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This book explores the application of data mining and machine learning techniques in studying the activity pattern, decision-making skills, misconducts, and actions resulting in the intervention of VAR in European soccer leagues referees. The game of soccer at the elite level is characterised by intense competitions, a high level of intensity, technical, and tactical skills coupled with a long duration of play. Referees are required to officiate the game and deliver correct and indisputable decisions throughout the duration of play. The increase in the spatial and temporal task demands of the game necessitates that the referees must respond and cope with the physiological and psychological loads inherent in the game. The referees are also required to deliver an accurate decision and uphold the rules and regulations of the game during a match. These demands and attributes make the work of referees highly complex. The increasing pace and complexity of the game resulted in the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to assist and improve the decision-making of on-field referees. Despite the integration of VAR into the current refereeing system, the performances of the referees are yet to be error-free. Machine learning coupled with data mining techniques has shown to be vital in providing insights from a large dataset which could be used to draw important inferences that can aid decision-making for diagnostics purposes and overall performance improvement.A total of 6232 matches from 5 consecutive seasons officiated across the English Premier League, Spanish LaLiga, Italian Serie A as well as the German Bundesliga was studied. It is envisioned that the findings in this book could be useful in recognising the activity pattern of top-class referees, that is non-trivial for the stakeholders in devising strategies to further enhance the performances of referees as well as empower talent identification experts with pertinent information for mapping out future high-performance referees.

This book highlights the fabrication of orientation-controlled colloidal quantum well (nanoplatelet) thin films using liquid interface self-assembly. The book details methods for orientation-controlled deposition of CdSe core nanoplatelets for characterization of directional energy transfer in nanoplatelets and layer-by-layer construction of CdSe/CdZnS core/shell nanoplatelets to create optically active waveguides with precisely tunable thickness and excellent uniformity across device scale. It also provides a future outlook for construction of large-scale two- and three-dimensional nanoplatelet superstructures and their incorporation into device fabrication.

This book presents research on Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI). BLI is an aircraft-engine integration technique that aims at integrating the aircraft and the propulsion system such that the overall aircraft fuel consumption can be reduced. In this research, theoretical analysis suggests that the minimization of total power consumption should be used as a design criterion for aircraft utilizing BLI rather than focusing on the minimization of drag. Numerical simulations are performed, and the simulation results are processed using the PBM to support the theoretical analysis. Furthermore, an experimental study is carried out with a focus on the power conversion processes involved for a propulsor operating in the wake. Stereoscopic PIV is employed in order to visualize the flow and understand the physics. The so-called Power-based Method is used to quantify the power conversion mechanisms. The results prove that the dominant mechanism responsible for the efficiency enhancement is due to the utilization of body wake energy by the wake ingesting propeller. In short, the importance of wake energy flow rate in understanding the BLI phenomenon is highlighted. This book will be useful for researchers in the field of aircraft propulsion, aircraft aerodynamics, and airframe propulsion integration.

This book highlights the role of point-of-care (POC) testing in the effective management of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with an in-depth focus on the recent developments in the field, existing gaps, and future directions. POC tests are of utmost importance as they facilitate rapid and decentralized testing without much instrumentation and technical expertise. The book describes the current status of POC COVID-19 testing in three broad categories: Molecular, antigen, and antibody. The advantages, limitations, and adaption of each of the POC tests are reviewed while highlighting their clinical impact in real-world settings. The role of POC testing for COVID-19 screening, diagnosis, and surveillance has been emphasized. The subtle difference between POC and at-home tests is discussed while elaborating on the necessity for the latter for enhancing clinical impacts. A spotlight on the influence of variants on the performance of POC-COVID-19 tests is provided. The consideration of clinical implications of POC testing in hospitals with regards to improving therapeutic options, patient flow, enhancing the infection control measures, and early recruitment of patients into clinical trials is explained. Finally, the future perspectives that will aid the research community in the development of POC tests for COVID-19 or any infectious disease, in general, are presented. Overall, we believe this book can benefit the research community as it (i) presents a comprehensive understanding of current COVID-19 POC testing methods (ii) highlights features required to transform the current tests developed during the past year as POC diagnostics, and (iii) provides insights to address the unmet challenges in the field. 

This book surveys the current research on CO2 conversion processes and shows that these can close the carbon cycle as part of a circular economy. The technical and economic feasibility of these processes are examined together and current scientific challenges are signposted, which will guide future R&D. Technology sustainability is key for meeting and keeping decarbonization goals in the long term. However, considering economic and environmental sustainability individually is not enough. An integral view of sustainability that incorporates an energy term in the equation is needed. This book brings this concept to the fore.

