Just Published
Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy

Craig Taylor, Mines physics professor and associate director of the Colorado Energy Research Institute, is co-editor of the recently launched Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy. Published by the American Institute of Physics, the online-only journal is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal covering physical science and engineering related to renewable and sustainable energy. As an electronic-only, web-based publication, the journal can be responsive to the rapid developments expected in this field. The interdisciplinary approach of the publication will ensure that the editors draw from researchers worldwide in a diverse range of fields. Topics to be covered include bioenergy—bioreactions and bioengineering; geothermal energy—geysers, heat pumps and novel devices; marine and hydroelectric energy—waves, tides and dams; nuclear energy—fission and fusion; solar energy—photovoltaics and solar thermal converters; wind energy—turbines and electrical systems and controls; energy conversion—solid oxide and proton exchange membrane fuel cells and novel devices; energy-efficient buildings; energy storage; power distribution—conventional and superconducting transmission, fluctuating loads and controls; renewable energy resource assessment; and transportation. The journal is published monthly, although each article will appear online in final citable form as soon as it is available. (http://jrse.aip.org)


A Confluence of Transatlantic Networks: Elites, Capitalism, and Confederate Migration to Brazil

Publishing under the pen name Laura Jarnagin, Laura J. Pang, associate professor of liberal arts and international studies, has published A Confluence of Transatlantic Networks, a study in world history demonstrating how capitalism can be understood by examining the features of its underlying social networks. The book reconstructs social networks whose evolution converged in the 19th century to facilitate postbellum Confederate migration to Brazil. Placing that phenomenon in the context of the Atlantic world sharpens historians’ understanding of such 19th century historical currents as international commerce, liberalism and Protestantism, while offering insight into an obscure migration that appears to be little more than a historical curiosity. (The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, AL, 2008)


Fuel Cell Fundamentals

Ryan O’Hayre ’99, assistant professor of metallurgical and materials engineering, recently published Fuel Cell Fundamentals, 2nd Edition. The book gives undergraduate and beginning-level graduate students an introduction to the science and engineering behind fuel cell technology. Emphasizing foundational scientific principles, the text provides straightforward descriptions of how fuel cells work, why they offer the potential for high efficiency and how their advantages can best be used. Designed to be accessible to beginners, the text is suitable for any engineering or science major with a basic background in calculus, physics and thermodynamics. The textbook is used in Mines’ Fuel Cell Science and Technology course, one of the largest and most popular fuel cell courses in the nation. (John Wiley and Sons, Inc, 2005)


Handbook of Algorithms for Physical Design Automation

The specialized algorithms used in VLSI physical design automation software (very-large-scale design, for chip fabrication) have roots in theoretical computer science and discrete mathematics. The objectives and constraints in physical design automation are tied to the constantly evolving semiconductor fabrication technology. Dinesh Mehta, professor and department head of the Department of Mathematical and Computer Science, recently co-published The Handbook of Algorithms for Physical Design Automation. The text provides an overview of VLSI physical design automation, emphasizing new techniques and improvements that have emerged in the past decade. After a brief introduction to the modern physical design problem, basic algorithmic techniques and partitioning, the book discusses floorplanning, placement, net layout, optimization, special nets and physical synthesis. (Auerbach Publications, 2008)


Computer-Assisted versus Manual Alignment in Total Hip Arthroscopy

Hip replacements have become one of the most successful and cost-effective surgical procedures in medicine. More than 250,000 patients in the U.S. undergo hip replacement surgery annually, a number expected to quadruple over the next 20 years. While most patients enjoy excellent results, a small percentage experience postsurgical problems, including hip dislocation. