Science & Nature - Books

Bioethanol

Science & Nature

This new book, Bioethanol: Biochemistry and Biotechnological Advances, presents some insightful perspectives and important advances in the bioethanol industry. The volume goes into detail on the biochemical and physiological parameters carried out by the main bioethanol-producing microorganisms as well as the discusses the potential applications that bioproducts can have and the advantages they generate.The chapter authors discuss a variety of issues, including the physiology of ethanol production by yeasts, by Zymomonas mobilis, and by Clostridium thermocellum. Other sources of biofuel, such as sweet sorghum, Agave americana L. leaves waste, and fungi are included as well. Chapters also discuss the genetic regulation and genetic engineering of principal microorganisms and then go on to address ways to increase ethanol tolerance in industrially important ethanol fermenting organisms, methods for developing sustainable fermentable substrates, and new strategies for ethanol purification. Chapters explore the design and engineering requirements for bioreactors, bioelectrosynthesis of ethanol via bioelectrochemical systems, and more.The book will be a valuable resource for faculty and students in this area as well as for scientists, researchers, and managers in the biofuel industry in the area of biofuel production, fermentation process, environmental engineering and all other related scientific areas.

Enterprise Interoperability

Science & Nature

In a fast changing world governed by innovative Enterprise Services and the Future Internet, the issue of Enterprise Interoperability is no longer limited to the interoperation of systems within a single company, but has become a much greater multi-view issue of interoperability throughout a Network of Enterprises. This book contains the proceedings of 13 workshops presented as short papers and discussions held at each workshop. The workshops were co-located with the I-ESA’12 Conference organized by the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain. Complementary to the conference program, the workshops aimed at exploiting new issues, challenges and solutions for Enterprise Interoperability. The scope of the workshops spanned a wide range of interoperability issues in Service Science and Innovation, Model Driven Interoperability, Service Oriented Architectures, Factories of the Future, Enterprise Networks and Management, SME Aspects and Standards.

A Beginner's Guide to Data Agglomeration and Intelligent Sensing

Science & Nature

A Beginners Guide to Data Agglomeration and Intelligent Sensing provides an overview of the Sensor Cloud Platform, Converge-casting, and Data Aggregation in support of intelligent sensing and relaying of information. The book begins with a brief introduction on sensors and transducers, giving readers insight into the various types of sensors and how one can work with them. In addition, it gives several real-life examples to help readers properly understand concepts. An overview of concepts such as wireless sensor networks, cloud platforms, and device-to-cloud and sensor cloud architecture are explained briefly, as is data gathering in wireless sensor networks and aggregation procedures. Final sections explore how to process gathered data and relay the data in an intelligent way, including concepts such as supervised and unsupervised learning, software defined networks, sensor data mining and smart systems. Presents the latest advances in data agglomeration for intelligent sensing Discusses the basic concepts of sensors, real-life applications of sensors and systems, the protocols and applications of wireless sensor networks, the methodology of sensor data accumulation, and real-life applications of Intelligent Sensor Networks Provides readers with an easy-to-learn and understand introduction to the concepts of the cloud platform, Sensor Cloud and Machine Learning

Biofuels from Algae

Science & Nature

This book provides in-depth information on basic and applied aspects of biofuels production from algae. It begins with an introduction to the topic, and follows with the basic scientific aspects of algal cultivation and its use for biofuels production, such as photo bioreactor engineering for microalgae production, open culture systems for biomass production and the economics of biomass production. It provides state-of-the-art information on synthetic biology approaches for algae suitable for biofuels production, followed by algal biomass harvesting, algal oils as fuels, biohydrogen production from algae, formation/production of co-products, and more. The book also covers topics such as metabolic engineering and molecular biology for algae for fuel production, life cycle assessment and scale-up and commercialization. It is highly useful and helps you to plan new research and design new economically viable processes for the production of clean fuels from algae. Covers in a comprehensive but concise way most of the algae biomass conversion technologies currently availableLists all the products produced from algae, i.e. biohydrogen, fuel oils, etc., their properties and potential usesIncludes the economics of the various processes and the necessary steps for scaling them up