This book explains how to deploy an efficient and robust business strategies using the Hoshin Kanri process. Being able to design and execute a strategy that allows it to achieve the most challenging and sustainable objectives is the heart of any organization¿s development. In this book, the author, who faced this challenge, highlights step-by-step how to make it happen, the pitfalls to avoid, the conditions of success. The book uses her experience and includes the testimonies of other talented CEOs and senior executive leaders, as well as last scientific references. Throughout, the book proposes concrete solutions, tips and advice. This book has three objectives: · To provide an update of the practices of strategy deployment for leaders; · To help those who want to feel more comfortable in deploying their strategy to understand and test different paths and documents; and · To help those who want to be more efficient in deploying strategy to find new models and inspiration.

This book introduces PYNQ, a Python-based framework from Xilinx® that makes it easier for users to build electronic systems on Xilinx platforms. The book covers the architecture of PYNQ, the design tools and methods, software and hardware design approach, as well as rich experiment cases on communications, multimedia, and deep learning. This book serves as a useful guide for those getting starting with, or working with PYNQ and enables the learners to have a thorough understanding of the hardware/software co-design approaches in the area of the communication, multimedia, and other information system components.This book is organized based on the teaching materials of ¿hardware comprehensive experiments¿ which is an experimental course in BUPT, for both undergraduate and graduate students, and domestic and international students. This course has more than ten years of teaching experience and has taught hundreds of students.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Explainable AI (XAI) and its applications in manufacturing. It covers the various methods, tools, and technologies that are being used to make AI more understandable and communicable for factory workers. With the increasing use of AI in manufacturing, there is a growing need to address the limitations of advanced AI methods that are difficult to understand or explain to those without a background in AI. This book addresses this need by providing a systematic review of the latest research and advancements in XAI specifically tailored for the manufacturing industry.The book includes real-world case studies and examples to illustrate the practical applications of XAI in manufacturing. It is a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and practitioners working in the field of AI and manufacturing.

This book describes common applied problems that are solved with the use of digital technology. The digital technology has simplified most of our daily activities. Technology has been improving our quality of life where human capability alone is insufficient enough to be utilized. For any challenging tasks, digital technology helps to solve it in very efficient ways and thousands of them are solved on a daily basis without much notice in the public. Software and IT technology let us to complete tasks in just a moment that took days without this technical support. In that sense, this book presents several examples on how software- and IT-based solutions were successfully applied in solving actual engineering problems.

This book describes multi-site diversity modelling of induced rain attenuation statistics for satellite communication systems using copula functions. It gathers all relevant state-of-the-art knowledge, provides the missing pieces and rounds them up in a way that the reader is given a complete picture of important modelling factors and ways to address them. The books¿ main features include: Data post-processing methodology for statistical analysis based on our Earth-satellite propagation experiments. Two novel multi-site diversity prediction models based on Gaussian copula considering distance between stations or considering distance, baseline, and elevation angle. Two novel multi-site diversity prediction models based on hyperbolic cosecant copula considering distance between stations or considering distance, baseline, and elevation angle. Exhaustive comparative tests and error performance of the prediction models showing that improved error performance is achieved compared to the ITU R model and to the state-of-the-art models. The results presented in the book are expected to contribute to the improvement of the system design and to the further research of modelling the next generation satellite links at higher frequencies.

This book highlights the different aspects of the research project ¿E4C Horizon 2020 European Project¿ aimed at fighting the coronavirus by combining the best supercomputing resources and artificial intelligence with state-of-the-art experimental facilities up through clinical validation.Coronavirus disease has become an important public issue across the globe since December 2019. There is an urgent need to develop potent anti-COVID-19 agents for the prevention of the outbreak and stop viral infections.To this aim, a public¿private consortium composed by European and national infrastructures, center of excellence, universities, and a pharmaceutical company started the E4C Horizon 2020 EuropeanProject: Its core idea was to use the EXaSCale smArt pLatform Against paThogEns (EXSCALATE) supercomputing platform for a process known as ¿drug repurposing¿, namely to identify the most promising safe in man drugs for immediate treatment of the already infected population and then novel pan-coronavirus inhibitors to address future emergencies.This ambitious goal exploited a ¿chemical library¿ of 500 billion molecules, thanks to a processing capacity of more than 3 million molecules per second, made available by the computing power of the EXSCALATE platform.

This book highlights the results of numerical computer-aided smart methods as part of a comprehensive statistical, correlated, and fractal analysis of laser polarimetry. It includes a comprehensive approach to differentiation of lifelong or postmortem origin of injuries and determination of their antiquity based on the analysis of statistical and spatiotemporal frequency evolution of photometric, polarization, and phase parameters of laser images of histological sections of the skin of biomannequins. It discusses the relationship between the coordinate distributions of the intensity of laser images from skin tissues of biomannequins and the nature of its damage. It presents the analysis of relationships between changes in the mean and variance of coordinate distributions of azimuths and ellipticity of polarization images of histological skin sections and the time intervals after injury. Complex differentiation of lifelong and postmortem skin injuries of biomannequins and establishment of their time intervals throughout the entire monitoring interval of changes in the mean and variance of coordinate distributions of phase shifts between orthogonal components of the amplitude of laser images of a series of corresponding histological sections are also presented in this book.

