Assistive technologies for the old and people with disabilities is now a very active field of research. It also constitutes a very profitable market (expected to reach US $60 billion p.a. by 2018). The book covers key aspects of this important field and provides guidelines for developing assistive technologies in smart environments. The book also presents the new paradigm of open innovation used by the most prolific research teams around the world. The latest developments in the field are given. Overall this book will be a reference for researchers, practitioners and engineers.

Global competition is forcing reliability and other professionals to work closely during the product design and manufacturing phase. Because of this collaboration, reliability, usability, and quality principles are being applied across many diverse sectors of the economy. This book offers the principles, methods, and procedures for these areas in one resource. This book brings together the areas of reliability, usability, and quality for those working in diverse areas to allow them to be exposed to activities that can help them perform their tasks more effectively. This is the only book that covers these areas together in this manner and written in such a way that no previous knowledge is required to understand it. The sources of the material presented are included in the reference section at the end of each chapter along with examples and solutions to test reader comprehension. Applied Reliability, Usability, and Quality for Engineers is useful to design, manufacturing, and systems engineers, as well as manufacturing managers, reliability, usability and, quality specialists. It can also be helpful to graduate, senior undergraduate students, and instructors.

Focusses on model based systems engineering and describes the architecture of the systems design models Uses real-world examples to corroborate different and disparate systems engineering activities Describes and applies the Vee systems engineering design methodology, with cohesive examples and application of designing systems Discusses culture change and the skills people need to design and integrate systems Shows detailed and cohesive examples of the systems engineering tools throughout the systems engineering lifecycle

This book presents both the importance of energy transition and its associated difficulties. Energy Transition, Second Edition, provides an explanation of the physical concepts of energy and power and also reviews global energy consumption and our dependence on energy. The book discusses the links between the economy and energy. It explains the drawbacks and dangers of different energy sources and tries to compare them. By reviewing future energy resources, it evaluates several transition scenarios. The book shows that the laws of physics prevent the emergence of simple, pleasant solutions, but it proposes potential solutions and encourages readers to develop better processes from energy sources to production to consumption. This book will be of interest to engineers and undergraduate and graduate students studying and working in various fields of energy; producers of fossil, gas, oil, coal, electric, renewable, and nuclear energy; and anyone interested in better understanding these fundamental problems for our future. FEATURES Discusses the current issues with energy transition Covers several energy transition scenarios and their associated difficulties Presents the links between economy and energy Highlights the importance of a global discussion of energy Encourages the development of better, improved processes in energy sources from production to consumption

Written by an industry insider with state of the art research at their fingertips, this book describes the Radio Access Network (RAN) architecture, starting with currently deployed 4G, followed by the description of 5G requirements and why re-thinking of the RAN architecture is needed to support these. Based on these considerations, it explains how 5G network architecture, which is currently being defined, is likely to evolve. The aim is not merely to cover relevant standards and technologies as a purely academic exercise (although a significant part of the book will be dedicated to these), but to augment these by practical deployment, to illustrate why the RAN architecture is changing and where it is going. With 5G deployments on the horizon, there is a desire within companies to both re-think the RAN architecture and to change the proprietary nature of the RAN. Correspondingly, there is increased interest in academia, standards bodies and commercial entities involved in the area.

How can we understand the complexity of genes, RNAs, and proteins and the associated regulatory networks? One approach is to look for recurring types of dynamical behavior. Mathematical models prove to be useful, especially models coming from theories of biochemical reactions such as ordinary differential equation models. Clever, careful experiments test these models and their basis in specific theories. This textbook aims to provide advanced students with the tools and insights needed to carry out studies of signal transduction drawing on modeling, theory, and experimentation. Early chapters summarize the basic building blocks of signaling systems: binding/dissociation, synthesis/destruction, and activation/inactivation. Subsequent chapters introduce various basic circuit devices: amplifiers, stabilizers, pulse generators, switches, stochastic spike generators, and oscillators. All chapters consistently use approaches and concepts from chemical kinetics and nonlinear dynamics, including rate-balance analysis, phase plane analysis, nullclines, linear stability analysis, stable nodes, saddles, unstable nodes, stable and unstable spirals, and bifurcations. This textbook seeks to provide quantitatively inclined biologists and biologically inclined physicists with the tools and insights needed to apply modeling and theory to interesting biological processes. Key Features: * Full-color illustration program with diagrams to help illuminate the concepts * Enables the reader to apply modeling and theory to the biological processes * Further Reading for each chapter * High-quality figures available for instructors to download

