Design of Smart Manufacturing Systems covers the fundamentals and applications of smart manufacturing or Industry 4.0 system design, along with interesting case studies. Digitization and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) have vastly increased the amount of data available to manufacturing production systems. This book addresses the planning, modeling and experimentation of different decision-making problems as well as the conditions that affect manufacturing. In addition, recent developments in the design of smart manufacturing and its applications are explained, covering the needs of both researchers and practitioners. To fully navigate the challenges and opportunities of smart manufacturing systems, contributions are drawn from operations research, information systems, computer science and industrial engineering as well as manufacturing engineering.

Metal and Nutrient Transporters in Abiotic Stress focuses on the different forms of environmental stress related to heavy metal, metalloid and nutrient deficiency that have the potential to inflict major damages to crop plants, leading to a massive decrease in crop yield and productivity. The book presents the current state of knowledge of the biochemical and molecular regulation of several classes of membrane transporters related to the uptake of metals/metalloids and nutrient elements during different stresses and their probable mechanisms of operation in plant stress tolerance. Metal and Nutrient Transporters in Abiotic Stress provides a comprehensive discussion that will help in mitigating multiple forms of stresses utilizing transporter proteins. Edited by leading experts and written by a global team of knowledgeable contributors, this book will further stimulate research in the field of transporter proteins and will foster further interests for researchers, academicians and scientists worldwide. It is complimented by its companion book titled Transporters and Plant Osmotic Stress.

Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicle Technologies for Improved Environmental Performance: Towards Zero Carbon Transportation, Second Edition provides a comprehensive view of key developments in advanced fuels and vehicle technologies to improve the energy efficiency and environmental impact of the automotive sector. Sections consider the role of alternative fuels such as electricity, alcohol and hydrogen fuel cells, as well as advanced additives and oils in environmentally sustainable transport. Other topics explored include methods of revising engine and vehicle design to improve environmental performance and fuel economy and developments in electric and hybrid vehicle technologies. This reference will provide professionals, engineers and researchers of alternative fuels with an understanding of the latest clean technologies which will help them to advance the field. Those working in environmental and mechanical engineering will benefit from the detailed analysis of the technologies covered, as will fuel suppliers and energy producers seeking to improve the efficiency, sustainability and accessibility of their work.

Advances in Heat Transfer, Volume 54 in this comprehensive series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapter written by an international board of authors. Updates to this new release include chapters on Thermal Convection Studies at the University of Minnesota and Turbulent passive scalar transport in smooth wall-bounded flows: recent advances.

Advances in Applied Microbiology, Volume 121 continues the comprehensive reach of this widely read and authoritative review source in microbiology. Users will find invaluable references and information on a variety of areas relating to the topics of microbiology.

Semiconductors and Semimetals, Volume 111 highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on Precision Medicine. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors.

Advances in Synthesis Gas: Methods, Technologies and Applications: Syngas Purification and Separation considers different common and novel processes for the purification of produced syngas, such as absorption, adsorption, membrane, cryogenic distillation and particulate separation technologies in addition to thermal and oxidative processes for tar removal. The role of various catalysts or materials in absorption, adsorption and membrane processes are discussed in separate chapters to address each in more detail.

PV has traditionally been used for electric power in space. Solar panels on spacecraft are usually the sole source of power to run the sensors, active heating and cooling, and communications. Photovoltaics for Space: Key Issues, Missions and Alternative Technologies provides an overview of the challenges to efficiently produce solar power in near-Earth space and beyond: the materials and device architectures that have been developed to surmount these environmental and mission-specific barriers. The book is organized in four sections consisting of detailed introductory and background content as well as a collection of in-depth space environment, materials processing, technology, and mission overviews by international experts. This book will detail how to design and optimize a space power system's performance for power-to-weight ratio, effectiveness at end of operational life (EOL) compared to beginning of operational life (BOL), and specific mission objectives and goals. This book outlines the knowledge required for practitioners and advanced students interested in learning about the background, materials, devices, environmental challenges, missions, and future for photovoltaics for space exploration.