This book highlights the analysis of new azimuth-independent methods of Stokes polarimetry and Mueller-matrixreconstruction of distributions of optical anisotropy parameters using spatial-frequency filtering of manifestations of phase (linear and circular birefringence) and amplitude (linear and circular dichroism) anisotropy for diagnosing changes in the orientational-phase structure of fibrillar networks of histological sections of biological tissues and polycrystalline films of biological fluids.

This book presents numerical computer-aided smart-methods as part of a comprehensive statistical, correlation and fractal analysis of laser polarimetry data. It highlights relationships between polarization (azimuth distributions, polarization ellipticities, Stokes vector parameters, Mueller matrix elements) parameters of laser images of biological tissues of a human corpse in different spectral ranges and temporal dynamics of their postmortem morphological changes. The book discusses the effectiveness of correlation analysis of two-dimensional distributions of polarization inhomogeneous images of histological sections of the main types of biological tissues in determining the time of death. It also discusses the development of basic principles of phase measurements (phasometry) of microscopic images of biological tissues to determine the age of death and the time of hematoma formation. Also presented in the book are possibilities of complex laser spectral photopolarimetry images ofhistological sections of biological tissues of human corpse in different spectral regions, with the simultaneous development and substantiation of a set of statistical and correlational criteria for objective determination of the time of death.

This book explores the previously overlooked negative environmental impact of the sports industry, with a particular emphasis on the carbon footprint of sports facilities and organizations. The authors provide a comprehensive assessment of sustainable development goals, economic, social, and environmental sustainability concepts. They reveal the significant negative effects that the sports sector has on the environment and examine the policies implemented by stakeholders in the industry.The book also explores a case study of the legal policies implemented by the Lithuanian government to reduce the environmental impact of sports. The authors present practical suggestions for environmentally-friendly sports management, supported by examples presented with figures, pictures, and tables.This book fills a gap in the literature, offering suggestions and comments to enrich the practices of stakeholders in the sports industry. It provides an opportunity to make a positive difference for the environment while advancing the field of sports management.

This book represents a significant step toward a new contribution in the process of developing the seismic vulnerability index. This is accomplished by releasing or reducing the role of the rapid visual screening that is created by the opinions and decisions of experts, which depend on observations made while investigating the vulnerability damages caused by earthquakes. Alternatively, the computational analytical technique is preferable since it can be effective in determining the seismic vulnerability index before the occurrence of an earthquake by modeling the most affected influencing parameters that regulate the building performance. In addition, the seismic vulnerability index is supported by the vulnerability curves, which describe the probability of damages and are used to estimate the economic damage grade for each building which is the topic of inquiry. In the end, this helps to establish a clear vision and sort of recommendations for engineers and specialists to follow inorder to take into consideration certain indices and factors before designing any specific structure. Because of this, the simplified work is utilized to manage and put into action measures that will protect against the effects of seismic events before an earthquake really occurs. In addition to this benefit, the work that has been done is of significant assistance to the authorities that are accountable for the restoration of the preexisting buildings and the cultural heritages.

This book assesses the main interrelationships between economic growth processes, life cycle sustainability assessment approaches, and new technologies in the framework of digital transition. In other words, it aims to highlight how sustainability assessment methodologies and artificial intelligence can better support different actors for more sustainable economic growth. Readers of the book would benefit from diverse perspectives on the contributions of evaluation methodologies and digital technologies to more sustainable economic growth. This is important especially for students, policymakers and public institutions. Economic growth is analysed using the concepts of sigma and beta convergence from neoclassical theory and the Verdoorn law of Keynesian development. For sustainability assessments, the book considers methodologies associated with social life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis. In the context of digital technologies, special emphasis is given to machine anddeep learning approaches.

This book highlights the effectiveness of differential diagnosis in the degree of severity of joint pathology from a clinical, biophysical, and informational point of view. It includes the following information blocks:¿ Two-dimensional digital polarization microscopy of polycrystalline films of synovial fluid and determination of the coordinate distributions of the orientation and phase parameters of the microscopic image from a set of parameters of the Stokes vector.¿ Mueller-matrix mapping of polycrystalline films of synovial fluid and determination of a set of coordinate distributions (Mueller-matrix images (MMI)) of azimuthal-invariant elements that characterize manifestations of optical activity and linear birefringence.¿ Development of algorithms for polarization reproduction of distributions of linear and circular birefringence of polycrystalline films of synovial fluid.¿ Identification of digital statistical, correlation and wavelet criteria of polarization and Mueller-matrix differential diagnosis of the degree of severity of joint pathology.¿ Determination of maps of laser-induced fluorescence of synovial fluid polycrystalline films.¿ Identification of statistical and correlational criteria for fluorescent differential diagnosis of the degree of severity of joint pathology.¿ Operational characteristics of the power of the methods of azimuth-invariant polarization, Mueller-matrix and laser autofluorescence microscopy of polycrystalline films of synovial fluid.

