This book introduces the reader to important aspects of the nano-hydrogels. It covers the development of hydrogels and their biology, chemistry and properties. Focus is also given to innovative characterization techniques and advances in structural design, with special emphasis on molecular structure, dynamic behavior and structural modifications of hydrogels. This book serves as a consolidated reference work for the diverse aspects of hydrogels, creating a valuable resource for students and researchers in academia and industry.

This book provides a comprehensive treatment of the physics of hysteresis in magnetism and of the mathematical tools used to describe it. Hysteresis in Magnetism discusses from a unified viewpoint the relationsof hysteresis to Maxwells equations, equilibrium and non-equilibrium thermodynamics, non-linear system dynamics, micromagnetics, and domain theory. These aspects are then applied to the interpretation of magnetization reversal mechanisms: coherent rotation and switching in magnetic particles, stochastic domain wall motion and the Barkhausen effect, coercivity mechanisms and magnetic viscosity, rate-dependent hysteresis and eddy-current losses. The book emphasizes the connection between basic physical ideas and phenomenological models of interest to applications, and, in particular, to the conceptual path going from Maxwells equations and thermodynamics to micromagnetics and to Preisach hysteresis modeling.
Key Features
* The reader will get insight into the importance and role of hysteresis in magnetism; In particular, he will learn:
* which are the fingerprints of hysteresis in magnetism
* which are the situations in which hysteresis may appear
* how to describe mathematically these situations
* how to apply these descriptions to magnetic materials
* how to interpret and predict magnetic hysteresis phenomena observed experimentally

This book gathers the best peer-reviewed papers presented at the Italian Concrete Days national conference, held in Lecco, Italy, on June 14-15, 2018. The conference topics encompass the aspects of design, execution, rehabilitation and control of concrete structures, with particular reference to theory and modeling, applications and realizations, materials and investigations, technology and construction techniques. The contributions amply demonstrate that today's structural concrete applications concern not only new constructions, but more and more rehabilitation, conservation, strengthening and seismic upgrading of existing premises, and that requirements cover new aspects within the frame of sustainability, including environmental friendliness, durability, adaptability and reuse of works and / or materials. As such the book represents an invaluable, up-to-the-minute tool, providing an essential overview of structural concrete, as well as all new materials with cementitious matrices.

This book offers professionals working at power plants guidelines and best practices for vibration problems, in order to help them identify the respective problem, grasp it, and successfully solve it. The book provides very little theoretical information (which is readily available in the existing literature) and doesn't assume that readers have an extensive mathematical background; rather, it presents a range of well-documented, real-world case studies and examples drawn from the authors' 50 years of experience at jobsites. Vibration problems don't crop up very often, thanks to good maintenance and support, but if and when they do, most power plants have very little experience in assessing and solving them. Accordingly, the case studies discussed here will equip power plant engineers to quickly evaluate the vibration problem at hand (by deciding whether the machine is at risk or can continue operating) and find a practical solution.

This book gives a comprehensive overview of electrochemical-based biosensors and their crucial components. Practical examples are given throughout the text to illustrate how the performance of electrochemical-based biosensors can be improved by nanoscale surface modification and how an optimal design can be achieved. All essential aspects of biosensors are considered, including electrode functionalization, efficiency of the mass transport of reactive species, and long term durability and functionality of the sensor. This book also: * Explains how the performance of an electrochemical-based biosensor can be improved by nanoscale surface modification * Gives readers the tools to evaluate and improve the performance of a biosensor with a multidisciplinary approach that considers electrical, electrostatic, electrochemical, chemical, and biochemical events * Links the performance of a sensor to the various governing physical and chemical principles so readers can fully understand how a biosensor with nanoscale modified electrode surface functions.

Topological Insulators (TIs) are insulators in the bulk, but have exotic metallic states at their surfaces. The topology, associated with the electronic wavefunctions of these systems, changes when passing from the bulk to the surface. This work studies, by means of infrared spectroscopy, the low energy optical conductivity of Bismuth based TIs in order to identify the extrinsic charge contribution of the bulk and to separate it from the intrinsic contribution of the surface state carriers. The extensive results presented in this thesis definitely shows the 2D character of the carriers in Bismuth-based topological insulators. The experimental apparatus and the FTIR technique, the theory of optical properties and Surface Plasmon Polaritons, as well as sample preparation of both crystals and thin films, and the analysis procedures are thoroughly described.

This textbook takes an interdisciplinary approach to the subject of thermodynamics and is therefore suitable for undergraduates in chemistry, physics and engineering courses. The book is an introduction to phenomenological thermodynamics and its applications to phase transitions and chemical reactions, with some references to statistical mechanics. It strikes the balance between the rigorousness of the Callen text and phenomenological approach of the Atkins text. The book is divided in three parts. The first introduces the postulates and laws of thermodynamics and complements these initial explanations with practical examples. The second part is devoted to applications of thermodynamics to phase transitions in pure substances and mixtures. The third part covers thermodynamic systems in which chemical reactions take place. There are some sections on more advanced topics such as thermodynamic potentials, natural variables, non-ideal mixtures and electrochemical reactions, which make this book of suitable also to post-graduate students.

Magnetic impurities in a non-magnetic host metal have been actively explored in condensed matter physics in recent last decades. From both fundamental and applied viewpoints these systems are very interesting because they can exhibit strong electronic correlations that give rise to various fascinating phenomena beyond the single particle picture. Up to now our understanding of the underlying processes remains limited due to difficulties involved in measuring these systems on a microscopic scale. With their unique control, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS) allow for the first time investigations of phenomena occurring on very small length and energy scales. Here, single magnetic iron and cobalt atoms embedded beneath a metal surface are investigated using these techniques. In particular, the transition from single impurity Kondo physics to two interacting impurities is studied in real space. This thesis contains a comprehensive description of the STM /STS technique, sub-surface impurities, as well as single- and two-impurity Kondo physics - and as such offers a valuable introduction to newcomers to the field.

Bringing together experts from the various disciplines involved, this first comprehensive overview of the current level of stress engineering on the nanoscale is unique in combining the theoretical fundamentals with simulation methods, model systems and characterization techniques. Essential reading for researchers in microelectronics, optoelectronics, sensing, and photonics.

This book reviews various aspects of molecular spectroscopy and its application in materials science, chemistry, physics, medicine, the arts and the earth sciences. Written by an international group of recognized experts, it examines how complementary applications of diverse spectroscopic methods can be used to study the structure and properties of different materials. The chapters cover the whole spectrum of topics related to theoretical and computational methods, as well as the practical application of spectroscopic techniques to study the structure and dynamics of molecular systems, solid-state crystalline and amorphous materials, surfaces and interfaces, and biological systems. As such, the book offers an invaluable resource for all researchers and postgraduate students interested in the latest developments in the theory, experimentation, measurement and application of various advanced spectroscopic methods for the study of materials.

Theory of Electroelasticity analyzes the stress, strain, electric field and electric displacement in electroelastic structures such as sensors, actuators and other smart materials and structures. This book also describes new theories such as the physical variational principle and the inertial entropy theory. It differs from the traditional method by using the physical variational principle to derive the governing equations of the piezoelectric material, whereas the Maxwell stress is obtained automatically. By using the inertial entropy theory, the temperature wave equation is obtained very easily. The book is intended for scientists, researchers and engineers in the areas of mechanics, physics, smart material and control engineering as well as mechanical, aeronautical and civil engineering, etc. Zhen-Bang Kuang is a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

This book introduces readers to fundamental information on phosphor and quantum dots. It comprehensively reviews the latest research advances in and applications of fluoride phosphors, oxide phosphors, nitridosilicate phosphors and various quantum dot materials. Phosphors and phosphor-based quantum dot materials have recently gained considerable scientific interest due to their wide range of applications in lighting, displays, medical and telecommunication technologies. This work will be of great interest to researchers and graduate students in materials sciences and chemistry who wish to learn more about the principles, synthesis and analysis of phosphors and quantum dot materials.

This is the second edition of "Melt Rheology and its Role in Plastics Processing," although the title has changed to reflect its broadened scope. Advances in the recent years in rheometer technology and polymer science have greatly enhanced the usefulness of rheology in the plastics industry. It is now possible to design polymers having specific molecular structures and to predict the flow properties of melts having those structures. In addition, rheological properties now provide more precise information about molecular structure.

This book provides all the information that is needed for the intelligent application of rheology in the development of new polymers, the determination of molecular structure and the correlation of processability with laboratory test data. Theory and equations are limited to what is essential for the use of rheology in the characterization of polymers, the development of new plastics materials and the prediction of plastics processing behavior. The emphasis is on information that will be of direct use to practitioners. Extensive references are provided for those wishing to pursue certain issues in greater depth.

While the primary audience is applied polymer scientists and plastics engineers, the book will also be of use to postgraduate students in polymer science and engineering and as a text for a graduate course.

This book explores the interplay of bubble dynamics and shock waves, covering shock wave emission by laser generated bubbles, pulsating bubbles near boundaries, interaction of shock waves with bubble clouds, applications in shock wave lithotripsy, and more.

The process of high temperature phase transition of rare earth permanent-magnet alloys is revealed by photographs taken by high voltage TEM. The relationship between the formation of nanocrystal and magnetic properties is discussed in detail, which effects alloys composition and preparation process.

The experiment results verified some presumptions, and were valuable for subsequent scientific research and creating new permanent-magnet alloys.

The publication is intended for researchers, engineers and managers in the field of material science, metallurgy, and physics.

Prof. Shuming Pan is senior engineer of Beijing General Research Institute of Non-ferrous Metal.

This book commemorates the 80th birthday of Prof. W. Pietraszkiewicz, a prominent specialist in the field of general shell theory. Reflecting Prof. Pietraszkiewicz's focus, the respective papers address a range of current problems in the theory of shells. In addition, they present other structural mechanics problems involving dimension-reduced models. Lastly, several applications are discussed, including material models for such dimension-reduced structures.

In recent years, there have been important developments in the design and fabrication of new thermoelectrics. While a decade ago, progress was mainly empirical, recent advances in theoretical methods have led to a deeper understanding of the parameters that affect the performance of materials in thermoelectric devices. These have brought the goal of producing materials with the required characteristics for commercial application a significant step closer. A search for efficient materials requires a fully microscopic treatment of the charge and heat transport, and the aim of this book is to explain all thermoelectric phenomena from this modern quantum-mechanical perspective. In the first part on phenomenology, conjugate current densities and forces are derived from the condition that the rate of change of the entropy density of the system in the steady state is given by the scalar product between them. The corresponding transport coefficients are explicitly shown to satisfy Onsager's reciprocal relations. The transport equations are solved for a number of cases, and the coefficient of performance, the efficiency, and the figure of merit are computed. State-of-the-art methods for the solution of the transport equations in inhomogeneous thermoelectrics are presented. A brief account on how to include magnetization transport in the formalism is also given. In the second part, quantum mechanical expressions for the transport coefficients are derived, following the approach by Luttinger. These are shown to satisfy Onsager's relations by construction. Three lattice models, currently used to describe strongly correlated electron systems, are introduced: the Hubbard, the Falicov-Kimball, and the periodic Anderson model (PAM), and the relevant current density operators are derived for each of them. A proof of the Jonson-Mahan theorem, according to which all transport coefficients for these models can be obtained from the integral of a unique transport function multiplied by different powers of the frequency, is given. The third part compares theory and experiment. First for the thermoelectric properties of dilute magnetic alloys, where the theoretical results are obtained from poor man's scaling solutions to single impurity models. Then it is shown that the experimental data on heavy fermions and valence fluctuators are well reproduced by the transport coefficients computed for the PAM at low and high temperature. Finally, results obtained from first principles calculations are shown, after a short introduction to density functional theory and beyond. A number of useful appendices complete the book.

The trends and progress attained in computational kinematics over a broad class of problems are grouped into six parts describing the main themes: kinematics algorithms, discussing kinematics problems in light of their solution algorithms; kinematics of mechanisms, studying problems related to specific mechanisms; singularities; workspace, discussing the determination of the workspace of given mechanisms; parallel manipulators; and motion and grasp planning, touching on computational geometry. The volume contains a representative sample of the most modern techniques available for kinetics problems, including techniques based on advances in algebraic geometry. Researchers, graduate students and practising engineers in work relating to kinematics, robotics, machine design and computer science should find this work useful.

