Hao Xu

Framework for scanning modal parameters of bridges from vehicle responses utilizing the Vehicle Scanning Method (VSM) Advanced Vehicle Scanning Method: Bridge Modal Parameter Identification delivers a complete theoretical framework for scanning of the modal parameters (frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes) of bridges from vehicle responses. This book provides comprehensive coverage of the application of the Vehicle Scanning Method (VSM) for different types of bridges, which has the advantage of mobility, economy, and efficiency over the conventional, direct method. Most of the materials presented in each chapter have been published as technical papers in high-ranking international journals, which were subjected to critical reviews. The contents of the book have been arranged such that they are reflective of the progressive advancement of the VSM technique. Edited by a highly qualified team of authors including one of the original developers of the VSM technique, Advanced Vehicle Scanning Method includes information on: The theoretical basis for bridge frequency identification and scanning methods enhanced by software and hardware toolsThe damping formula for determining the bridge damping ratio from the spatial correlation of the front and rear wheels of a two-axle test vehicleThe methods for removing the damping distortion effect on bridge mode shape recovery with no prior knowledge of bridge damping ratiosThe theoretical basis of scanning frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes using VSM for various types of bridges, such as curved bridges and thin-walled girders Advanced Vehicle Scanning Method is an essential reference on the subject for researchers working on bridge dynamics, graduate students in programs of study related to vehicle-bridge interaction, and practicing bridge engineers.

This book discusses effective and alternative uses for natural gas (NG) and highlights the utilization of NG in the field of methane activation and chemical production. It details the techniques used during the reforming process of petrochemical and bio-derived fuels and it presents cutting-edge research that describes the utilization of NG that enables it to be more cost-effective and eliminate the expensive greenhouse gas emitting process of hydrogen production. The book addresses three major topics: NG use in upstream heavy oil and bitumen upgrading, NG and its use in downstream oil refining through co-aromatization of various feeds in the petrochemical industry, and NG use in the upgrading of bio-derived fuels and discusses alternative uses of NG. In-depth chapters demonstrate uses for NG beyond heating homes, through catalysis and in-situ hydrogen donation, and its potential applications for the petrochemical and biofuel industries.

This book discusses effective and alternative uses for natural gas (NG) and highlights the utilization of NG in the field of methane activation and chemical production. It details the techniques used during the reforming process of petrochemical and bio-derived fuels and it presents cutting-edge research that describes the utilization of NG that enables it to be more cost-effective and eliminate the expensive greenhouse gas emitting process of hydrogen production. The book addresses three major topics: NG use in upstream heavy oil and bitumen upgrading, NG and its use in downstream oil refining through co-aromatization of various feeds in the petrochemical industry, and NG use in the upgrading of bio-derived fuels and discusses alternative uses of NG. In-depth chapters demonstrate uses for NG beyond heating homes, through catalysis and in-situ hydrogen donation, and its potential applications for the petrochemical and biofuel industries.

Through a comprehensive sociological examination of foreign language education within Chinese universities, Xu focuses on the intricate dynamics between teaching and research, economic considerations, and individual and community interactions. Through nine qualitative studies, the book explores the underlying structures and processes that shape the experiences of faculty members and the evolution of language education policies. It offers detailed insights into the sociological structures and hierarchies within foreign language education in China’s universities and uncovers how economic motives influence policy development and institutional practices in higher education. The content uses rich, qualitative case studies to provide real-world insights into the lived experiences of faculty members. The book explores the implications of policy and practice through a critical sociological lens, offering a unique viewpoint on language education. This is essential reading for scholars and students of language education and language policy. It will also appeal to policymakers, university administrators, and educators interested in the complexities of foreign language education in China and the broader implications for higher education systems worldwide.

This book provides a detailed study of urban agricultural development. It establishes a comprehensive evaluation system for urban agriculture and accurately grasps the development level and status of urban agriculture, to provide action guidelines for decision-making bodies in urban agriculture. This book is intended for graduate students who are interested in the development of urban agriculture and researchers studying the field of urban agriculture.

This Element aims to elucidate the theories of social cognition and to delineate their implications for the professional development of language teachers in primary and secondary schools. We first explore the concept of social cognition. The three key dimensions, that is, representation of social reality, social cognitive processing, and social mental abilities, of the social cognition theories are further elaborated with examples closely associated with language teaching and teacher development. We continue with more specific issues such as impression, attitude, emotion, and self-efficacy, which arise and develop as language teachers code, store, and retrieve information from social situations. We then discuss how social cognition influences teacher learning and development as observed and promoted within different social realities, and we end this Element with a call for a social-cognitive perspective on understanding language teachers' learning and development situated in diverse and changing contexts in and out of schools.

This Element aims to elucidate the theories of social cognition and to delineate their implications for the professional development of language teachers in primary and secondary schools. We first explore the concept of social cognition. The three key dimensions, that is, representation of social reality, social cognitive processing, and social mental abilities, of the social cognition theories are further elaborated with examples closely associated with language teaching and teacher development. We continue with more specific issues such as impression, attitude, emotion, and self-efficacy, which arise and develop as language teachers code, store, and retrieve information from social situations. We then discuss how social cognition influences teacher learning and development as observed and promoted within different social realities, and we end this Element with a call for a social-cognitive perspective on understanding language teachers' learning and development situated in diverse and changing contexts in and out of schools.

