This is volume 2 of Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems, a six-volume compendium of modern astronomical research, covering subjects of key interest to the main fields of contemporary astronomy. This volume on “Astronomical Techniques, Software, and Data” edited by Howard E. Bond presents accessible review chapters on Astronomical Photometry, Astronomical Spectroscopy, Infrared Astronomy Fundamentals, Astronomical Polarimetry: Polarized Views of Stars and Planets, Sky Surveys,Techniques of Radio Astronomy,Radio and Optical Interferometry: Basic Observing Techniques and Data Analysis, Absolute Calibration of Spectrophotometric Standard Stars,Virtual Observatories, Data Mining, and Astroinformatics, Statistical Methods for Astronomy, Numerical Techniques in Astrophysics.

Microscopy plays an integral role in the research and development of new medicines. Pharmaceutical Microscopy describes a wide variety of techniques together with numerous practical applications of importance in drug development. The first section presents general methods and applications with an emphasis on the physical science aspects. Techniques covered include optical crystallography, thermal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry, microspectroscopy (infrared and Raman), and particle size and shape by image analysis. The second section presents applications of these techniques to specific topics of pharmaceutical interest, including studies of polymorphism, particle size and shape analysis, and contaminant identification. Pharmaceutical Microscopy is designed for those scientists who must use these techniques to solve pharmaceutical problems but do not need to become expert microscopists. Consequently, eachsection has exercises designed to teach the reader how to use and apply the techniques in the book. Although the focus is on pharmaceutical development, workers in other fields such as food science and organic chemistry will also benefit from the discussion of techniques and the exercises.

This book explores the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect, which has opened new avenues for the development of advanced luminogenic materials in the aggregate or solid state. By enabling light emission in the practically useful solid state, AIE has the potential to significantly expand the technological applications of luminescent materials.

This book comprises the select peer-reviewed proceedings of the International Conference on Hydro and Renewable Energy (ICHRE 2022). It aims to provide a comprehensive and broad-spectrum picture of the state-of-the-art research and development in the area of renewable energy technologies, grid integration challenges and opportunities, negative emission technologies, role of distributed energy resources in net zero energy carbon systems, role of hydro energy and pumped storage hydro in power sector decarbonization, policies, and regulations in achieving net zero carbon energy systems, among others. This book provides a valuable resource for those in academia and industry working in the fields of renewable energy, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, among others.

This book reviews the recent research achievements of the investigation of interfacial phenomena in polymer/polymer and polymer/metal joint interfaces with the state-of-the-art analytical techniques not previously used in the field of adhesion and bonding. Adhesion performance is determined not only by the two-dimensional interfaces but also by a three-dimensional (3D) region having different properties and structural characteristics that extends into the bulk materials. In this book, the authors also discuss in detail the bonding mechanism by characterizing such 3D regions called “interphase”. The book is of great interest to researchers and engineers devoted to adhesion science and technology.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of piezoelectric sensor devices and instrumentation and their use for chemical and biochemical analysis. Sensors relying on established transducers, such as the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and the surface acoustic wave resonator (SAW) are covered, and novel devices like surface transverse wave (STW) resonators, film bulk acoustic resonators (FBAR) as well as non-piezoelectric devices with mass-sensitive properties are presented. As their name implies, such devices respond directly to mass changes on their surfaces and thus address the most fundamental quality of any analytes.

This book provides new knowledge about the nutrition and metabolism, as well as the roles of nutrients in the immunity, health, and management of companion animals (dogs and cats). The domestic dog (facultative carnivore) and the domestic cat (obligate carnivore) have evolved differentially in their digestive tract, nutrition, metabolism, chemical sensing, and feeding behavior. These animals have been human companions for at least 12,000 and 9,000 years, respectively, and continue to contribute to the mental health and well-being of children, adolescents, and adults. Both dogs and cats have become increasingly popular in many countries and worldwide over the past decades. Comprehensive update about how the animals utilize dietary nutrients for optimum growth, development, and health is beneficial for their owners, as well as students and researchers.