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This book describes the utilization of different soft computing techniques and their optimization for providing an accurate and efficient medical diagnosis. The proposed method provides a precise and timely diagnosis of the risk that a person has to develop a particular disease, but it can be adaptable to provide the diagnosis of different diseases. This book reflects the experimentation that was carried out, based on the different optimizations using bio-inspired algorithms (such as bird swarm algorithm, flower pollination algorithms, and others). In particular, the optimizations were carried out to design the fuzzy classifiers of the nocturnal blood pressure profile and heart rate level. In addition, to obtain the architecture that provides the best result, the neurons and the number of neurons per layers of the artificial neural networks used in the model are optimized. Furthermore, different tests were carried out with the complete optimized model. Another work that is presented in this book is the dynamic parameter adaptation of the bird swarm algorithm using fuzzy inference systems, with the aim of improving its performance. For this, different experiments are carried out, where mathematical functions and a monolithic neural network are optimized to compare the results obtained with the original algorithm. The book will be of interest for graduate students of engineering and medicine, as well as researchers and professors aiming at proposing and developing new intelligent models for medical diagnosis. In addition, it also will be of interest for people working on metaheuristic algorithms and their applications on medicine.

This book presents a comprehensive survey of fault current limiters (FCLs) and their applications in power system to cope with the fault current.

This book systematically summarizes the accuracy, precision, and repeatability levels of field-based tests applied in soccer. It considers such details as the effectiveness of tests for different age categories and sexes. In this book, the readers will be able to check all the field-based tests conceived for fitness assessment in soccer through a large systematic review made to the literature. In addition a brief characterization of each test and presentation of the concurrent validity and repeatability levels for each test will be provided. Finally, the book contains a general discussion of the implications of the tests for different methodological approaches to training. It will be use to sports scientists and practitioners.

This book provides the intermittency equation that is derived a priori. Since the intermittency equation is mathematically obtained, the resulting gamma transition model no longer requires any extra parameters and terms to explicitly account for free-stream turbulence and pressure gradient like the previous transition models.Instead, the present gamma transition model can naturally predict natural transition and effects of free-stream turbulence and pressure gradient on the transition process. Furthermore, the present gamma transition model requires much fewer model constants than the previous transition models.The book is beneficial for CFD researchers in industry and academia who confront modern complex applications involving simultaneously laminar, transitional and turbulent flow regimes, and ideally relevant to graduate students in applied physics, applied mathematics and engineering who are interested in the world of laminar-to-turbulent transition modeling in CFD, or would like to further advance more realistic transition models in the future.

This book provides a hands-on guide towards conducting state-of-the-art engineering research and gaining a patent. It lists pragmatic, step-by-step instructions that cover every stage in engineering research and patent gaining, from choosing a topic to the presentation of research outcomes or patent application. The topics include the introduction and basic concepts of engineering research; research problem and questions; use of libraries, literature search and review; developing a research plan; research data collection methods, analysis and interpretation; project report writing and presentations; and inventions and patents. This book is ideal for engineering undergraduate and postgraduate students and/or first-time or novice researchers and academics intending to launch their research studies and careers.

This book systematically analyzes the applicability of big data analytics and Industry 4.0 from the perspective of semiconductor manufacturing management. It reports in real examples and presents case studies as supporting evidence. In recent years, technologies of big data analytics and Industry 4.0 have been frequently applied to the management of semiconductor manufacturing. However, related research results are mostly scattered in various journal issues or conference proceedings, and there is an urgent need for a systematic integration of these results. In addition, many related discussions have placed too much emphasis on the theoretical framework of information systems rather than on the needs of semiconductor manufacturing management. This book addresses these issues.

This book explores the application of service design to urban commons. It originates from a project developed by the research group of POLIMI DESIS Lab of Politecnico di Milano, aimed at imagining the future of the Reggio Emilia Ducal Palace and its park - the Reggia di Rivalta. The peculiarity of the project lays in the idea that the design of a (public) space should be informed by the design of its services, because the development of specific activities actually builds a fundamental part of the identity of a place, conceiving both the tangible and intangible dimensions as part of a single creative process. The combination of a participatory process and the integration of spatial and service design led to infrastructuring a multi-stakeholder participatory action research of envisioning the future of a public good. This effort has been thus framed into a working methodology, specific tools and progressive outputs, which are defined as Service Master Planning (the process), and Service Master Plan (the product), allowing service design professionals to expand their knowledge and develop skills for a new field of application connected to urban planning.