Optimal Networked Control Systems with MATLAB® discusses optimal controller design in discrete time for networked control systems (NCS). The authors apply several powerful modern control techniques in discrete time to the design of intelligent controllers for such NCS. Detailed derivations, rigorous stability proofs, computer simulation examples, and downloadable MATLAB® codes are included for each case.The book begins by providing background on NCS, networked imperfections, dynamical systems, stability theory, and stochastic optimal adaptive controllers in discrete time for linear and nonlinear systems. It lays the foundation for reinforcement learning-based optimal adaptive controller use for finite and infinite horizons. The text then: Introduces quantization effects for linear and nonlinear NCS, describing the design of stochastic adaptive controllers for a class of linear and nonlinear systemsPresents two-player zero-sum game-theoretic formulation for linear systems in input–output form enclosed by a communication networkAddresses the stochastic optimal control of nonlinear NCS by using neuro dynamic programmingExplores stochastic optimal design for nonlinear two-player zero-sum games under communication constraintsTreats an event-sampled distributed NCS to minimize transmission of state and control signals within the feedback loop via the communication networkCovers distributed joint optimal network scheduling and control design for wireless NCS, as well as the effect of network protocols on the wireless NCS controller design An ideal reference for graduate students, university researchers, and practicing engineers, Optimal Networked Control Systems with MATLAB® instills a solid understanding of neural network controllers and how to build them.

Policy-based data management enables the creation of community-specific collections. Every collection is created for a purpose. The purpose defines the set of properties that will be associated with the collection. The properties are enforced by management policies that control the execution of procedures that are applied whenever data are ingested or accessed. The procedures generate state information that defines the outcome of enforcing the management policy. The state information can be queried to validate assessment criteria and verify that the required collection properties have been conserved. The integrated Rule-Oriented Data System implements the data management framework required to support policy-based data management. Policies are turned into computer actionable Rules. Procedures are composed from a microservice-oriented architecture. The result is a highly extensible and tunable system that can enforce management policies, automate administrative tasks, and periodically validate assessment criteria. iRODS 4.0+ represents a major effort to analyze, harden, and package iRODS for sustainability, modularization, security, and testability. This has led to a fairly significant refactorization of much of the underlying codebase. iRODS has been modularized whereby existing iRODS 3.x functionality has been replaced and provided by small, interoperable plugins. The core is designed to be as immutable as possible and serve as a bus for handling the internal logic of the business of iRODS. Seven major interfaces have been exposed by the core and allow extensibility and separation of functionality into plugins.

A trustworthy repository provides assurance in the form of management documents, event logs, and audit trails that digital objects are being managed correctly. The assurance includes plans for the sustainability of the repository, the accession of digital records, the management of technology evolution, and the mitigation of the risk of data loss. A detailed assessment is provided by the ISO-16363:2012 standard, "Space data and information transfer systems—Audit and certification of trustworthy digital repositories." This book examines whether the ISO specification for trustworthiness can be enforced by computer actionable policies. An implementation of the policies is provided and the policies are sorted into categories for procedures to manage externally generated documents, specify repository parameters, specify preservation metadata attributes, specify audit mechanisms for all preservation actions, specify control of preservation operations, and control preservation properties as technology evolves. An application of the resulting procedures is made to enforce trustworthiness within National Science Foundation data management plans.

Optimal Networked Control Systems with MATLAB® discusses optimal controller design in discrete time for networked control systems (NCS). The authors apply several powerful modern control techniques in discrete time to the design of intelligent controllers for such NCS. Detailed derivations, rigorous stability proofs, computer simulation examples, and downloadable MATLAB® codes are included for each case.The book begins by providing background on NCS, networked imperfections, dynamical systems, stability theory, and stochastic optimal adaptive controllers in discrete time for linear and nonlinear systems. It lays the foundation for reinforcement learning-based optimal adaptive controller use for finite and infinite horizons. The text then: Introduces quantization effects for linear and nonlinear NCS, describing the design of stochastic adaptive controllers for a class of linear and nonlinear systemsPresents two-player zero-sum game-theoretic formulation for linear systems in input–output form enclosed by a communication networkAddresses the stochastic optimal control of nonlinear NCS by using neuro dynamic programmingExplores stochastic optimal design for nonlinear two-player zero-sum games under communication constraintsTreats an event-sampled distributed NCS to minimize transmission of state and control signals within the feedback loop via the communication networkCovers distributed joint optimal network scheduling and control design for wireless NCS, as well as the effect of network protocols on the wireless NCS controller designAn ideal reference for graduate students, university researchers, and practicing engineers, Optimal Networked Control Systems with MATLAB® instills a solid understanding of neural network controllers and how to build them.

This book provides a comprehensive review of a new generation of selective oxidation titanosilicate catalysts with the MWW topology (Ti-MWW) based on the research achievements of the past 12 years. It gives an overview of the synthesis, structure modification and catalytic properties of Ti-MWW. Ti-MWW can readily be prepared by means of direct hydrothermal synthesis with crystallization-supporting agents, using dual-structure-directing agents and a dry-gel conversion technique. It also can be post-synthesized through unique reversible structure transformation and liquid-phase isomorphous substitution. The structural conversion of Ti-MWW into the materials usable for processing large molecules is summarized. Taking advantage of the structure diversity of the lamellar precursor of Ti-MWW, it can be fully or partially delaminated, and undergo interlayer silylation to obtain a novel structure with larger porosity. In the selective oxidation (alkene epoxidation and ketone/aldehyde ammoximation) with hydrogen peroxide or organic peroxide as an oxidant, the unique catalytic properties of Ti-MWW are described in comparison to conventional titanosilicates such as TS-1 and Ti-Beta.