BENEFICIAL CHEMICAL ELEMENTS OF PLANTS Understand beneficial elements and their role in the future of botany and agriculture Beneficial elements are those which, while not essential to plant life, can provide stimulation and enhance plant growth. Properly harnessed, these elements can bolster plant growth in the face of environmental conditions—including drought, nutrient deficiency, and excessive soil salinity—and biotic stresses like pathogens and animal activity. As climate change and population growth pose increasingly serious challenges to agriculture and essential plant production, it has never been more important to unleash the potential of beneficial elements. Beneficial Chemical Elements of Plants is an essential resource for researchers and industry specialists looking to enhance their understanding of these elements and the range and variety of their enhancements to plant growth. Written by leading scholars in the field of plant stress tolerance and nutrient enrichment, it discusses not only the rich possibilities of beneficial elements but their mechanisms of action at both biochemical and molecular levels. It details the precise potential roles played by each major beneficial element and surveys a range of elemental responses to specific environmental conditions and plant stresses. Beneficial Chemical Elements of Plants readers will also find: Chapters covering beneficial elements including aluminum, cobalt, sodium, selenium, and silicon Discussion of application methods and typical plant responses Treatment of beneficial elements in a wider environmental context Beneficial element applications to the field of sustainable agriculture Beneficial Chemical Elements of Plants is a fundamental starting point for researchers and students in the fields of plant physiology, crop science, agriculture, and botany, as well as for professionals in the biotechnology and agricultural industries.

Advances in Synthesis Gas: Methods, Technologies and Applications: Syngas Products and Usage considers the applications and usages of syngas for producing different chemical materials such as hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, methane, ammonia, and more. In addition, power generation in fuel cells, or in combination with heat from syngas, as well as iron reduction with economic and environmental challenges for syngas utilization are described in detail.

After over two decades of focused research and development, silicon carbide (SiC) is now ready for use in the healthcare sector and Silicon Carbide Technology for Advanced Human Healthcare Applications provides an up-to-date assessment of SiC devices for long-term human use. It explores a plethora of applications that SiC is uniquely positioned for in human healthcare, beginning with the three primary areas of technology which are closest to human trials and thus adoption in the healthcare industry: neural implants and spinal cord repair, graphene and biosensors, and finally deep tissue cancer therapy using SiC nanotechnology. Biomedical-inspired engineers, scientists, and healthcare professionals will find this book to be very useful in two ways: (I) as a guide to new ways to design and develop advanced medical devices and (II) as a reference for new developments in the field. The book's intent is to stimulate ideas for further technological enhancements and breakthroughs, which will provide alternative solutions for human healthcare applications.

Water Scarcity, Contamination, and Management presents new and updated material, including case studies, step-by-step guidance on key procedures and protocols, and timely topics such as climate change and integrated water resource management. This book is divided into three key sections. Section 1-Water Resource Scarcity-focuses on sustainable development and management of water resources and techniques and methods for improving water use efficiency. Section 2-Contamination of Water Resources-focuses on understanding the quality of water resources, migration of pollutant sources, geochemical processes, groundwater depletion, and seasonal variations in contaminant concentration, water resources' quality status, and associated human health risks. Section 3-Water Resource Management-considers a consolidated and coordinated approach to find the solution to water resource issues. Presenting a comprehensive overview of the water management field, the book serves as a valuable reference for students, professors, scholars, researchers, and consultants in the fields of water resources, civil engineering, environmental science and engineering, and hydrology.

Solid State Physics, Volume 73, the latest release in this serial that highlights new advances in the field, presents interesting chapters on a variety of current topics in the field, with each chapter written by an international board of authors.

