Every bit of information that circulates the internet across the globe is a pulse of light, that at some point will need to be converted to an electric signal in order to be processed by the electronic circuitry in our data centers, computers, and cell phones. Photodetectors (PD's) perform this conversion with ultra high speed and efficiency, in addition to being ubiquitously present in many other devices ranging from the mundane TV remote controls, to ultra high resolution instrumentation used in Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) that reach the edge of the universe and measure gravitational waves. The second edition of "Photodetectors" fully updates the popular first edition with updated information covering the state-of-the-art in modern photodetectors. The 2nd edition starts with basic metrology of photodetectors and common figures-of-merit to compare various devices. It follows with chapters that discuss single-photon detection with Avalanche Photodiodes; organic photodetectors that can be inkjet printed; and silicon-germanium PDs popular in burgeoning field of Silicon Photonics. Internationally recognized experts contribute chapters on one-dimensional, nanowire, PDs as well as high speed zero-dimensional, quantum dot, versions that increase the spectral span as well as speed and sensitivity of PDs and can be produced on various substrates. Solar-blind PDs that operate in harsh environments such as deep space, or rocket engines, are reviewed and new devices in GaN technology . Novel Plasmonic PDs, as well as devices which employ micro-plasma of confined charge in order to make devices that overcome speed limitation of transfer of electronic charge, are covered in other chapters. Using different, novel technologies, CMOS compatible devices are described in two chapters, and ultra high speed PDs that use low-temperature-grown GaAs (LT-GaAs) to detect fast THz signals are reviewed in another chapter. Photodetectors used in application areas of Silicon-Photonics and Microwave-Photonics are reviewed in final chapters of this book. All chapters are of a review nature, providing a perspective of the field before concentrating on particular advancements. As such, the book should appeal to a wide audience that ranges from those with general interest in the topic, to practitioners, graduate students and experts who are interested in the state-of-the-art in photodetection.

The Science and Technology of Cement and other Hydraulic Binders covers the design of Portland Cement composition using the ideas and formulae of earlier scientists, including the calculation of proportions of different cement phases formed during processing. Other chapters cover cement manufacture by dry, semi-dry or wet processes using rotary and shaft kilns. Particular attention is given to the physical changes that occur in the raw mix when affected by chemical processes. The chemistry of clinker formation which is concerned chiefly with high temperature reactions in the solid-state phase or reactions in the presence of the liquid phase is also discussed. Users will find the latest information on the storage of cement, its packing and handling, hydration and setting, Gypsum, different mineral additions, and advances in special and newer cements, including blended cements, Portland slag cement, Pozzolanic cements, high alumina cements, high-strength cement-based materials, fiber-reinforced cement, non-Portland cements and lime.

Biomedical Applications of Green Composites reviews the use of green composite materials in drug delivery, with a focus on capsules, resins and ceramides in biomedical fields. Chapters present green composites of polymeric origin and targeted delivery of drugs into various parts of the human body. Other sections in the book cover topics related to the applications of green composites in areas such as antimicrobial agents, pathogen control, surgical applications, dentistry and cancer therapy.

Fabrication and Functionalization of Advanced Tubular Nanofibers and their Applications describes the synthesis, preparation and characterization of carbon-based tubular nanofibers and their applications in environmental protection and new energy sources. The book explores novel strategies for the preparation of carbon tubular nanofibers and explains how they have been used to great effect in a range of applications, including energy and healthcare. The processing-structure-property relationship in functional inorganic/organic materials is examined at the nano-level, explaining where interesting electronic, magnetic, optical, mechanical or catalytic and therapeutic properties are derived. Covering everything from the basics to their use in practice, including the synthetic procedure and characterization, this book is the perfect guide for anyone interested in the design of nanomaterials for advanced applications. Nanomaterial science is a relatively young and rapidly developing discipline that includes aspects of physics, chemistry and biology and is finding applications in some of mankind's greatest current challenges.

Gold and Silver Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Applications provides detailed information on the preparation and utilization of Au- and Ag-based nanoparticles in a range of novel areas. Gold and silver nanoparticles offer a range of interesting properties, including unique size-dependent optoelectronic properties, chemical stability and biocompatibility, ease of synthesis and surface modification, excellent resistance to corrosion, and catalytic properties, hence paving the way to a wide range of cutting-edge applications with continual advances and innovations. Sections introduce gold and silver nanoparticles, fundamental theory, synthesis, and characterization techniques before focusing on requirements and preparation methods. Specific applications areas, such as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), sensing and biosensing, imaging, drug and gene delivery, disease diagnosis, catalysis, and optoelectronic device fabrication are covered. Finally, synthesis and applications of platinum- and palladium-based nanoparticles are discussed. This is a valuable resource for researchers and advanced students across nanoscience and nanotechnology, chemistry, and materials science, as well as scientists, engineers, and R&D professionals with an interest in noble metal nanomaterials for a range of industrial applications.