This brief textbook underpins the concept of eco-efficiency in product design and systematically addresses the essence of the integration of simplified life cycle assessment (LCA) methods and tools into industrial design. Fundamental steps of LCA-based tools implementation within the higher education context are proposed, using energy-related products (ErP) design as a prime case study. All chapters are designed to respond to the common frequently asked questions in LCA-based tools implementation during the sustainable product design process. The chapters are also enriched with discussions, data sources of simplified LCA tools, and examples of design assignments that provide constructive learning. Some assignments aim at encouraging tool users' reflections while others tackle particularly at knowledge exchange. The examples can assist the reader to visualize challenges and opportunities to engage learners who are tool users. This textbook broadens LCA knowledge for industrial design and environmental engineering students as well as enhance their sustainable product design performance. For professional practitioners including industrial designers, product engineers, entrepreneurs and the like, this textbook can be used as a guide at the introductory level for integrating life cycle thinking into product design and development.

The book deals with urban reactivation, a particular form of regeneration intervention which in addition to the physical-spatial dimension of the places also-and above all-considers the social and relational dynamics that the intervention is able to activate. In this sense, the concept of activation (or reactivation) emphasizes the act of putting something into or back into operation, whether it concerns the material components of a container (a building or a place) or the immaterial components of a content (a need, or a function), starting from the exploitation of opportunities that the architectural project contributes to revealing, developing and accompanying.

This book gives insights into the agricultural policies in several countries located in different continents. It is of interest to students, researchers, and policy and decision makers.Given the particularities of agriculture, agricultural policies are indispensable for an adjusted development of farms according to the strategic objectives of each country, namely the socio-economic and environmental ones. The question that often arises is whether the practical effects of the various policy measures are in accordance with their design and what is the effect of these policy instruments among many other causes of structural and technological change. The aim of this book is to describe the main agricultural policies that have been implemented in countries such as the United States of America, Brazil, China, India, South Africa, Australia, as well as the European Union. It also aims to analyse the real impact of these policies on the structural and technological changes of farms in the European Union. As its methodology, the book considers bibliometric analysis, literature review and statistical approaches.

This book explores the potential contribution of cultural heritage in the enhancement of the territories, investigating the possibilities but also the criticalities involved in the process. Based on the knowledge process built on the Monasteries of Haghpat, Sanahin, Geghard and moreover, in the Upper Azat Valley in Armenia, the work suggests the development of an integrated design approach with interdisciplinary focus. The conservation of the Architectural Heritage of these sites is a priority for the identity safeguard but also to start virtuous processes able to ensure a sustainable development for places and communities. The objective of this work is the setting of pilot strategies and guidelines for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage as an engine for a compatible and sustainable tourism development of the area, with tangible impact on social and economic development of the country. The work would benefit local authorities and communities, as well as researchers involved in these topics.

This book guides the reader through a design process that was tested and optimized in companies and design bureaus. It not only smoothly integrates modern product development techniques, but also addresses, for each phase, issues related to the management of intangible assets. There are several books on the product design process, as well as on the development of innovative products in general. However, none of them addresses how to integrate the engineering techniques with the necessary aspects of Intellectual Property Management. With a focus on software intensive products in general, the book presents a meta-process that adapts to product design in any area where the software element is an important factor in product functionality and innovation.

This book examines a topic which is an indispensable part of any production line in the wood industry: the extraction, separation, handling of dust and chips, ensuring clean air in the workrooms, and avoiding health, fire and explosion risks. All scientific backgrounds of these problems are not fully known today, and efforts should be made to fill this gap. The work contains significant new derivations and calculation methods and experimental results to support design and evaluation methods such as particle size distributions depending on wood species and machining, terminal velocity of small wood particles, aerodynamics of suction hoods, a detailed analysis of particle separation in cyclones, selection and evaluation of separation efficiency for appropriate filter selection, energy consumption and transportation efficiency of pneumatic conveying, a comprehensive theory of transport ventilators. Several new details of dust explosion are also included. The calculation methods, practical solutions and recommendations are supported by physically well-established explanations providing long-lasting knowledge. 

This book explores the topic of proximity and its relations in the design of contemporary urban fabrics and public spaces. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and reflections on the future of cities have lately shed light on the concept of proximity, which is intended as the relationship between communities and urban functions and as relations among people, built spaces, and open spaces. The proximity is a historic and fertile field of interest for American and Northern European urban studies; it is a spatial and social program seemingly surpassed by the styles and rhythms of contemporary city life, but today it is back in vogue with different purposes. Meanwhile, the action research developed by the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies at the Politecnico di Milano for the Municipality of Milan reached its conclusion (2018-2020). The research work focused on contextualizing the new M4 Metro line stations under construction, and jointed mobility flows and places, long-range networks and local ones, boosting the idea of metro stations as regenerative urban thresholds and urban platforms for enabling environmental, sustainable settlement, and active mobility systems. In other words, the action research for Milan shows how to achieve the concept of proximity in the urban design practice in a dense, stratified, and complex urban context.

This book presents and critically evaluates the results of a European territorial cooperation project addressing the planning challenge of brownfield transformation in fragile territories. Set against the backdrop of the current scenario of deindustrialisation in the European Alps, the book describes how to read and interpret the spatial condition of industrial brownfields in peripheral mountain areas as complex transformation sites. Through key theoretical references, well-documented experiences and field activities, the book explores and advances an innovative methodology of design-based participatory planning conceived specifically for fragile socioeconomic and environmental contexts. The empirical basis for such a methodological exploration is provided by four pilot sites distributed between Austria, Italy, France and Slovenia, identified in the cooperation project as highly representative and recurring situations. The book includes a comparative review of the work carried out for the pilot sites, as well as the planning outcomes generated, providing a clear and operative reference for scholars, professionals and public officers called to face similar experiences.

This monograph provides a comprehensive and rigorous exposition of the basic concepts and most important modern research results concerning blockchain and its applications. The book includes the required cryptographic fundamentals underpinning the blockchain technology, since understanding of the concepts of cryptography involved in the design of blockchain is necessary for mastering the security guarantees furnished by blockchain. It also contains an introduction to cryptographic primitives, and separate chapters on bitcoin, ethereum and smart contracts, public blockchain, private blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain applications.This volume is of great interest to active researchers who are keen to develop novel applications of blockchain in the field of their investigatio. Further, it is also beneficial for  industry practitioners as well as undergraduate students in computing and information technology.

The book discusses a class of discrete time stochastic growth processes for which the growth rate is proportional to the exponential of a Gaussian Markov process. These growth processes appear naturally in problems of mathematical finance as discrete time approximations of stochastic volatility models and stochastic interest rates models such as the Black-Derman-Toy and Black-Karasinski models. These processes can be mapped to interacting one-dimensional lattice gases with long-range interactions. The book gives a detailed discussion of these statistical mechanics models, including new results not available in the literature, and their implication for the stochastic growth models. The statistical mechanics analogy is used to understand observed non-analytic dependence of the Lyapunov exponents of the stochastic growth processes considered, which is related to phase transitions in the lattice gas system. The theoretical results are applied to simulations of financial models and are illustrated with Mathematica code. The book includes a general introduction to exponential stochastic growth with examples from biology, population dynamics and finance. The presentation does not assume knowledge of mathematical finance. The new results on lattice gases can be read independently of the rest of the book. The book should be useful to practitioners and academics studying the simulation and application of stochastic growth models.

This book provides a comprehensive review of the models and approaches that can be employed to simulate modular multilevel converters (MMCs). Each solution is described in terms of operating principle, fields of applicability, advantages, and limitations. In addition, this work proposes a novel and efficient simulation approach for MMCs based on sub-circuit isomorphism. This technique, which has its roots in the electronics fields, can be profitably exploited to simulate MMCs regardless of the model used to describe its sub-modules, including the most accurate ones. Lastly, this book considers a well-known high voltage direct current (HVDC) benchmark system consisting of two MMCs. After describing the implementation details of each benchmark component, simulation results in several scenarios (ranging from normal operating conditions to faults in the AC and DC grid) are included to validate the proposed approach and showcase its key features. Due to its educational content, this book constitutes a useful guide for PhD students and researchers interested in the topic of MMCs and their simulation. It also serves as a starting platform for junior electrical engineers who work in the field of power electronic converters for HVDC systems.