Principles of Biomaterials Encapsulation: Volume One, provides an expansive and in-depth resource covering the key principles, biomaterials, strategies and techniques for encapsulation. Volume One begins with an introduction to encapsulation, with subsequent chapters dedicated to a broad range of encapsulation principles and techniques, including spray chilling and cooling, microemulsion, polymerization, extrusion, cell microencapsulation and much more. This book methodically details each technique, assessing the advantages and disadvantages of each, allowing the reader to make an informed decision when using encapsulation in their research. Principles of Biomaterials Encapsulation: Volume One enables readers to learn about the various strategies and techniques available for encapsulation of a wide selection of biomedical substrates, such as drugs, cells, hormones, growth factors and so on. Written and edited by well-versed materials scientists with extensive clinical, biomedical and regenerative medicine experience, this book offers a deeply interdisciplinary look at encapsulation in translational medicine. As such, this book will provide a useful resource to a broad readership, including those working in the fields of materials science, biomedical engineering, regenerative and translational medicine, pharmacology, chemical engineering and nutritional science.

Tribology of Polymers, Polymer Composites, and Polymer Nanocomposites combines fundamental knowledge with the latest findings in the area of polymer tribology. From testing of property-related mechanisms to prediction of wear using artificial neural networks, the book explores all relevant polymer types, including elastomers, epoxy-based, nylon, and more while also discussing their different types of reinforcement, such as particulates, short fibers, natural fibers, and beyond. New developments in sustainable materials, environmental effects, nanoscaled fillers, and self-lubrication are each discussed, as are applications of these materials, guidelines for when to use certain polymer systems, and functional groups of polymers. Experimental methods and modeling and prediction techniques are also outlined. The tribology of graphene-based, biodegradable, hybrid nanofiller/polymer nanocomposites and other types of polymers is discussed at length.

Carbon-Based Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites for Gas Sensing discusses the state of the art, emerging challenges, properties, and opportunities of various carbon-based nanomaterials and nanocomposites, for their application in smart gas sensors. The book focuses on various carbon-based nanomaterials and their nanocomposites, sensing mechanism, device fabrication, and their application for the sensing of various hazardous gases. This is important for several industries, environmental monitoring, and human healthcare, due to increased industrialization. Carbon-Based Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites for Gas Sensing provides systematic and effective guidelines for researchers who want to gain a fundamental understanding of how this class of materials is being used for gas sensing. Since these sensors can be applied for the automation of numerous industrial processes, as well as for everyday monitoring of various activities, such as public safety, engine performance, medical therapeutics, and in many other situations, this book will catch the attention of readers and motivate them for advanced research in the development of smart and efficient gas sensors.

Providing a detailed understanding of why heat and electricity energy storage technologies have developed so rapidly, Future Grid-Scale Energy Storage Solutions: Mechanical and Chemical Technologies and Principles presents the required fundamentals for techno-economic and environmental analysis of various grid-scale energy storage technologies. Through a consistent framework, each chapter outlines state-of-the-art advances, benefits and challenges, energy and exergy analyses models of these technologies, as well as an elaboration on their performance under dynamic and off-design operating conditions. Chapters include a case study analysis section, giving a detailed understanding of the systems' thermodynamics and economic and environmental performance in real operational conditions, and wrap-up with a discussion of the future prospects of these technologies from commercial and research perspectives. This book is a highly beneficial reference for researchers and scientists dealing with grid-scale energy storage systems, as a single comprehensive book providing the information and fundamentals required to do modeling, analysis, and/or feasibility studies of such systems.

In February 2001, Foot and Mouth Disease arrived in Cumbria. At its peak Cumbria was the worst affected county in Britain with a staggering 41 per cent of all cases. For the local community, the environmental and social consequences were to prove devastating. As a local resident, leading UK photographer John Darwell found himself surrounded by the effects of the disease. Over the next twelve months, he committed himself to recording what was taking place. Despite government reports to the contrary, the Cumbrian countryside became largely a 'no-go area', whilst on the farms thousands of animals were destroyed, their bodies burnt on the now notorious pyres. The ultimate clean-up of the infected farms led to extraordinary lengths being taken to eradicate the virus. "Dark Days" represents, perhaps, the most complete record of this time and provides a powerful and emotive insight into one of the most dramatic and destructive periods in British farming history. It is published in association with Littoral Arts.

