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Books in Physical sciences and engineering

  • Foundations of Human-Computer Interaction

    Designing for Cognitive Alignment
    • 1st Edition
    • Robert Atkinson
    • English
    Foundations of Human-Computer Interaction: Designing for Cognitive Alignment reframes human-computer interaction (HCI), usability, and user-centered design by focusing on the conditions under which cognition stabilizes over time. It provides an integrated account of HCI by bringing together cognitive science, neuroscience, and design principles to explain how systems shape perception, regulate attention, and support stable reasoning across repeated encounters. This approach ensures that graduate and undergraduate students not only understand core theoretical frameworks but also recognize how design decisions influence reasoning, decision-making, and cognitive effort in real-world contexts. The book emphasizes structured learning and iterative design processes, making the material accessible to both novices and advanced learners. It also addresses contemporary challenges such as AI-driven systems, adaptive interfaces, and large-scale personalization, offering a framework for understanding how misalignment emerges as instability—seen in repetition, delayed decisions, fragmented attention, and unresolved effort—and how design can support clarity, recovery, and trust in responsible ways
  • Flexible DC Traction Power Supply System in Urban Rail Transit

    Design, Operation and Control
    • 1st Edition
    • Chao Lu + 4 more
    • English
    Flexible DC Traction Power Supply Systems in Urban Rail Transit: Design, Operation and Control is an essential guide on the cutting-edge of the field that clarifies the current standard for power converters, traction control, and energy systems for rail transport before introducing basic concepts, configurations, and opportunities for flexible DC traction power supply systems. Other sections provide a detailed guide to operating principles and core functions in comparison to traditional diode rectifier-based traction power supply systems. This is a critical resource for energy and electrical engineers, researchers, and students developing the sustainable infrastructure of the future.Key techniques are analyzed with attentive reference to rail application context and appropriate case studies. The book closes with two full chapters of novel case studies from China that support practical application and further development by readers. Working from foundational principles to real-world applications.
  • Data-Driven Machine Learning Applications in Thermochemical Conversion Processes

    • 1st Edition
    • Jude Okolie + 3 more
    • English
    Data-Driven Machine Learning Applications in Thermochemical Conversion Processes delves into the prospect of machine learning applications to optimize and enhance advanced thermochemical conversion processes, which are essential for converting biomass into energy and other valuable products. This book covers ML applications in higher heating value (HHV) predictions, catalyst screening, prediction of biofuels properties, material discovery and screening, as well as advancing emerging thermochemical conversion process technologies. Providing an in-depth examination of how big data analytics and ML models can be harnessed to predict system performance, understand complex reaction mechanisms, and accelerate development of innovative conversion technologies, as well as focusing on both theoretical and practical aspects, this book will be a welcome reference for researchers, engineers, and practitioners.
  • Functional Analysis

    Theory and Applications
    • 1st Edition
    • Anita Tomar + 2 more
    • English
    An applied understanding of functional analysis is essential for students pursuing research or careers in pure mathematics, applied mathematics, mathematical physics, and engineering, among other disciplines.Function... Analysis: Theory and Applications offers a comprehensive exploration of functional analysis. Authored by esteemed mathematicians with extensive expertise in the field, this book thoroughly introduces fundamental concepts in functional analysis, including Banach spaces, Hilbert spaces, operator theory, nonlinear analysis, linear operators, and normed spaces, and implements these in real-world problems across various scientific and engineering disciplines.The book's rigorous mathematical treatment is combined with worked examples, exercises and solutions, visual aids, application case studies, and future directions across all chapters to reinforce learning, while appendices offer supplementary materials, proofs of theorems, and tables of important results, among other resources.
  • Physical Metallurgy

    • 6th Edition
    • David E. Laughlin + 1 more
    • English
    Physical Metallurgy, Sixth Edition preserves the excellence of the previous editions of this popular work, keeping everything up-to-date and offering definitive, in-depth chapters with superb coverage and clarity of explanations. The book provides comprehensive and in-depth coverage of both ferrous and non-ferrous materials, written by leaders in the respective field, going from fundamental and foundational understanding to a higher level of knowledge. The book expertly integrates fundamental theory with advanced materials characterization techniques. It is an excellent resource for students and early-career metallurgists, while also offering great depth and insight for more experienced readers.The chapters have been revised and expanded, with new chapters on the physical metallurgy of light alloys and titanium alloys, as well as atom probe field ion microscopy, computational metallurgy, and orientational imaging microscopy. Emphasis on sustainability is encouraged throughout, and the volumes incorporate the latest experimental research results and theoretical insights.
  • Net Zero Transition in Buildings