Algae-Based Biomaterials for Sustainable Development

Science & Nature

Biomass, Biofuels, and Biochemicals: Algae-Based Biomaterials for Sustainable Development, Biomedical, Environmental Remediation and Sustainability Assessment, a new release in the Biomass, Biofuels, and Biochemicals series, covers algae-based biomaterials—the green and renewable material that can be produced from various micro- and macro-algae species and utilized for several applications, including biomedical healthcare and environmental remediation. The book provides assessments of the current development of algae-based biomaterials, delivering information on diverse feedstocks and technologies for biomaterial production with a perspective surrounding sustainable development. In addition, circular bioeconomy aspects are included, giving researchers a comprehensive, sustainable development view. This valuable addition to the series delivers a much-needed reference for today’s applications in biomedical and environmental remediation. Comprises the advanced production of algae-based biomaterials from various micro- and macro-algae feedstocks Describes up-to-date applications of algae-based biomaterials for environmental remediation, including pollutants and greenhouse gases Helps explain the sustainable development of algae-based biomaterials, looking at sustainable assessments and circular bioeconomy aspects

Deep Learning in Visual Computing and Signal Processing

Science & Nature

An enlightening amalgamation of deep learning concepts with visual computing and signal processing applications, this new volume covers the fundamentals and advanced topics in designing and deploying techniques using deep architectures and their application in visual computing and signal processing.The volume first lays out the fundamentals of deep learning as well as deep learning architectures and frameworks. It goes on to discuss deep learning in neural networks and deep learning for object recognition and detection models. It looks at the various specific applications of deep learning in visual and signal processing, such as in biorobotics, for automated brain tumor segmentation in MRI images, in neural networks for use in seizure classification, for digital forensic investigation based on deep learning, and more.

Graphene Bioelectronics

Science & Nature

Graphene Bioelectronics covers the expending field of graphene biomaterials, a wide span of biotechnological breakthroughs, opportunities, possibilities and challenges. It is the first book that focuses entirely on graphene bioelectronics, covering the miniaturization of bioelectrode materials, bioelectrode interfaces, high-throughput biosensing platforms, and systemic approaches for the development of electrochemical biosensors and bioelectronics for biomedical and energy applications. The book also showcases key applications, including advanced security, forensics and environmental monitoring. Thus, the evolution of these scientific areas demands innovations in crosscutting disciplines, starting from fabrication to application.This book is an important reference resource for researchers and technologists in graphene bioelectronics—particularly those working in the area of harvest energy biotechnology—employing state-of-the-art bioelectrode materials techniques.Offers a comprehensive overview of state-of-art research on graphene bioelectronics and their potential applicationsProvides innovative fabrication strategies and utilization methodologies, which are frequently adopted in the graphene bioelectronics communityShows how graphene can be used to make more effective energy harvesting devices

The Wandering Mind

Science & Nature

Rooted in neuroscience, psychology and evolutionary biology, this study explores what happens when we stop paying attention and the effect on our behavior.If we’ve done our job well—and, let’s be honest, if we’re lucky—you’ll read to the end of this description. Most likely, however, you won’t. Somewhere in the middle of the next paragraph, your mind will wander off. Minds wander. That’s just how it is.That may be bad news for me, but is it bad news for people in general? Does the fact that as much as fifty percent of our waking hours find us failing to focus on the task at hand represent a problem? Michael Corballis doesn’t think so. With The Wandering Mind, he shows us why, rehabilitating woolgathering and revealing its incredibly useful effects. Drawing on the latest research from cognitive science and evolutionary biology, Corballis shows us how mind-wandering not only frees us from moment-to-moment drudgery, but also from the limitations of our immediate selves. Mind-wandering strengthens our imagination, fueling the flights of invention, storytelling, and empathy that underlie our shared humanity; furthermore, he explains, our tendency to wander back and forth through the timeline of our lives is fundamental to our very sense of ourselves as coherent, continuing personalities.Full of unusual examples and surprising discoveries, The Wandering Mind mounts a vigorous defense of inattention—even as it never fails to hold the reader’s.Praise for The Wandering Mind“[A] conversational, sincere and amusing book about the tendency of our minds to stray from whatever it is we are actually supposed to be focusing on. . . . [An] engaging exploration of the subject.” —Times Higher Education, Book of the Week“Michael Corballis, the scientist, takes you by the hand and weaves through an avalanche of information from psychology, literature, history, and more to elucidate my favorite mental state—mind wandering. His high capacity for erudition, lucidity, and warmth have never shined more brightly.” —Michael S. Gazzaniga“The Wandering Mind is a pleasure to read—a lively book that will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers.” —Thomas Suddendorf, author of The Gap

