Friction-stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state joining process primarily used on aluminum, and is also widely used for joining dissimilar metals such as aluminum, magnesium, copper and ferrous alloys. Recently, a friction-stir processing (FSP) technique based on FSW has been used for microstructural modifications, the homogenized and refined microstructure along with the reduced porosity resulting in improved mechanical properties. Advances in friction-stir welding and processing deals with the processes involved in different metals and polymers, including their microstructural and mechanical properties, wear and corrosion behavior, heat flow, and simulation. The book is structured into ten chapters, covering applications of the technology; tool and welding design; material and heat flow; microstructural evolution; mechanical properties; corrosion behavior and wear properties. Later chapters cover mechanical alloying and FSP as a welding and casting repair technique; optimization and simulation of artificial neural networks; and FSW and FSP of polymers.
Provides studies of the microstructural, mechanical, corrosion and wear properties of friction-stir welded and processed materialsConsiders heat generation, heat flow and material flowCovers simulation of FSW/FSP and use of artificial neural network in FSW/FSP

The last two decades have seen a marked increase in efforts to ensure accessibility at all levels of education, especially for people who traditionally may have been excluded, such as those with disabilities and special needs, immigrants/refugees, and those coming from different cultural, racial, religious, socioeconomic, gender and sexual backgrounds. Inclusion in education means that the educational needs of all learners are met and requires all stakeholders to work collaboratively. Strengthening inclusive education from ECD to post-school education addresses the inequalities still prevalent in many countries and discusses how to overcome them. Strengthening inclusive education from ECD to post-school education takes the view that diversity is not a problem but rather an opportunity to learn. It analyses, assesses and critiques many of the current issues surrounding inclusive education, and provides suggestions for better practice in order to mitigate them.

Providing a comprehensive account of the progress, potential and challenges facing Islamic finance in Eurasia, this prescient book explores Islamic finance’s history and development across the Asian and European continents and argues that in order for this market to continue to prosper, innovation and adaptation is a necessity. Islamic Finance in Eurasia brings together a wealth of expert scholars, making a significant contribution to the emerging literature available on this topic. Chapters cover in depth the progress, potential, innovative practices and challenges of Islamic finance in Eurasia, analysing selected case studies from the region. This incisive book argues that sustainable and inclusive Islamic finance has the potential to promote economic growth, reduce poverty and increase financial independence. Offering an extensive overview of the topic, this book will prove a highly beneficial read for students and researchers interested in understanding both the efficacies and challenges of adopting Islamic finance in this region. Islamic finance stakeholders, policymakers and regional standard setting bodies will also find this book an invaluable resource.

Addressing the key research question of how organizations transform to generate new forms of public and shareholder value by leveraging digital technology, expert contributors provide a deep dive into a diverse variety of business models from around the globe. The book also provides a timely focus on multisector ecosystems where organizations have limited, if any, ability to operate using monopolistic and/or command-and-control mechanisms. Digitalization and Sustainability examines how high-tech and information-intensive industries have brought to light the fundamental tenants of ‘business ecosystems’, illustrating how in other industries, the opportunities and practices for advancing performance by competing and cooperating in a network of organizations is less understood. It reviews how, in the context of technology management, digital value brings to light the reality that managers in specific organizations need to adopt a new set of cooperative and competitive practices. Chapters offer insights on ways to help these managers navigate an ecosystem to generate value for their own organization while enabling the larger system to evolve and improve. This book will be a valuable resource for students and faculty in the fields of information systems, public management, public policy and technology management. Researchers investigating digital transformation efforts using multiple theoretical lenses and looking for a wide range of research methodologies will find this book informative and instructive.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Poems by MK Godbole and Burjor Avari

Islamic Social Finance provides an introduction to the Waqf system, which has played a significant socio-economic role throughout the history of Islamic civilization. In a contemporary framework, Waqf creates new networks between micro-entrepreneurs, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), and entrepreneurship through voluntary donations made by individuals in a society. In other contexts, Waqf supports the financial system and contributes to the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). The authors explore the relationship between the roles Waqf plays in realizing the SDGs, its contributions in many sectors of the economy, and the Waqf practices among the Southeast Asia countries, particularly Malaysia. They highlight the existing Waqf models and framework that have been used by many countries for entrepreneurship that can be used or adapted for the benefits of SMEs. This book is a comprehensive overview for academics, postgraduate students, entrepreneurs, and policy makers who wish to understand how Waqf can contribute to the economic progress of individuals and society at large.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

My 20 poems relate to fact, fiction, reminiscences, philosophy, humour, inevitable progress of science, human longing for the the past, Indian psyche, human nature, wisdom of age, Nature, cultural upbringing (Unexpected), caste and class.