Systems Analysis and Design: An Object-Oriented Approach with UML, Sixth Edition helps students develop the core skills required to plan, design, analyze, and implement information systems. Offering a practical hands-on approach to the subject, this textbook is designed to keep students focused on doing SAD, rather than simply reading about it. Each chapter describes a specific part of the SAD process, providing clear instructions, a detailed example, and practice exercises. Students are guided through the topics in the same order as professional analysts working on a typical real-world project. Now in its sixth edition, this edition has been carefully updated to reflect current methods and practices in SAD and prepare students for their future roles as systems analysts. Every essential area of systems analysis and design is clearly and thoroughly covered, from project management, to analysis and design modeling, to construction, installation, and operations. The textbook includes access to a range of teaching and learning resources, and a running case study of a fictitious healthcare company that shows students how SAD concepts are applied in real-life scenarios.

The book describes a fundamentally new approach to software dependability, considering a software system as an ever-changing system due to changes in service objectives, users' requirements, standards and regulations, and to advances in technology. Such a system is viewed as an Open System since its functions, structures, and boundaries are constantly changing. Thus, the approach to dependability is called Open Systems Dependability. The DEOS technology realizes Open Systems Dependability. It puts more emphasis on stakeholders' agreement and accountability achievement for business/service continuity than in elemental technologies.

This book is a collection of accepted papers that were presented at the International Conference on Communication and Computing Systems (ICCCS-2016), Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurgaon, September 9-11, 2016. The purpose of the conference was to provide a platform for interaction between scientists from industry, academia and other areas of society to discuss the current advancements in the field of communication and computing systems. The papers submitted to the proceedings were peer-reviewed by 2-3 expert referees. This volume contains 5 main subject areas: 1. Signal and Image Processing, 2. Communication & Computer Networks, 3. Soft Computing, Intelligent System, Machine Vision and Artificial Neural Network, 4. VLSI & Embedded System, 5. Software Engineering and Emerging Technologies.

For undergraduate systems analysis and design courses. A practical and modern approach to systems analysis and design Kendall and Kendall's Systems Analysis and Design, Global Edition, 10th Edition concisely presents the latest systems development methods, tools, and techniques to students in an engaging and easy-to-understand manner. The 10th Edition reflects the rapidly changing face of the IS field, with new and advanced features integrated throughout - including additional coverage of security and privacy issues, and innovative materials on new developments such as designing virtual reality and intelligent personal assistants.

Patients have always been encouraged to be active participants in managing their health. New technologies, cultural shifts, trends in healthcare delivery, and policies have brought the patients' role in healthcare to the forefront. This 2-volume set reviews and advances the emerging discipline of Patient Ergonomics. The set focuses on patients and their performance. It presents practical recommendations and case studies useful for researchers and practitioners. It covers diverse healthcare settings outside of hospitals and clinics, and provides a combination of foundational content and specific applications in detail. The 2-volume set will be ideal for academics working in healthcare and patient-centered research, their students, human factors practitioners (consultants, employees of health systems and technology/medical device compaines), healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, pharmacists), and organizational leaders (healthcare administrators and executives).

In the extensive fields of optics, holography and virtual reality, technology continues to evolve. Displays: Fundamentals and Applications, Second Edition addresses these updates and discusses how real-time computer graphics and vision enable the application and displays of graphical 2D and 3D content. This book explores in detail these technological developments, as well as the shifting techniques behind projection displays, projector-camera systems, stereoscopic and autostereoscopic displays. This new edition contains many updates and additions reflecting the changes in fast developing areas such as holography and near-eye displays for Augmented and Virtual reality applications. Perfect for the student looking to sharpen their developing skill or the master refining their technique, Rolf Hainich and Oliver Bimber help the reader understand the basics of optics, light modulation, visual perception, display technologies, and computer-generated holography. With almost 500 illustrations Displays will help the reader see the field of augmentation and virtual reality display with new eyes. Features: * Covers physics, technology and techniques behind flat-panel as well as projection displays, projector-camera systems, stereoscopic and autostereoscopic displays, computer-generated holography, and near-eye displays * Discusses how real-time computer graphics and computer vision enable the visualization of graphical 2D and 3D content * Augmented by close to 500 rich illustrations, which give readers a clear understanding of existing and emerging display technology

