With immense consumption of resources, increased global warming, and environmental pollution, the energy sector has inevitably embraced sustainability. Countries are releasing plans and programs to shift their fossil fuel-dependent energy sectors into clean energy sectors, and projections show that renewable energy will be a significant part of nations' energy mixes in the near future. Optimization and decision-making techniques have been commonly used in the energy sector as problems encountered in this sector are complex and therefore need comprehensive techniques to solve them. With the uncertainty and high-cost issues of renewable resources, the complexity increases in the sector and requires optimization and decision-making techniques. Optimization and Decision-Making in the Renewable Energy Industry analyzes renewable energy sources using current mathematical methods and techniques and provides advanced knowledge on key opportunities and challenges. The book discusses current and trending mathematical methods, tests their validity and verification, and considers their practical application in the field. Covering topics such as urban sustainability and renewable energy systems, this reference work is ideal for practitioners, academicians, industry professionals, researchers, scholars, instructors, and students.

Every industry will be positively affected by blockchain and AI technology at some point. However, blockchain is a misunderstood technology within the publishing realm. The scholarly publishing industry can significantly improve the flow of research, drive down costs, and introduce new efficiencies in the publishing industry with these new technologies. The scholarly publishing industry is in its early days of the digital transformation, and blockchain and AI technology could play a major role in this. However, the industry has been resistant to change. These reasons include but are not limited to staying with legacy systems, cost of new platforms, changing cultures, and understanding and adopting new technologies. With proper research and information provided, the publishing industry can adopt these technologies for beneficial advancements and the generation of a bright future. Transforming Scholarly Publishing With Blockchain Technologies and AI explores the changing landscape of scholarly publishing and how blockchain technologies and AI are slowly being integrated and used within the industry. This book covers both the benefits and challenges of implementing technology and provides both cases and new developments. Topics highlighted include business model developments, new efficiencies in scholarly publishing, blockchain in research libraries, knowledge discovery, and blockchain in academic publishing. This book is a valuable reference tool for publishers, IT specialists, technologists, publishing vendors, researchers, academicians, and students who are interested in how blockchain technologies and AI are transforming and developing a modern scholarly publishing industry.

Farming – whether domestic crops, forestry, fish or livestock – is one of the pillars of human civilization, dating back to the early settlements of Neolithic times. Today, approximately one billion people work the land, providing food and other products for our ever-increasing human population. Arranged geographically, Farming explores the many types of farm and farming that exist today. See how farmers in Malaysia extract milky latex from the bark of rubber trees, used to make everything from protective gloves to vehicle tires; be amazed at the gorgeous stepped rice fields of Bali, where the traditional subak irrigation system is created around ‘water temples’ and managed by Hindu priests; marvel at the vast corn and soya bean fields of Ontario, much of it used for animal feed to support Canada’s beef industry; learn about nomadic pastoralism in low rainfall areas such as Somalia, where herders move camels, cattle, sheep and goats in search of grazing; explore the wineries and vineyards in Bordeaux, where more than 700 million bottles of wine are produced each year by more than 8,500 châteaux; and see how freshwater prawns are harvested for export in the watery deltas of Bangladesh. Presented in a landscape format and with more than 180 outstanding photographs of farming from every part of the planet, Farming offers a pictorial celebration of mankind’s deep connection with the land that sustains us.

The Model Regulations cover the classification of dangerous goods and their listing, the use, construction, testing and approval of packagings and portable tanks, and the consignment procedures (marking, labelling, placarding and documentation). They aim at ensuring a high level of safety by preventing accidents to persons and property and damage to the environment during transport and, providing at the same time, a uniform regulatory framework which can be applied worldwide for national or international transport by any model

The products that are most often the subject of mis-selling claims are usually both complex and esoteric in nature. This complexity is reflected in the law, regulation and case law that applies to these products. Nowhere is this more true than in the heavily regulated financial services sector. This accessible book is designed to provide a clear and practical guide to claims involving the mis-selling of financial products. Key features include: Clear and concise analysis on the law relating to the mis-selling of regulated financial services products Overview of the UK and European regulatory framework governing the sale of financial products and with particular focus on five key product types: credit, mortgages, interest rate hedging products, insurance, and collective investment schemes Practical information on pleading, and defending claims of mis-selling including the various causes of action and limitation periods Summary of case law which has emerged from sector specific issues and mis-selling 'scandals'. Providing a practical grounding to the topics at hand, this book will be of use to practising lawyers and in-house counsel working within the financial services industry. Academics who are researching within the fields of financial services law or consumer protection will also find this to be an informative text.

Wild Germplasm for Genetic Improvement in Crop Plants addresses the need for an integrated reference on a wide variety of crop plants, facilitating comparison and contrast, as well as providing relevant relationships for future research and development. The book presents the genetic and natural history value of wild relatives, covers what wild relatives exist, explores the existing knowledge regarding specific relatives and the research surrounding them and identifies knowledge gaps. As understanding the role of crop wild relatives in plant breeding expands the genetic pool for abiotic and biotic stress resistance, this is an ideal reference on this important topic.

High-Temperature Gas Reactors is the fifth volume in the JSME Series on Thermal and Nuclear Power Generation. Series Editor Yasuo Koizumi and his Volume editors Tetsuaki Takeda and Yoshiyuki Inagaki present the latest research on High-Temperature Gas Reactor (HTGR) development and utilization, beginning with an analysis of the history of HTGRs. A detailed analysis of HTGR design features, including reactor core design, cooling tower design, pressure vessel design, I&C factors and safety design, provides readers with a solid understanding of how to develop efficient and safe HTGR within a nuclear power plant. The authors combine their knowledge to present a guide on the safety of HTGRs throughout the entire reactor system, drawing on their unique experience to pass on lessons learned and best practices to support professionals and researchers in their design and operation of these advanced reactor types. Case studies of critical testing carried out by the authors provide the reader with firsthand information on how to conduct tests safely and effectively and an understanding of which responses are required in unexpected incidents to achieve their research objectives. An analysis of technologies and systems in development and testing stages offer the reader a look to the future of HTGRs and help to direct and inform their further research in heat transfer, fluid-dynamics, fuel options and advanced reactor facility selection. This volume is of interest for nuclear and thermal energy engineers and researchers focusing on HTGRs, HTGR plant designers and operators, regulators, post graduate students of nuclear engineering, national labs, government officials and agencies in power and energy policy and regulations.

Petroleum Engineer's Guide to Oil Field Chemicals and Fluids, Third Edition delivers all the necessary lists of chemicals by use, their basic components, benefits and environmental implications. Instead of searching through various sources, this updated reference presents a one-stop, non-commercialized approach by organizing products by function, matching the chemical to the process for practical problem-solving, and extending coverage with additional resources and supportive materials. Updates include shale specific fluids and organic additives, including swellable polymers and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Covering the full spectrum, including fluid loss additives and oil spill treating agents, this book is ideal for every oil and gas operation with its options for lower costs, sustainable use and enhanced production.