Blockchain has potential to revolutionize how manufacturers design, engineer, make and scale their products. Blockchain is gradually proving to be an effective "middleware" solution for enabling seamless interoperability within complex supply chains. Due to its technological nature, blockchain enables secure, transparent and fast data exchanges as well as allowing for the creation of immutable records databases The main advantage of Blockchain in Manufacturing Industries is product traceability, supply chain transparency, compliance monitoring, and auditability. Moreover, leveraging blockchain technology into a manufacturing enterprise can enhance its security and reduce the rates of systematic failures. So, blockchain is now used in various sectors of the manufacturing industry, such as automotive, aerospace, defense, pharmaceutical, consumer electronics, textile, food and beverages, and more. Hence, Blockchain should be seen as an investment in future-readiness and customer-centricity, not as an experimental technology - because, the evidence is overwhelming. This book will explore the strengths of Blockchain adaptation in Manufacturing Industries and Logistics Management, cover different use cases of Blockchain Technology for Manufacturing Industries and Logistics Management, and will discuss the role, impact and challenges of adopting Blockchain in Manufacturing industries and Logistics Management. The chapters will also provide the current open issues and future research trends of Blockchain, especially for Manufacturing Industries and Logistics, and will encapsulate quantitative and qualitative research for a wide spectrum of readers of the book.

Advances in Steam Turbines for Modern Power Plants, second edition, provides a fully revised and updated comprehensive review of steam turbine design, optimization, analysis and measurement. Editor Tadashi Tanuma and his team of expert contributors from around the globe have updated each chapter to reflect the latest research and experiences in the field, to help progress thermal power generation to meet sustainability goals. This book presents modern technologies for the design and development of steam turbines that supply affordable, reliable and stable power with much lower CO2 emissions. With the addition of two new chapters on 'Steam turbine mechanical design and analysis for high temperature, large and rapid change of temperature conditions' and 'Steam valves with low pressure losses' this edition will support students, researchers and professional engineers in designing and developing their own economical and environmentally concerned thermal power plants.

Structure in the Sea: The Science, Technology and Effects of Purpose-Built Reefs and Related Surfaces provides a review of the history, development, status and emerging trends in research, technology and applications of artificial reef habitats and sea floor structures. The book helps readers understand, utilize and add to the research of modern reef deployment efforts, presenting a guide to equip stakeholders requiring technical foundations and best practices. Topics include materials, designs and construction methods, along with the ecology of these structures, including key aspects of the life history of plants and animals associated with artificial reefs. Rigorous research addressing ecological, economic and engineering questions, coupled with the innovative deployment of structures worldwide by diverse stakeholders, have created a synergy that makes the book a valuable synthesis and analysis for this growing subject. Thus, its broad audience includes marine (coastal and ocean) environmental sciences, including aquatic ecologists, those working in ocean sustainability and conservation, benthic habitat and coral reef restoration practitioners, and more.

Evidence-Based Validation of Herbal Medicines: Translational Research on Botanicals brings together current thinking and practice in the characterization and validation of natural products. The book describes different approaches and techniques for evaluating the quality, safety and efficacy of herbal medicine, particularly methods to assess their activity and understand compounds responsible and their probable underlying mechanisms of action. This book brings together the views, expertise and experiences of scientific experts in the field of medicinal plant research, hence it will be useful for researcher who want to know more about the natural lead with their validation and also useful to exploit traditional medicines.

Digital Manufacturing: The Industrialization of "Art to Part" 3D Additive Printing explains everything needed to understand how recent advances in materials science, manufacturing engineering and digital design have integrated to create exciting new capabilities. Sections discuss relevant fundamentals in mechanical engineering and materials science and complex and practical topics in additive manufacturing, such as part manufacturing, all in the context of the modern digital design environment. Being successful in today's "art to part" cyber-physical manufacturing age requires a strong grounding in science and engineering fundamentals as well as knowledge of the latest techniques, all of which readers will find here. Every chapter is developed by leading specialists and based on first-hand experiences, capturing the essential knowledge readers need to solve problems related to digital manufacturing.