Internet of Things: Challenges, Advances, and Applications provides a comprehensive introduction to IoT, related technologies, and common issues in the adoption of IoT on a large scale. It surveys recent technological advances and novel solutions for challenges in the IoT environment. Moreover, it provides detailed discussion of the utilization of IoT and its underlying technologies in critical application areas, such as smart grids, healthcare, insurance, and the automotive industry. The chapters of this book are authored by several international researchers and industry experts. This book is composed of 18 self-contained chapters that can be read, based on interest. Features: Introduces IoT, including its history, common definitions, underlying technologies, and challenges Discusses technological advances in IoT and implementation considerations Proposes novel solutions for common implementation issues Explores critical application domains, including large-scale electric power distribution networks, smart water and gas grids, healthcare and e-Health applications, and the insurance and automotive industries The book is an excellent reference for researchers and post-graduate students working in the area of IoT, or related areas. It also targets IT professionals interested in gaining deeper knowledge of IoT, its challenges, and application areas.

From the Foreword "Getting CPS dependability right is essential to forming a solid foundation for a world that increasingly depends on such systems. This book represents the cutting edge of what we know about rigorous ways to ensure that our CPS designs are trustworthy. I recommend it to anyone who wants to get a deep look at these concepts that will form a cornerstone for future CPS designs." --Phil Koopman, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Trustworthy Cyber-Physical Systems Engineering provides practitioners and researchers with a comprehensive introduction to the area of trustworthy Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) engineering. Topics in this book cover questions such as What does having a trustworthy CPS actually mean for something as pervasive as a global-scale CPS? How does CPS trustworthiness map onto existing knowledge, and where do we need to know more? How can we mathematically prove timeliness, correctness, and other essential properties for systems that may be adaptive and even self-healing? How can we better represent the physical reality underlying real-world numeric quantities in the computing system? How can we establish, reason about, and ensure trust between CPS components that are designed, installed, maintained, and operated by different organizations, and which may never have really been intended to work together? Featuring contributions from leading international experts, the book contains sixteen self-contained chapters that analyze the challenges in developing trustworthy CPS, and identify important issues in developing engineering methods for CPS. The book addresses various issues contributing to trustworthiness complemented by contributions on TCSP roadmapping, taxonomy, and standardization, as well as experience in deploying advanced system engineering methods in industry. Specific approaches to ensuring trustworthiness, namely, proof and refinement, are covered, as well as engineering methods for dealing with hybrid aspects.

Computational Intelligence Assisted Design framework mobilises computational resources, makes use of multiple Computational Intelligence (CI) algorithms and reduces computational costs. This book provides examples of real-world applications of technology. Case studies have been used to show the integration of services, cloud, big data technology and space missions. It focuses on computational modelling of biological and natural intelligent systems, encompassing swarm intelligence, fuzzy systems, artificial neutral networks, artificial immune systems and evolutionary computation. This book provides readers with wide-scale information on CI paradigms and algorithms, inviting readers to implement and problem solve real-world, complex problems within the CI development framework. This implementation framework will enable readers to tackle new problems without difficulty through a few tested MATLAB source codes

Engineering systems and products are an important element of the world economy and each year billions of dollars are spent to develop, manufacture, operate, and maintain systems and products around the globe. Because of this, global competition is requiring reliability professionals to work closely with other departments involved in engineering development during the product design and manufacturing phase. Applied Reliability for Engineers is an attempt to meet the need for a single volume that addresses a wide range of applied reliability topics. The material is treated in such a manner that the reader will require no previous knowledge to understand the text. The sources of most of the information presented are given in a reference section at the end of each chapter. At appropriate places, the book contains examples along with their solutions. At the end of each chapter there are numerous problems to test reader comprehension. This volume is thus suitable for use as a textbook as well as for reference. Applied Reliability for Engineers is useful to design professionals, system engineers, reliability specialists, graduate and senior undergraduate students, researchers and instructors of reliability engineering, and engineers-at-large.

Transition Engineering: Building a Sustainable Future examines new strategies emerging in response to the mega-issues of global climate change, decline in world oil supply, scarcity of key industrial minerals, and local environmental constraints. These issues pose challenges for organizations, businesses, and communities, and engineers will need to begin developing ideas and projects to implement the transition of engineered systems. This work presents a methodology for shifting away from unsustainable activities. Teaching the Transition Engineering approach and methodology is the focus of the text, and the concept is presented in a way that engineers can begin applying it in their work.