New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering: Trichoderma for Biotechnological Applications: Current Insights and Future Prospects includes the most recent advances in Trichoderma based research. The book emphasizes the use of modern biotechnological and molecular tools such as the identification of Trichoderma, the development of diagnostic markers, and genome mapping and next generation sequencing based approaches. Chapters discuss a variety of applications and illustrations, including the biology and biodiversity of Trichoderma, biotic and abiotic stresses, plant health, disease management, crop improvement, industrial and commercial products, and more. The book includes various applications, making it useful for biotechnologists, biochemical engineers, biochemists, plant breeders, soil microbiologist, agronomists and researchers interested in sustainable agriculture practices.

Next Generation Nanochitosan: Applications in Animal Husbandry, Aquaculture and Food Conservation provides comprehensive and state-of-the-art-information on the application of nanochitosan for improving products, especially for the evaluation of biological active molecules, disease therapeutics, transport vehicle for DNA, targeted drug delivery, gene therapy, development of smart and high performance of fish, preservation of foods, tissue engineering, and improving the taste of aquatic and animal feeds as fish growth promoter. this book will be especially useful for industrial fisheries who deal with wild capture fishing and aquafarming and scientists and engineers working on post-capture processing stages. Details on the application of nanochitosan as an effective delivery of vaccines, hormones, vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants, biological active constituents and their wider application for the protection and management of farm animals and fishes against disease-causing pathogens are provided.

Graphene Quantum Dots: Biomedical and Environmental Sustainability Applications provides an overview of fundamentals and advances in applications of graphene quantum dots. Concepts covered include a brief introduction on the topic, an overview of structure and chemistry, fundamental properties of different characterization techniques, methods for the preparation of graphene quantum dots, and recent and emerging applications in various fields including antimicrobial therapy, bioimaging, biomedical tools development and clean energy for environmental sustainability. The book is a critical resource in materials selection for biomedical and environmental sustainability applications as well as various advanced imaging, disinfectant and environmental remediation technologies. As such, it is suitable for those in academia working in the discipline of materials science and engineering and practitioners working on biomedical tool development and environmental remediation.

Evaporative Coolers for the Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables covers world demand for food of high quality without chemical preservatives and with extended shelf life. The book provides the practical application of evaporative coolers, with a strong focus on postharvest management and fruit/vegetable science as high moisture foods are highly perishable. Special emphasis is laid on the impact of the evaporative coolant structure on the nutritional and food safety content of fresh produce. Moreover, the book covers the effect of evaporative coolant structure towards the reduction of spoilage microorganisms responsible for the spoilage of post-harvest losses of various fruits and vegetables. Edited by a team of specialists, this title also helps people dealing with microbiology understand how this simple technology can help improve product quality for communities that currently lack access to cooling or have unreliable power supplies.

Value Addition in Agri-Food Industry Waste through Enzyme Technology, Volume Three explores advances in the production of high value-added products from agri-food industry waste/residues using enzyme technology. Waste materials used in hydrogen production are categorized as agricultural waste, municipal waste, industrial waste, and other hazardous wastes. The book explores advances in value-addition to waste materials and includes utilization of industrial, agricultural and municipal waste for its bioconversion using enzyme technology. This book assembles the novel sources and technologies involved in value-added products formation from specific waste materials, making it an essential reference to professionals, scientists, and academics in agri-food and related industries.

Circularity of Plastics: Sustainability, Emerging Materials, and Valorization of Waste Plastic takes an innovative, interdisciplinary approach to circularity and sustainability in plastics, with an emphasis on plastic waste and end-of-life treatment and options for recycling, re-use, valorization and development of biomass-based polymers. The book introduces key concepts of sustainable materials, the circular economy, and lifecycle assessment, and discusses challenges in the valorization of waste. Other sections cover the upcycling of waste plastic into new materials and fuels, with dedicated chapters exploring state-of-the-art techniques for conversion to new sustainable polymers, fuel, fine chemicals and carbon nanomaterials. Emerging technologies used to produce functional polymers from renewable feedstocks, including CO2, biomass, natural polymers, polylactic acid (PLA), and polyhydroxyalkanoate-based materials (PHAs) are then explored, with a final chapter focusing on applications of sustainable materials, challenges, and future perspectives. This is a valuable resource for researchers, scientists, engineers, R&D professionals, and advanced students from a range of disciplines and backgrounds, with an interest in sustainable materials, circularity in plastics, and polymer waste and valorization.

Advances in Eco-friendly and Sustainable Technologies for the Treatment of Textile Wastewater delivers a comprehensive overview of the advancements in a variety of treatment approaches with a major emphasis on bioremediation for the removal and degradation of textile dyes. This book summarizes the latest advancements in textile dyes/effluent treatment technologies and evaluates the major physico-chemical and biological processes that are most popular among textile industrial wastewater treatment plants. The book examines recent advanced treatment options, including photocatalysis with the aid of nanotechnology, as well as advanced oxidation processes, with an emphasis on bioremediation methods.

