This book reviews the recent scientific developments on mining and metallurgical wastes-based alkali-activated materials (MMWAAMs). Enormous quantities of solid wastes are generated during the exploitation of ore deposits and the subsequent processing for materials, causing serious environmental problems. Alkali activation is one of the robust technologies that converts mining and metallurgical wastes into value-added materials and offers technological solutions for efficient stabilization of toxic components in mining and metallurgical wastes. Herein, this book presents the development of the design, processing routes, and performances of mining and metallurgical waste-based alkali-activated materials. It highlights in detail the relationships between the physicochemical characteristics of the source materials and the properties of synthesized binders. From the durability perspective, both the applicability of testing protocols and degradation mechanisms are also reviewed with significant experimental and modeling work presented. Furthermore, the transformation paths of initially toxic components during alkali activation, partitioning characteristics, as well as the assemblages of solubility-controlling mineral phases are discussed for detailed environmental compatibility evaluation. In addition, applications and perspectives for future directions of mining and metallurgical wastes-based alkali-activated materials are illustrated. By bringing state-of-the-art knowledge, this book appeals to a broad readership, particularly researchers engaged in material and environmental science, mining and metallurgical engineering, and other related fields.

This book gathers the proceedings of the eighth Future of Information and Computing Conference, which was held successfully in virtual mode. It received a total of 369 paper submissions from renowned and budding scholars, academics, and distinguished members of the industry. The topics fanned across various fields involving computing, Internet of Things, data science, and artificial intelligence.

This book covers emerging energy storage technologies and material characterization methods along with various systems and applications in building, power generation systems and thermal management. The authors present options available for reducing the net energy consumption for heating/cooling, improving the thermal properties of the phase change materials and optimization methods for heat storage embedded multi-generation systems.

The book highlights the recent research developments in biocomposite design, mechanical performance and utility. It discusses innovative experimental approaches along with mechanical designs and manufacturing aspects of various fibrous polymer matrix composites and presents examples of the synthesis and development of biocomposites and their applications. It is useful for researchers developing biocomposite materials for biomedical and environmental applications.

The seven volumes LNCS 12249-12255 constitute the refereed proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Computational Science and Its Applications, ICCSA 2020, held in Cagliari, Italy, in July 2020. Due to COVID-19 pandemic the conference was organized in an online event.

This book will provide an introduction to forest entomology, the principles and techniques of forest insect pest management, the different forest insect guilds/feeding groups, and relevant forest insect pest management case studies. In addition to covering 30% of the earth, forest ecosystems provide numerous timber and non-timber products that affect our daily lives and recreational opportunities, habitat for diverse animal communities, watershed protection, play critical roles in the water cycle, and mitigate soil erosion and global warming. In addition to being the most abundant organisms in forest ecosystems, insects perform numerous functions in forests, many of which are beneficial and critical to forest health. Conversely, some insects damage and/or kill trees and reduce the capacity of forests to provide desired ecosystem services. The target audience of this book is upper-level undergraduate and graduate students and professionals interested in forest health and entomology.

This book presents articles from The 16th East Asian-Pacific Conference on Structural Engineering and Construction, 2019, held in Brisbane, Australia. It provides a forum for professional engineers, academics, researchers and contractors to present recent research and developments in structural engineering and construction.​

This book offers a fully illustrated compendium of glossary terms and basic principles in the field of palynology, making it an indispensable tool for all palynologists. It is a revised and extended edition of “Pollen Terminology. An illustrated handbook,” published in 2009. This second edition, titled “Illustrated Pollen Terminology” shares additional insights into new and stunning aspects of palynology. In this context, the general chapters have been critically revised, expanded and restructured.

This book offers a current image of modern mechanics. The book reflects current state of the art in the field of continuum mechanics and mechanics of structures including recent achievements in classic and non-classic approaches. The chapters are written by leading specialist in the field, so the book collects cutting edge investigations in the field. As a target we consider the society starting from beginners, i.e. master and PhD students, and also leaders in the field, that is professors of universities and civil, mechanical and aerospace engineers.

This book focuses on the global quality of the design of systems that people interact with during their work activities and daily lives; a quality that involves the globality of people’s experience – physical, sensory, cognitive and emotional. It presents a concise and structured overview of the ergonomic approach to planning, and of methodological and operational tools from ergonomic research that can more directly and concretely contribute to the design process.