Introduction to Modeling and Simulation with MATLAB and Python is intended for students and professionals in science, social science, and engineering that wish to learn the principles of computer modeling, as well as basic programming skills. The book content focuses on meeting a set of basic modeling and simulation competencies that were developed as part of several National Science Foundation grants. Even though computer science students are much more expert programmers, they are not often given the opportunity to see how those skills are being applied to solve complex science and engineering problems and may also not be aware of the libraries used by scientists to create those models. The book interleaves chapters on modeling concepts and related exercises with programming concepts and exercises. The authors start with an introduction to modeling and its importance to current practices in the sciences and engineering. They introduce each of the programming environments and the syntax used to represent variables and compute mathematical equations and functions. As students gain more programming expertise, the authors return to modeling concepts, providing starting code for a variety of exercises where students add additional code to solve the problem and provide an analysis of the outcomes. In this way, the book builds both modeling and programming expertise with a "just-in-time" approach so that by the end of the book, students can take on relatively simple modeling example on their own. Each chapter is supplemented with references to additional reading, tutorials, and exercises that guide students to additional help and allows them to practice both their programming and analytical modeling skills. In addition, each of the programming related chapters is divided into two parts - one for MATLAB and one for Python. In these chapters, the authors also refer to additional online tutorials that students can use if they are having difficulty with any of the topics. The book culminates with a set of final project exercise suggestions that incorporate both the modeling and programming skills provided in the rest of the volume. Those projects could be undertaken by individuals or small groups of students. The companion website at http://www.intromodeling.com provides updates to instructions when there are substantial changes in software versions, as well as electronic copies of exercises and the related code. The website also offers a space where people can suggest additional projects they are willing to share as well as comments on the existing projects and exercises throughout the book. Solutions and lecture notes will also be available for qualifying instructors.

Molecular recognition, also known as biorecognition, is the heart of all biological interactions. Originating from protein stretching experiments, dynamic force spectroscopy (DFS) allows for the extraction of detailed information on the unbinding process of biomolecular complexes. It is becoming progressively more important in biochemical studies and is finding wider applications in areas such as biophysics and polymer science. In six chapters, Dynamic Force Spectroscopy and Biomolecular Recognition covers the most recent ideas and advances in the field of DFS applied to biorecognition:

• Chapter 1: Reviews the basic and novel aspects of biorecognition and discusses the emerging capabilities of single-molecule techniques to disclose kinetic properties and molecular mechanisms usually hidden in bulk measurements
• Chapter 2: Describes the basic principle of atomic force microsocopy (AFM) and DFS, with particular attention to instrumental and theoretical aspects more strictly related to the study of biomolecules
• Chapter 3: Overviews the theoretical background in which experimental data taken in nonequilibrum measurements of biomolecular unbinding forces are extrapolated to equilibrium conditions
• Chapter 4: Reviews the most common and efficient strategies adopted in DFS experiments to immobilize the interacting biomolecules to the AFM tip and to the substrate
• Chapter 5: Presents and discusses the most representative aspects related to the analysis of DFS data and the challenges of integrating well-defined criteria to calibrate data in automatic routinary procedures
• Chapter 6 Overviews the most relevant DFS applications to study biorecognition processes, including the biotin/avidin pair, and selected results on various biological complexes, including antigen/antibody, proteins/DNA, and complexes involved in adhesion processes
• Chapter 7 Summarizes the main results obtained by DFS applied to study biorecognition processes with forthcoming theoretical and experimental advances

Although DFS is a widespread, worldwide technique, no books focused on this subject have been available until now. Dynamic Force Spectroscopy and Biomolecular Recognition provides the state of the art of experimental data analysis and theoretical procedures, making it a useful tool for researchers applying DFS to study biorecognition processes.

Cultural factors, in both the narrow sense of different national, racial, and ethnic groups, and in the broader sense of different groups of any type, play major roles in individual and group decisions. Written by an international, interdisciplinary group of experts, Cultural Factors in Systems Design: Decision Making and Action explores innovations in the understanding of how cultural differences influence decision making and action. Reflecting the diverse interests and viewpoints that characterize the current state of decision making and cultural research, the chapter authors represent a variety of disciplines and specialize in areas ranging from basic decision processes of individuals, to decisions made in teams and large organizations, to cultural influences on behavior. Balancing theoretical and practical perspectives, the book explores why the best laid plans go awry, examining conditions that can yield unanticipated behaviors from complex, adaptive sociotechnical systems. It highlights the different ways in which East Asians and Westerners make decisions and explores how to model and investigate cultural influences in interpersonal interactions, social judgment, and decision making. The book also reviews decision field theory and examines its implications for cross cultural decision making. With increasing globalization of organizations and interactions among people from various cultures, a better understanding of how cultural factors influence decision making and action is a necessity. Much is known about decision processes, culture and cognition, design of products and interfaces for human interaction with machines and organizational processes, however this knowledge is dispersed across several disciplines and research areas. Presenting a range of current research and new ideas, this volume brings together previously scattered research and explores how to apply it when designing systems that will be used by individuals of varied backgrounds.