Databook of Surface Modification Additives, Second Edition contains data on ten groups of additives, including anti-scratch and mar-preventing additives, additives for surface tension reduction and wetting, hydrophobization additives, gloss enhancement and surface matting additives, additives for the formation of tack-free surface and tackifiers, and stain inhibiting additives. The information on each is divided into five sections, including General Information, Physical-Chemical Properties, Health and Safety, Ecological Properties, and Use and Performance. This data is provided for approximately 360 of the most important surface modification additives produced and used today. This databook will be an extremely useful resource for engineers, researchers and technicians interested in using additives to modify and improve the surface properties of materials.

Current Developments in Biotechnology and Bioengineering: Membrane Technology for Sustainable Water and Energy Management covers a variety of advanced technologies for membrane processes, including water/wastewater treatment and reuse, membrane materials, operation and maintenance, fouling control, life cycle assessment, removal of micro/emerging pollutants, and operational cost of membrane processes. Supported by prominent editors and global contributors, this reference contains chapters on membrane treatment strategies for the current pollution of complex organic matters, nutrients, toxic substances, microplastics, membrane fouling control in different water resources, and reusing water resources through promising separation technologies, including reverse osmosis, forward osmosis, and membrane distillation.

Advances in Agronomy, Volume 178, the latest release in this leading reference on agronomy, contains a variety of updates and highlights new advances in the field, with each chapter written by an international board of authors.

How to Read Bridges is a practical introduction to looking at the structure and purpose of bridges. It is a guide to reading the structural clues embedded in every bridge that allows their variety and ingenuity to be better appreciated. Small enough to carry in your pocket and serious enough to provide real answers, this comprehensive guide analyses and explores all types of bridges from around the world from the first millennium to the present day. The book also explores fundamental concepts of bridge design, key materials and engineering techniques whilst providing an accessible visual guide with intelligent text, using detailed illustrations and cross-sections of technical features.

Thermal Barrier Coatings, Second Edition plays a critical role in counteracting the effects of corrosion and degradation of exposed materials in high-temperature environments such as gas turbine and aero-engines. This updated edition reviews recent advances in the processing and performance of thermal barrier coatings, as well as their failure mechanisms. Novel technologies for the manufacturing of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) such as plasma spray-physical vapor deposition and suspension plasma spray, are covered, as well as severe degradation of TBCs caused by CMAS attack. In addition to discussions of new materials and technologies, an outlook about next generation TBCs, including T/EBCs is discussed. This edition will provide the fundamental science and engineering of thermal barrier coatings for researchers in the field of TBCs, as well as students looking for a tutorial.

Essential Oils: Extraction, Characterization and Applications covers sixteen essential oils from different herbal and aromatic plants, including production, composition and extraction techniques such as distillation, chemistry and properties, characterization and applications. The book also presents their safety, toxicity and regulation, alongside trade, storage, stability and transport concepts. Essential oils in plants, extraction and analysis, and current trends in the use of essential oils, like aroma therapy, agro-food and non-food usage are thoroughly explored. Remaining chapters are dedicated to different essential oils, including lavender, peppermint, sandalwood, citrus, eucalyptus, tea tree, clove, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, rosewood, juniper and pine, patchouli, clary, and more. Edited by a global team of experts in essential oils, this book is designed to be a practical tool for the many diverse professionals who develop and market essential oils.

A vital perspective is missing from the discussions we're having about Artificial Intelligence: what does it mean for our identity?

Our fascination with AI stems from the perceived uniqueness of human intelligence. We believe it's what differentiates us. Fears of AI not only concern how it invades our digital lives, but also the implied threat of an intelligence that displaces us from our position at the centre of the world.

Neil D. Lawrence's visionary book shows why these fears may be misplaced. Atomism, proposed by Democritus, suggested it was impossible to continue dividing matter down into ever smaller components: eventually we reach a point where a cut cannot be made (the Greek for uncuttable is 'atom'). In the same way, by slicing away at the facets of human intelligence that can be replaced by machines, AI uncovers what is left: an indivisible core that is the essence of humanity.

By contrasting our own (evolved, locked-in, embodied) intelligence with the capabilities of machine intelligence through history, The Atomic Human reveals the technical origins, capabilities and limitations of AI systems, and how they should be wielded. Not just by the experts, but ordinary people. Either AI is a tool for us, or we become a tool of AI. Understanding this will enable readers to choose the future we want.

This is a book written by leading experts in the fields of cyber-physical systems (CPS) and wireless sensor networks (WSN). This book describes how wireless sensor networking technologies can help in establishing and maintaining seamless communications between the physical and cyber systems to enable efficient, secure, reliable acquisition, management, and routing of data. Topics covered include: an introduction to WSN and CPS; integration issues and challenges between WSN and CPS; enabling CPS design architectures with WSN technologies; cyber security in CPS; data management in CPS with WSN; routing in WSN for CPS; resource management in CPS; mobile sensors in CPS; intelligent WSN in CPS; resilient WSN for CPS; case studies of integrated WSN and CPS; and medical CPS. All chapters of the book have been rigorously peer-reviewed. Cyber-Physical System Design with Sensor Networking Technologies is essential reading for researchers, advanced students and developers working in the areas of cyber-physical systems and sensor networks.