    Emerging Concepts and Technologies
    • 1st Edition
    • Xiaojun Luo + 1 more
    • English
    of solutions to achieve zero carbon in the field of building and construction. This book provides an update on new technologies and emerging approaches that can support and promote the energy transition and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment, both in individual buildings and groups of buildings. This book presents real-world case studies and expert insights on how to apply a wide range of cutting-edge digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, genetic algorithms, and computer vision, as well as energy-efficient devices like heat pumps, energy storage systems, adsorption chillers and dehumidification systems, liquid-flow windows, solar and wind power systems, green roofs, cogeneration systems, and internet of things. It also explores emerging concepts such as plus energy building, positive energy block, integrated building information systems and life cycle assessment, integrated demand and supply side management, peer-to-peer energy sharing and embodied carbon reduction, which are already beginning to emerge as solutions for achieving a zero-carbon built environment in the near future.
  • Electronics Use in Harsh Environments

    Challenges and Perspectives
    • 1st Edition
    • Rajan Ambat + 2 more
    • English
    Electronics Use in Harsh Environments: Challenges and Perspectives provides a state-of-the-art review on environmental reliability issues in electronics in different technological applications due to exposure in harsh environments. This is an important issue today in relation to both high (power electronics) and low voltage applications as well as in connection with their use in various industrial sectors such as wind energy, solar, automotive, transport, and consumer electronic sectors. The book takes an application-based approach and covers environmental reliability studies in power electronics systems and components. Chapters focus on current applications, environmental reliability issues, and remedial measures that are available.Relevant issues related to electronic processing/material use and corrosion issues, failure mechanisms due to high voltage, and thermal incidents caused by corrosion issues are also discussed in detail. The book will be a valuable reference source for academic and industrial researchers, materials scientists, and engineers, as well as corrosion specialists and all those involved in electronic reliability studies and electrification issues in transport, consumer goods and energy sectors.
  • Comprehensive Polymer Science

    • 2nd Edition
    • Ray Suprakas Sinha
    • English
    Polymer Science: A Comprehensive Reference, Second Edition, Eight Volume Set presents an authoritative and comprehensive treatment on the role of polymers in modern science and technology. Like the book's first edition, this update gives a broad, in-depth, and fundamental understanding of polymer synthesis, polymerization processes, properties, characterization methods, and techniques to develop polymer nanostructures and soft objects. Readers will find discussions on a myriad of applications of polymeric materials, with this fully revised and updated edition including a greater focus on issues surrounding sustainability, energy, and biomedical fields.As a complete overview of the flourishing role of polymers in modern science and technology, this new edition retains the critically acclaimed approach of the previous edition while introducing readers to the latest developments in the field.
  • Microalgal Biofuels

    Biotechnology and Biorefineries
    • 1st Edition
    • Krishna Kumar Jaiswal + 1 more
    • English
    Microalgal Biofuels: Biotechnology and Biorefineries advances reader understanding of microalgal biofuels as a sustainable energy solution and encourages the transition to cleaner energy by highlighting cutting-edge biotechnologies and innovative practices for reducing CO2 emissions in the biofuel production process. Broken into five sections, the first section, Microalgal Biofuels: Biotechnology and Biorefineries presents the scientific underpinnings of biofuel production and explores cutting-edge biotechnologies that are transforming microalgal biofuel production. Section two, "Advanced Microalgal Biofuels," focuses on the latest developments in biodiesel production from microalgae and discusses the novel production methods and standards in the industry. The third section, "Microalgal Biorefineries,” provides an in-depth examination of the design, technologies, and impacts of microalgal biorefineries with emphasis on the importance of optimal biomass utilization. Section four, "Environmental and Co-Product Perspectives," explores the environmental benefits of microalgal biofuels and the potential use of co-products such as nutraceuticals, animal feed, and bioplastics that reinforce the concept of a circular bioeconomy. Finally, section five, "Future Trends and Case Studies," considers the future of microalgal biofuels and discusses market trends, commercial production challenges, and innovative case studies from the field. Researchers and professionals in the fields of bioenergy, biotechnology, renewable energy, and environmental science, as well as students studying related fields will benefit from this timely reference.
  • Applications of Biopolymers and Biocomposites

    • 1st Edition
    • Mohammad Jawaid + 3 more
    • English
    Applications of Biopolymers and Biocomposites, part of a Two-Volume set, provides comprehensive information on the latest advances in this important research field. The book showcases how these materials are being used to address environmental challenges and create new and innovative solutions in fields such as packaging, where biopolymers offer biodegradability and reduced environmental impact; in the automotive industry, where lightweight and sustainable materials are much sought after; in construction, where biocomposites find use in structural components; and in biomedical fields, where biopolymers are being explored for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and medical devices.By highlighting these real-world applications, the volume facilitates the reader’s understanding on how these materials are contributing to sustainable development and new innovative emerging technologies. As an accompaniment to its sister volume, which focuses on the preparation, processing, and properties of these materials, the two volumes work together to create a comprehensive picture of new developments in biopolymers and biocomposites.