The first of its kind in the field, this title examines the use of modern, shock-capturing finite volume numerical methods, in the solution of partial differential equations associated with free-surface flows, which satisfy the shallow-water type assumption (including shallow water flows, dense gases and mixtures of materials as special samples).
Starting with a general presentation of the governing equations for free-surface shallow flows and a discussion of their physical applicability, the book goes on to analyse the mathematical properties of the equations, in preparation for the presentation of the exact solution of the Riemann problem for wet and dry beds. After a general introduction to the finite volume approach, several chapters are then devoted to describing a variety of modern shock-capturing finite volume numerical methods, including Godunov methods of the upwind and centred type. Approximate Riemann solvers following various approaches are studied in detail as is their use in the Godunov approach for constructing low and high-order upwind TVD methods. Centred TVD schemes are also presented. Two chapters are then devoted to practical applications. The book finishes with an overview of potential practical applications of the methods studied, along with appropriate reference to sources of further information.
Features include:
* Algorithmic and practical presentation of the methods
* Practical applications such as dam-break modelling and the study of bore reflection patterns in two space dimensions
* Sample computer programs and accompanying numerical software (details available at www.numeritek.com)
The book is suitable for teaching postgraduatestudents of civil, mechanical, hydraulic and environmental engineering, meteorology, oceanography, fluid mechanics and applied mathematics. Selected portions of the material may also be useful in teaching final year undergraduate students in the above disciplines. The contents will also be of interest to research scientists and engineers in academia and research and consultancy laboratories.

Second volume of a 40-volume series on nanoscience and nanotechnology, edited by the renowned scientist Challa S.S.R. Kumar. This handbook gives a comprehensive overview about UV-visible and photoluminescence spectroscopy for the characterization of nanomaterials. Modern applications and state-of-the-art techniques are covered and make this volume essential reading for research scientists in academia and industry in the related fields.

This book covers the physical properties of nanosized ferroics, also called nanoferroics. Nanoferroics are an important class of ceramic materials that substitute conventional ceramic ferroics in modern electronic devices. They include ferroelectric, ferroelastic, magnetic and multiferroic nanostructured materials. The phase transitions and properties of these nanostructured ferroics are strongly affected by the geometric confinement originating from surfaces and interfaces. As a consequence, these materials exhibit a behavior different from the corresponding bulk crystalline, ceramic and powder ferroics. This monograph offers comprehensive coverage of size- and shape-dependent effects at the nanoscale; the specific properties that these materials have been shown to exhibit; the theoretical approaches that have been successful in describing the size-dependent effects observed experimentally; and the technological aspects of many chemical and physico-chemical nanofabrication methods relevant to making nanoferroic materials and composites. The book will be of interest to an audience of condensed matter physicists, material scientists and engineers, working on ferroic nanostructured materials, their fundamentals, fabrication and device applications.

This thesis focuses on the transport and magneto-transport properties of graphene p-n-p junctions, such as the pronounced quantum Hall effect, a well-defined plateau-plateau transition point, and scaling behavior. In addition, it demonstrates persistent photoconductivity (PPC) in the monolayer MoS2 devices, an effect that can be attributed to random localized potential fluctuations in the devices. Further, it studies scaling behavior at zeroth Landau level and high performance of fractional values of quantum Hall plateaus in these graphene p-n-p devices. Moreover, it demonstrates a unique and efficient means of controlling the PPC effect in monolayer MoS2. This PPC effect may offer novel functionalities for MoS2-based optoelectronic applications in the future.

This book presents theoretical and experimental investigations of mechanical behavior of solids under shock loading and highlights a multi-scale exchange process of energy and momentum between meso and macroscopic hierarchy. It also widely covers experimental approaches for the multi-scale response of solids to impacts including uniaxial strain conditions and high-velocity penetration processes. The content comprises two parts. The first part overviews modeling and theory of dynamically deformed solids from the multi-scale point of view. The second part describes experimental characterization of shock-induced solids and experimental probing of mesostructured and mesoscale dynamic processes in solids. The theory presented in the first part is then verified as it is compared with i) experiments of shock loading into different kinds of solids and ii) probed microstructure of post-shocked specimens by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and optical microscopy. The text is written on the basis of author's lectures at universities and thus is concisely described for postgraduate students. It is also useful for researchers who work on the theory of multi-scale mechanics of solids and engineers who work on testing materials under dynamic loading.