This book serves as a valuable resource for researchers and graduate students specializing in optical engineering and optical sciences. Comprising three distinct parts, it addresses fundamental aspects and practical applications of modulated apertures in microscopy. The first part delves into the fabrication of modulated apertures and the computation of impulse responses or point spread functions (PSFs). It offers essential insights into the foundational concepts of modulated aperture design. The second part focuses on the utilization of modulated apertures in speckle imaging, elucidating their significance and relevance in this context. This section provides a comprehensive understanding of the practical applications of modulated apertures in image formation. The third and final part explores the application of modulated apertures within the framework of a confocal scanning laser microscope. The objective here is to enhance microscope resolution and image contrast, contributing tothe advancement of microscopy techniques. This book offers a concise and objective exploration of modulated apertures' fabrication, applications, and their potential to enhance microscopy. This book is a valuable reference for students and researchers seeking to deepen their knowledge in this specialized field.

This book discusses selected waste and by-products of the food industry. Two commonly used methods of managing these are discussed: anaerobic digestion and composting. The book reviews current research and also brings in the author¿s own research insights to the discussion. The book is aimed at food industry specialists, waste management specialists, scientists, and students. However, the book describes problems in an accessible way, which will make this book useful for beginners in the waste/biogas/composting sector.

This book presents a design research on the basalt fiber, a natural mineral material with important characteristics, and investigates the material's properties, production techniques, and most common uses, while also delving into aspects yet to be improved. The work presents a part of original research in between art and design, in which concepts, prototypes, and ideas are proposed, aimed at the enhancement of basalt fiber also from an esthetic point of view and not only from a performance one. By working on its perceived qualities and creative and formal potential, it is possible to support and extend the use of this material in many areas of design, including product, exhibit, cultural industries, and fashion. Considering that environmental regulations are increasingly stringent, the use of basalt fiber may in some cases be more advantageous than other popular technical fibers, both because of its own performance characteristics and specifically because of its inherent sustainability.

The book explores current characteristics of the urban built environment in view of possible future transformations. A cross-reading analysis of existing public social housing buildings is proposed, based on the investigation of their architectural, structural, and energetic characteristics. The study aims to provide an integrated approach that captures the link between typology, construction, and energy demands, offering a key to understanding the main critical issues and transformation readiness. It focuses on large-scale interventions composing public social housing stocks, realized during the second half of the twentieth century. More than other public interventions, such building stocks clearly lack in meeting current housing needs such as modern apartment architectural layout, energy and structural regulations, and social mix. However, due to their numerical presence, strategical and widespread distribution across urban areas, and transformability, these buildings can bethe target for future strategic regeneration projects. In particular, the book thoroughly investigates the social housing estate constructed in Rome (Italy) after the approval in 1964 of the first urban economic and social housing plan.

This book highlights several methods and quantitative implementations of both probabilistic and fuzzy-based approaches to uncertainty quantification and uncertainty propagation through environmental subsurface pollution models with uncertain input parameters. The book focuses on methods as well as applications in hydrogeology, soil hydrology, groundwater contamination, and related areas (e.g., corrosion of nuclear waste canisters). The methods are illustrated for a broad spectrum of models, from non-differential I/O models to complex PDE solvers, including a novel 3D quasi-analytical model of contaminant transport, and a site-specific computer model of dissolved contaminant migration from a DNAPL (Dense Non Aqueous Phase Liquid) pollution source.

This book delves into the world of metakaolin (MK) and its impact on the properties of geopolymers. Beginning with an introduction to the abundance and versatility of kaolin, the author explores how calcination transforms it into the highly reactive material known as MK. The book investigates the incorporation of MK into different types of geopolymers and examines how factors such as precursor type and fineness, MK fineness, activator type and concentration, curing conditions, and testing age influence the resulting properties. Through a meticulous evaluation of prior studies, the text presents valuable insights into workability, setting time, density, compressive strength (with specific focus on slag, fly ash, and other precursors), flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, elastic modulus, porosity, water absorption, shrinkage, carbonation resistance, corrosion resistance, and other durability aspects. Drawing upon a wealth of knowledge, this work serves as a comprehensive reference for researchers and offers a roadmap for future investigations.