This Explains Everything

Science & Nature

Drawn from the cutting-edge frontiers of science, This Explains Everything will revolutionize your understanding of the world.What is your favorite deep, elegant, or beautiful explanation? This is the question John Brockman, publisher of Edge.org ("The world's smartest website"—The Guardian), posed to the world's most influential minds. Flowing from the horizons of physics, economics, psychology, neuroscience, and more, This Explains Everything presents 150 of the most surprising and brilliant theories of the way of our minds, societies, and universe work.Jared Diamond on biological electricity • Nassim Nicholas Taleb on positive stress • Steven Pinker on the deep genetic roots of human conflict • Richard Dawkins on pattern recognition • Nobel Prize-winning physicist Frank Wilczek on simplicity • Lisa Randall on the Higgs mechanism • BRIAN Eno on the limits of intuition • Richard Thaler on the power of commitment • V. S. Ramachandran on the "neural code" of consciousness • Nobel Prize winner ERIC KANDEL on the power of psychotherapy • Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi on "Lord Acton's Dictum" • Lawrence M. Krauss on the unification of electricity and magnetism • plus contributions by Martin J. Rees • Kevin Kelly • Clay Shirky • Daniel C. Dennett • Sherry Turkle • Philip Zimbardo • Lee Smolin • Rebecca Newberger Goldstein • Seth Lloyd • Stewart Brand • George Dyson • Matt Ridley

Biomedical Materials and Diagnostic Devices

Science & Nature

Biomedical Materials and Diagnostics Devices provides an up-to-date overview of the fascinating and emerging field of biomedical materials and devices, fabrication, performance, and usesThe biomedical materials with the most promising potential combine biocompatibility with the ability to adjust precisely the biological phenomena in a controlled manner. The world market for biomedical and diagnostic devices is expanding rapidly and the pace of academic research resulted in about 50,000 published papers in recent years. It is timely, therefore, to assemble a volume on this important subject.The chapters in the book seek to address progress in successful design strategies for biomedical materials and devices such as the use of collagen, crystalline calcium orthophosphates, amphiphilic polymers, polycaprolactone, biomimetic assembly, bio-nanocomposite matrices, bio-silica, theranostic nanobiomaterials, intelligent drug delivery systems, elastomeric nanobiomaterials, electrospun nano-matrices, metal nanoparticles, and a variety of biosensors.This large and comprehensive volume includes twenty chapters authored by some of the leading researchers in the field, and is divided into four main areas: biomedical materials; diagnostic devices; drug delivery and therapeutics; and tissue engineering and organ regeneration.

Engineering Research Methodology

Science & Nature

The book covers all the important aspects of research methodology, and addresses the specific requirements of engineering students, such as methods and tools, in detail. It also discusses effective research in engineering today, which requires the ability to undertake literature reviews utilizing different online databases, to attribute credit for any prior work mentioned, to respect intellectual property rights while simultaneously maintaining ethics in research, and much more. Further, the book also considers soft skills like research management and planning, dealing with criticism in research and presentation skills, which are all equally important and need to include in research methodology education. Lastly, it provides the technical knowhow needed to file patents in academia, an important area that is often ignored in research methodology books. The book is a particularly valuable resource for PhD students in India and South East Asia, as research methodology is a part of their coursework.

