materials to support the goal of environmental sustainability with multifunctional properties.

This book is a concise introductory guide to understanding the field of modern batteries, which is fast becoming an important area for applications in renewable energy storage, transportation, and consumer devices. By using simplified classroom-tested methods developed while teaching the subject to engineering students, the author explains in simple language an otherwise complex subject in terms that enable readers to gain a rapid understanding of battery basics and the fundamental scientific and engineering concepts and principles behind the technology. This powerful tutorial is a great resource for engineers from other disciplines, technicians, analysts, investors, and other busy professionals who need to quickly acquire a solid understanding of the fast emerging and disruptive battery landscape.

This book presents the proceedings of the International Conference on Recent Trends in Materials and Devices (ICRTMD 2019) held in India. It brings together academicians, scientists and industrialists from various fields for the establishment of enduring connections to solve the common global challenges across a number of disciplines. The conference provides a platform to tackle complex problems from a range of perspectives, thereby modeling integrated, solution-focused thinking and partnerships.

This book provides a single-source reference on carbon nanotubes for interconnect applications. It presents the recent advances in modelling and challenges of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based VLSI interconnects. Starting with a background of carbon nanotubes and interconnects, this book details various aspects of CNT interconnect models, the design metrics of CNT interconnects, crosstalk analysis of recently proposed CNT interconnect structures, and geometries. Various topics covered include the use of semiconducting CNTs around metallic CNTs, CNT interconnects with air gaps, use of emerging ultra low-k materials and their integration with CNT interconnects, and geometry-based crosstalk reduction techniques. This book will be useful for researchers and design engineers working on carbon nanotubes for interconnects for both 2D and 3D integrated circuits.

This book introduces a passivity-based approach which simplifies the controller design task for AC-motors. It presents the application of this novel approach to several classes of AC motors, magnetic levitation systems, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and rigid robot manipulators actuated by AC motors. The novel passivity-based approach exploits the fact that the natural energy exchange existing between the mechanical and the electrical subsystems allows the natural cancellation of several high order terms during the stability analysis. This allows the authors to present some of the simplest controllers proposed in scientific literature, but provided with formal stability proofs. These simple control laws will be of use to practitioners as they are robust with respect to numerical errors and noise amplification, and are provided with tuning guidelines. Energy-based Control of Electromechanical Systems is intended for both theorists and practitioners. Therefore, the stability proofs are not based on abstract mathematical ideas but Lyapunov stability theory. Several interpretations of the proofs are given along the body of the book using simple energy ideas and the complete proofs are included in appendices. The complete modeling of each motor studied is also presented, allowing for a thorough understanding. Advances in Industrial Control reports and encourages the transfer of technology in control engineering. The rapid development of control technology has an impact on all areas of the control discipline. The series offers an opportunity for researchers to present an extended exposition of new work in all aspects of industrial control.

This book gathers the latest advances, innovations, and applications in the field of multibody and mechatronic systems. Topics addressed include the analysis and synthesis of mechanisms; dynamics of multibody systems; design algorithms for mechatronic systems; robots and micromachines; experimental validations; theory of mechatronic simulation; mechatronic systems for rehabilitation and assistive technologies; mechatronic systems for energy harvesting; virtual reality integration in multibody and mechatronic systems; multibody design in robotic systems; and control of mechatronic systems. The contents reflect the outcomes of the 7th International Symposium on Multibody Systems and Mechatronics (7th MuSMe) in 2020, within the framework of the FEIbIM Commission for Robotics and Mechanisms and IFToMM Technical Committees for Multibody Dynamics and for Robotics and Mechatronics.

This volume gathers the proceedings of the Joint International Conference of the XIII International Conference on Mechanisms and Mechanical Transmissions (MTM) and the XXIV International Conference on Robotics (Robotics), held in Timisoara, Romania. It addresses the applications of mechanisms and transmissions in several modern technical fields such as mechatronics, biomechanics, machines, micromachines, robotics and apparatus. In doing so, it combines theoretical findings and experimental testing. The book presents peer-reviewed papers written by researchers specialized in mechanism analysis and synthesis, dynamics of mechanisms and machines, mechanical transmissions, biomechanics, precision mechanics, mechatronics, micromechanisms and microactuators, computational and experimental methods, CAD in mechanism and machine design, mechanical design of robot architecture, parallel robots, mobile robots, micro and nano robots, sensors and actuators in robotics, intelligent control systems, biomedical engineering, teleoperation, haptics, and virtual reality.

This book is an effort to tether all the exuberant observations on adding nanomaterial in the TPE matrix. With an enhanced processing property along with amplified recyclability and reprocessing feature, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) proves to be one of the most significant polymeric materials till date. As the scientific world evolves, these advanced materials have attuned themselves with various anisotropic nanomaterials to induce an enhanced property effect on the final product. On an additional note, authors have done extensive research on graphene, the most multifaceted element in the filler family keeping TPE and its derivate as the matrix martial. Cogitating the idea of a multidimensional readership, authors have analyzed the synthesis, derivatization, and properties of graphene and its derivatives separately. Apart from reviewing the future prospects and the potential application of these nano-filled advanced materials, they have kept the structure-property relationship of graphene-based composites at the cynosure to provide firm understanding on the blossoming of these elastomeric composites. The authors believe this book is a potential content for both professionals and academicians.

This book brings together investigations which combine theoretical and experimental results related to such systems as flexure hinges and compliant mechanisms for precision applications, the non-linear analytical modeling of compliant mechanisms, mechanical systems using compliance as a bipedal robot and reconfigurable tensegrity systems and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) as energy efficient micro-robots, microscale force compensation, magnetoelectric micro-sensors, acoustical actuators and the wafer bonding as a key technology for the MEMS fabrication. The volume gathers twelve contributions presented at the 5th Conference on Microactuators, Microsensors and Micromechanisms (MAMM), held in Ilmenau, Germany in November 2020. The aim of the conference was to provide a special opportunity for a know-how exchange and collaboration in various disciplines concerning systems pertaining to micro-technology. The conference was organized under the patronage of IFToMM (International Federation for the Promotion of Mechanism and Machine Science).

This book focuses on the preparation and characterisation of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/ halloysite nanotube (HNT) bionanocomposite films with different HNT contents for potential use in food packaging. It examines the effect of material composition and nanofiller content on mechanical, thermal and optical properties in relation to their morphological structures, and also comprehensively describes the water resistance, biodegradation and migration rates of such bionanocomposites, as well as their barrier properties in terms of water vapour transmission, and water vapour, air and oxygen permeabilities. Further, this book discusses the use of Nielsen model and Cussler model to predict the relative permeability of bionanocomposites, demonstrating that Nielsen model is more effective and in better agreement with experimental data obtained. Lastly, it discusses the application of bionanocomposite films in food packaging to prolong the shelf life of freshly cut avocados and peaches.