As a client or a developer, what do you need to consider when developing an age-appropriate website or mobile application? This book explains how age-related limitations affect the use of websites and mobile applications. If gerontological aspects are not taken into account in the design of digital channels, older people tend to do without them. Therefore, websites and mobile applications need to take into account the needs of older people. In the book, you will find useful recommendations on how to do this so that your websites and mobile apps are easy to use for everyone.

This book highlights the rapidly emerging field of solution-processed halide perovskite lasers. These amazing materials not only possess exceptional photovoltaic properties, but are also outstanding optical gain media. Halide perovskites are the latest member of solution-processed optical gain media, joining organics and traditional semiconductor colloidal quantum dots. Amplified spontaneous emission and lasing have been demonstrated in various halide perovskite configurations and nanostructures with wavelengths tunable over the visible and infrared wavelengths (400-1000 nm).This book provides comprehensive information on perovskite lasing, starting with some fundamentals of lasers and their basic operating principles. Unambiguous methods for identifying lasing light emission are presented, while the basic optoelectronic properties of perovskite materials are also discussed, with an emphasis on their photophysics, using ultrafast optical spectroscopy techniques. The viability of perovskites as a gain media within a suitable resonator, as well as the characterization methods for optical gain, are highlighted. The book closes with a discussion on the remaining challenges (such as electrical driven lasing and material stabilities) that need to be tackled, and the future of this new family of lasers.

This book presents theory and applications of recently introduced butterfly optimization algorithm (BOA). It also highlights hybridization process in the basic structure of BOA with in-depth analysis of complexity. This book also describes the constraint handling process. The newly introduced variant is implemented and validated on a set of linear and nonlinear real works problems of engineering and pulp and paper industry. The simulated results are compared with most of the basic algorithms. Comparative and nonparametric statistical result analysis illustrates the efficacy of the algorithm. 

This book offers a wealth of knowledge and information about the fundamental and practical aspects of flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices. The book provides an overview of these devices by considering their merits and business potential, the history of their research and development, the fundamental technology, and required properties for materials, devices, processes, and future trends of flexible OLED devices. The practical sections describe novel, cutting-edge expertise for flexible substrates, gas barriers, encapsulation, novel  electrodes, and on-demand patterning for OLED devices.  Applications of the technologies of ultra-thin glass, stainless steel foil, and barrier films are described as flexible substrates. The book also explains features such as dry-barrier layers, wet-barrier layers, multi-layer barrier structures, dam-fill encapsulation, thin film encapsulation (TFE), and laminating encapsulation. In addition, there are explanations of novel electrodes and on-demand ink-jet patterning, both of which are applicable to flexible OLED devices. As the novel electrodes, transparent conducting polymer, silver nanowire (AgNW), metal-mesh and roll-to-roll (R2R) process technologies are included.  The know-how that is described here is applicable to flexible devices, not only for OLEDs, OPVs, OTFTs, and others but also for sensors, wearable devices, robots, and healthcare devices. The information contained in this valuable book is useful for all scientists, engineers, and managers who are interested in the field of flexible devices. 

This book highlights the tribological behavior of elastomers by investigating the effect of operating variables such as, the applied load and the abrasive particle size, and the materials' mechanical properties such as, tensile strength, elongation at break, hardness, and tear strength by the experimental, statistical and analytical methods. It is found that the wear mechanism is mostly friction wear, which is mixed with fatigue wear and abrading under higher applied loads or larger abrasives. The statistical method shows that the abrasive particle size has the highest contribution followed by the applied load on the wear process. Wear equation is developed to predict the wear rate considering the trends of the input variables.

This book deals with magnetic anomaly maps and their properties. These properties are essential to modeling the elimination of the uncertainty problem of buried archaeological structure locations and depths. To this end, several models are presented and their quantitative properties are studied. Numerical simulations have been created, confirming theoretical results that were obtained.