DC Microgrids

Science & Nature

DC MICROGRIDS Written and edited by a team of well-known and respected experts in the field, this new volume on DC microgrids presents the state-of-the-art developments and challenges in the field of microgrids for sustainability and scalability for engineers, researchers, academicians, industry professionals, consultants, and designers. The electric grid is on the threshold of a paradigm shift. In the past few years, the picture of the grid has changed dramatically due to the introduction of renewable energy sources, advancements in power electronics, digitalization, and other factors. All these megatrends are pointing toward a new electrical system based on Direct Current (DC). DC power systems have inherent advantages of no harmonics, no reactive power, high efficiency, over the conventional AC power systems. Hence, DC power systems have become an emerging and promising alternative in various emerging applications, which include distributed energy sources like wind, solar and Energy Storage System (ESS), distribution networks, smart buildings, remote telecom systems, and transport electrification like electric vehicles (EVs). All these applications are designed at different voltages to meet their specific requirements individually because of the lack of standardization. Thus, the factors influencing the DC voltages and system operation needed to be surveyed and analyzed, which include voltage standards, architecture for existing and emerging applications, topologies and control strategies of power electronic interfaces, fault diagnosis and design of the protection system, optimal economical operation, and system reliability.

Emerging Postharvest Treatment of Fruits and Vegetables

Science & Nature

With the increasing need and demand for fresh fruits and vegetables, the field of postharvest science is continuously evolving. Endeavors are being made by scientists involved in postharvest research for maintenance of the quality and safety of fresh horticultural produce to enhance the postharvest life and to extend the availability of the produce in both time and space. This volume, Emerging Postharvest Treatment of Fruits and Vegetables, addresses the demand for the development and application of effective technologies for preservation of perishable food products, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables. It provides an abundance of up-to-date information about postharvest treatments. The chapters discuss a number of innovative technologies to prolong and enhance postharvest fruits and vegetables. This book will be valuable for those concerned with horticulture and postharvest technology. It provides essential information for students, teachers, professors, scientists, and entrepreneurs engaged in fresh horticultural produce handling related to this field.

Carbon Nanotubes and Nanoparticles

Science & Nature

This new volume looks at significant new research, methodologies, and applications in the fields of carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles. It explores a variety of new developments in advanced carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles along with the tools to characterize and predict their properties and behavior. It introduces and reviews methods that are most frequently encountered in sophisticated nano-scaled materials domains, and helps to bridge the gap between classical analysis and modern real-life applications. A diverse array of topics in the field is addressed that provides many practical insights into nanocomposites and nanomaterials sciences.

Futuristic Sustainable Energy & Technology

Science & Nature

Futuristic Sustainable Energy and Technology provides a structured overview of the concept of Futuristic Sustainable Energy and Technology. It also explores the promotion of the sustainable development of renewable energy from the perspectives of technology, modelling, application, sustainability and policy. This book is dedicated to the advancement of energy efficiency to mitigate consumption, ensure and replenish, expand and reuse elective energy supplies, and to replicate the damage caused by previous energy initiatives. This book has offered a large stage of experimentation for practitioners, experts, researchers and teachers to incorporate and analyze their latest developments, as well as the trends and difficulties encountered and the ongoing evolution of the stage in these areas.

Intelligent Green Technologies for Sustainable Smart Cities

Science & Nature

Intelligent Green Technologies for Sustainable Smart Cities Presenting the concepts and fundamentals of smart cities and developing “green” technologies, this volume, written and edited by a global team of experts, also goes into the practical applications that can be utilized across multiple disciplines and industries, for both the engineer and the student. Smart cities and green technologies are quickly becoming two of the most important areas of development facing today’s engineers, scientists, students, and other professionals. Written by a team of experts in these fields, this outstanding new volume tackles the problem of detailing advances in smart city development, green technologies, and where the two areas intersect to create innovation and revolutionary solutions. This group of hand-selected and vetted papers deals with the fundamental concepts of adapting artificial intelligence, machine learning techniques with green technologies, and many other advances in concepts related to these key areas. Including the most recent research and developments available, this book is an extraordinary source of knowledge for students, engineers seeking the latest research, and facilities and other professionals working in the area of green technologies and challenges and solutions in urban planning and smart city development.

Photovoltaic Systems

Science & Nature

This book provides comprehensive insight into the fault detection techniques implemented for photovoltaic (PV) panels. It includes studies related to predictive maintenance needed to improve the performance of the solar PV systems using Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques. The readers gain knowledge on the fault identification algorithm and the significance of all such algorithms in real-time power system applications.Gives detailed overview of fundamental concepts of fault diagnosis algorithm for solar PV systemExplains AC and DC side of the solar PV system-based electricity generation with real-time examples Covers effective extraction of the energy from solar radiation Illustrates artificial intelligence techniques for detecting the faults occurring in the solar PV system Includes MATLAB® based simulations and results on fault diagnosis including case studies This book is aimed at researchers, professionals and graduate students in electrical engineering, artificial intelligence, control algorithms, energy engineering, photovoltaic systems, industrial electronics.