Islamic Finance in Africa discusses the progress, issues and innovations in African Islamic financial markets. It provides a comprehensive overview of Islamic finance in Africa by exploring legal, regulatory and governance challenges while balancing the issues and innovations found in both Islamic commercial and social finance. The chapters in the book can be broadly classified into three parts. The first part covers legal, regulatory and governance developments and issues of Islamic finance in Africa, the second part deals with issues and innovations in Islamic commercial finance, and the third explores issues and innovations in Islamic social finance. The editors use a case study format to present the topic in discussion effectively and provide insight into actual or potential areas of growth. Scholars and Islamic finance stakeholders, including research and education institutes, will find this book invaluable in understanding this important topic and region. In depth case studies allow the reader to zoom into selected markets to understand issues/innovation in detail. This book also will be useful to policymakers and regional standard setting bodies, including multilateral and humanitarian agencies, in understanding the potential of Islamic finance in financial inclusion and resolving humanitarian crises.

This original book examines how investment theory and regulatory constraints are linked to the professional processes of portfolio investments, and how the principles of Islam as defined by sharia fit into these processes. It also explores the measures required to create and grow a global Islamic asset management industry. Established on a foundation of Modern Portfolio Theory, the book extends the theory to include asset management based on sharia. Chapters also consider how ethical investing is quickly becoming the driving force of the $100 trillion asset management industry. Taking a practical approach, John A. Sandwick, M. Kabir Hassan and Pablo Collazzo compare conventional and sharia portfolio performance and risk through measurement tools commonly used in asset management, including Sharpe ratio, standard deviation, Value at Risk, annualized mean return, and correlation. They map conventional portfolio construction and optimization, then reproduce the same processes with real-world, sharia-compliant portfolios. This book will be critical reading for scholars and students of Islamic economics and finance, Islamic studies, and financial regulation. Considering Islamic asset management as a unique function of Islamic finance, this book will also be a useful resource for practitioners and finance professionals.

Nanomaterials for Sensing and Optoelectronic Applications explores recent trends in nanomaterials and devices for chemical and biosensing applications. The synthesis, properties and applications of metal oxide nanostructures, as well as two-dimensional layered materials are covered, along with the fabrication of optoelectronic devices, such as chemical sensors, biosensors, core-shell nanostructures-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates, luminescent nanoparticles, memory devices, and thin film transistors. Aiming at researchers in these respective areas, the fundamental principles and mechanisms of the optoelectronic phenomena behind every application mentioned are covered and comprehensively explored. The book will be helpful in solving problems related to the synthesis and growth of various nanostructures, the application of these materials for various devices, and to understand how a specific synthesis route promotes a specific application.

New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering: Microbial Biofilms is divided into three sections: microbial adhesion/biofilms in medical settings, microbial adhesion/biofilms in agriculture, and microbial adhesion/biofilm in the environment and industry. Chapters cover adhesion and biofilm formation by pathogenic microbes on tissue and on indwelling medical devices, including sections on human infections, microbial communication during biofilm mode of growth, host defense and antimicrobial resistance, and more. Other sections cover the biofilms of agriculturally important and environmental friendly microbes, including biofilm formation on plants, in soil, and in aquatic environments. Finally, the latest scientific research on microbial adhesion and biofilm formation in the environment and in industry is covered.

Good management practices (GMP) address environmental, economic and social sustainability for on-farm processes and result in safe and quality food and nonfood agricultural products. In recent years, the concept of GMP has evolved to address the concerns of different stakeholders about food production and security, food safety and quality, and the environmental sustainability of agriculture. The diverse challenges and constraints as growing population, increasing food, feed and fodder needs, natural resource degradation, climate change, new parasites, slow growth in farm income and new global trade regulations demand a paradigm shift in formulating and implementing the agricultural research programmes. The present edition of the book related to Good management practices for fruit and vegetable crops is an endeavor to provide an insight to the ground realities and consequently proven technologies that needs to be popularized. The book will try to address the major issues of Good management practices in horticultural crops and disseminate the technologies developed.