Stem Cell Labeling for Delivery and Tracking Using Noninvasive Imaging provides a comprehensive overview of cell therapy imaging, ranging from the basic biology of cell therapeutic choices to the preclinical and clinical applications of cell therapy. It emphasizes the use of medical imaging for therapeutic delivery/targeting, cell tracking, and determining therapeutic efficacy. The book first presents background information and insight on the major classes of stem and progenitor cells. It then describes the main imaging modalities and state-of-the-art techniques that are currently employed for stem cell tracking. In the final chapters, leading scholars offer clinical perspectives on existing and potential uses of stem cells as well as the impact of image-guided delivery and tracking in major organ systems. Through clear descriptions and color images, this volume illustrates how noninvasive imaging is used to track stem cells as they repair damaged tissue in the body. With contributions from some of the most prominent preclinical and clinical researchers in the field, the book helps readers to understand the evolving concepts of stem cell labeling and tracking as the field continues to move forward.

Computer Modeling Applications for Environmental Engineers in its second edition incorporates changes and introduces new concepts using Visual Basic.NET, a programming language chosen for its ease of comprehensive usage. This book offers a complete understanding of the basic principles of environmental engineering and integrates new sections that address Noise Pollution and Abatement and municipal solid-waste problem solving, financing of waste facilities, and the engineering of treatment methods that address sanitary landfill, biochemical processes, and combustion and energy recovery. Its practical approach serves to aid in the teaching of environmental engineering unit operations and processes design and demonstrates effective problem-solving practices that facilitate self-teaching. A vital reference for students and professional sanitary and environmental engineers this work also serves as a stand-alone problem-solving text with well-defined, real-work examples and explanations.

Most books on linear systems for undergraduates cover discrete and continuous systems material together in a single volume. Such books also include topics in discrete and continuous filter design, and discrete and continuous state-space representations. However, with this magnitude of coverage, the student typically gets a little of both discrete and continuous linear systems but not enough of either. Minimal coverage of discrete linear systems material is acceptable provided that there is ample coverage of continuous linear systems. On the other hand, minimal coverage of continuous linear systems does no justice to either of the two areas. Under the best of circumstances, a student needs a solid background in both these subjects. Continuous linear systems and discrete linear systems are broad topics and each merit a single book devoted to the respective subject matter. The objective of this set of two volumes is to present the needed material for each at the undergraduate level, and present the required material using MATLAB (R) (The MathWorks Inc.).

Ubiquitous in today's consumer-driven society, embedded systems use microprocessors that are hidden in our everyday products and designed to perform specific tasks. Effective use of these embedded systems requires engineers to be proficient in all phases of this effort, from planning, design, and analysis to manufacturing and marketing. Taking a systems-level approach, Real-Time Embedded Systems: Optimization, Synthesis, and Networking describes the field from three distinct aspects that make up the three major trends in current embedded system design. The first section of the text examines optimization in real-time embedded systems. The authors present scheduling algorithms in multi-core embedded systems, instruct on a robust measurement against the inaccurate information that can exist in embedded systems, and discuss potential problems of heterogeneous optimization. The second section focuses on synthesis-level approaches for embedded systems, including a scheduling algorithm for phase change memory and scratch pad memory and a treatment of thermal-aware multiprocessor synthesis technology. The final section looks at networking with a focus on task scheduling in both a wireless sensor network and cloud computing. It examines the merging of networking and embedded systems and the resulting evolution of a new type of system known as the cyber physical system (CPS). Encouraging readers to discover how the computer interacts with its environment, Real-Time Embedded Systems provides a sound introduction to the design, manufacturing, marketing, and future directions of this important tool.

Stair/Reynolds' INFORMATION SYSTEMS, 10E, International Edition puts today's principles of information systems first, where they belong! This streamlined edition focuses on the core IS principles that are most important in business studies or careers. Readers gain the solid foundation to better understand the entire IS discipline and how to use IS concepts in business to further the emphasis organizations now place on innovation and speed. Readers examine the changing role of today's IS professional with the most current examples and IS references available. New detailed coverage of cloud computing and new updates of forecasting demonstrate issues reshaping IS today. The most recent research on virtual communities and work structures highlights how social networking sites assist virtual teams. INFORMATION SYSTEMS, 10E, International Edition provides insights to help any reader function more efficiently and effectively as a worker, manager, decision maker, or organizational leader in business today.