Design, Analysis and Applications of Renewable Energy Systems (Enhanced Edition)

Science & Nature

Design, Analysis and Applications of Renewable Energy Systems covers recent advancements in the study of renewable energy control systems by bringing together diverse scientific breakthroughs on the modeling, control and optimization of renewable energy systems as conveyed by leading energy systems engineering researchers. The book focuses on present novel solutions for many problems in the field, covering modeling, control theorems and the optimization techniques that will help solve many scientific issues for researchers. Multidisciplinary applications are also discussed, along with their fundamentals, modeling, analysis, design, realization and experimental results. This book fills the gaps between different interdisciplinary applications, ranging from mathematical concepts, modeling, and analysis, up to the realization and experimental work. Presents some of the latest innovative approaches to renewable energy systems from the point-of-view of dynamic modeling, system analysis, optimization, control and circuit design Focuses on advances related to optimization techniques for renewable energy and forecasting using machine learning methods Includes new circuits and systems, helping researchers solve many nonlinear problems

Prairie Directory of North America

Science & Nature

The first single, comprehensive source for locating North American public prairies, grasslands, and savannas, Prairie Directory of North America is a guide unlike any other. First published in 2001, the book uniquely catalogs the continent's most well-known prairie sites by country and state for easy reference. With the addition of over three hundred newly located, preserved, or restored sites, the second edition is the prairie enthusiast's ideal guide to locating countless North American sites-from the well-documented to the remote. Readers can use the guide to plan both convenient visits to close-to-home prairies and journeys to sites well across the continent. Also included is an expanded state-by-state index, ideal for locating specific prairies in any given state. The victim of destructive plowing and construction at the hands of European settlers, North American grassland ecosystems that once spanned the entire continent have suffered degradation and fragmentation. With the Prairie Directory as a guide, however, ecologists, environmental scientists, and tourists can experience the essence of this ancient ecosystem and, in some locations, even its vastness. The book lists tiny, hidden half-acre prairies spared by the plow as well as popular sites covering millions of acres. It documents prairies hidden deep in forests or in plain sight in American Indian reservations. The only one of its kind, this book will allow readers to experience the prairie as a colorful, fragrant, wildlife-rich North American landscape.

The Evolutionary Mind

Science & Nature

Stimulating and often startling discussions between three friends, all highly original thinkers: Rupert Sheldrake, controversial biologist, Terence McKenna , psychedelic visionary, and Ralph Abraham , chaos mathematician. Their passion is to break out of paradigms that retard our evolution and to explore new possibilities. Through challenge and synergy they venture where few have gone before, leading their readers on an exciting journey of discovery. Their discussions focus on the evolution of the mind, the role of psychedelics, skepticism, the psychic powers of animals, the structure of time, the life of the heavens, the nature of God, and transformations of consciousness.“Three fine thinkers take us plunging into the universe of chaos, mind, and spirit. Instead of leaving us lost, they bring us back with startling insights and more wonder than we knew we had.” —Matthew Fox, Original Blessing and Sheer Joy"A jam-session of the mind, an intellectual movable feast, an on-going conversation that began over twenty years ago and remains as lively and relevant today as it ever was. Sadly, Terence had to leave the conversation a little earlier than planned. But the appearance of this book of trialogues at this critical, historical juncture is a reaffirmation of the potency of the optimistic vision that the trialogues express." —Dennis McKenna, brother of the late Terence McKennaRupert Sheldrake is a biologist and author of many books including The Sense of Being Stared At, And Other Aspects of the Extended Mind. Ralph Abraham is a mathematician, one of the pioneers of chaos theory and the author of several books including Chaos, Gaia, Eros: A Chaos Pioneer Uncovers the Three Great Streams of History. The late Terence McKenna was a scholar of shamanism, ethno-botanist, psychedelic researcher and author of many books including Food of the Gods and True Hallucinations.

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