The book focuses on mathematical modelling of COVID-19 pandemic using the Susceptible, Infectious, and Recovered (SIR) model. The predictive modelling of the disease, with the exact facts and figures, provides a ground to reason about growing trends and its future trajectory. The book emphasizes on how the pandemic actually spreads out, lockdown impact analysis, and future course of actions based on mathematical calculations. Moreover, since COVID-19 spread outburst has been twice, the intensity studies and comparative analysis of the two waves of COVID-19 are another interesting feature of the book content. The book is a knowledge base for various researchers and academicians to dive into the detailing of the COVID spread (mathematical) model and understand how it could be explored to draw outcomes. To represent the factual information and analytical results effectively, graphical and diagrammatic representations have been appended at appropriate places. To keep the explanation simple and yet concrete, mathematical concepts have also been introduced; to carry out analysis to generate results for understanding the viral dynamics.

This book puts forward a new mathematical theory to study chaotic phenomenon. The uniform theory is established on the basis of two elementary concept of circle and externally tangent square in mathematics. The author studies the uniformity of a finite set of points distributed in space by uniform theory. This book also illustrates that uniform theory performs better than other indices such as entropy and Lyapunov exponent in chaos measurement by numerous examples. This book develops a new mathematical tool for studying chaos so it will be appealing to students and researchers interested in theory of chaos. It also has potential applications in various fields such as Engineering, Forestry and Ecology.

This book presents the advancement of coating materials technology especially in agriculture, particularly for fertilizers. Fertilizers are a critical component in meeting rising demands and ensuring global food security. A new generation of fertilizers made by coating granules with biopolymers address these issues. Coating in agriculture is an important area in research for a more sustainable future. Many examples and instances from existing research and related research gaps are discussed. It includes applications of composites as fertilizer's coating, advantages and disadvantages of fertilizer coating from composites, applications of bacteria in composite, applications of bacteria in fertilizer industry as well as the common techniques of coating fertilizers with drying process.

This book highlights the current and recent state-of-the-art developments in energy harvesting systems for health supervising applications. It explores the exciting potential of energy harvesting as a crosscutting field of research to intersect with other areas to envisage new products, solutions, and applications. Among all these new opportunities for synergy, there is a research area that fully matches the features offered by energy harvesting with its power supply's main needs- health supervising (HS), which consists of monitoring the health or operating conditions of anything, such as structures, buildings, public health, environment, etc. The book covers the hand in hand evolution towards a new paradigm: truly self-powered devices based on a single transducer acting as a sensor and as power source simultaneously and efficiently. This evolution is illustrated by the concept and implementation of novel state-of-the-art architecture for self-powered energy harvesting systems for applications that range from structural health monitoring to point-of-care medical devices.

This book highlights the principles, research advances, and applications of plasmonic photocatalysis. As a new class of catalysts, plasmonic nanostructures with the unique ability to harvest solar energy across the entire visible spectrum and produce effective photocatalysis are viewed as a promising pathway for the energy crisis. Although plasmonic catalysis has been widely reported, the excitation mechanism and energy transfer pathway are still controversial. Meanwhile, the latest discovery of catalysis on nanomaterials is less reported. This book outlines the basics of plasmonic photocatalysis, including the electromagnetic properties of metal materials and surface plasmon, and discusses the catalytic mechanisms including the nearfield enhancements, hot electron, and thermal effects. In addition, the measurement methods and current advances on molecules and nanocrystals are presented in detail. Suitable for graduate students and researchers in physics, optics and optical engineering, and materials science, the book will deepen readers' understanding of the interaction between light and nanomaterials and expand their knowledge of the principles and applications of nanophotonics.

The phase-locking of multiple spin-torque nano oscillators(STNOs) is considered the primary vehicle to achieve sufficient signal quality for applications. This book highlights the resonator's design and its need for feedback for phase locking of STNOs. STNOs can act as sources of tunable microwaves after being phase-locked together. External feedback from a coplanar waveguide placed above an STNO helps ensures coherent single domain oscillations. STNOs placed within magnonic crystal cavities also demonstrate coherent oscillations. Arrays of such cavities provide a route to scale power levels from such nano-oscillators. The book presents numerical and micromagnetics to validate the design.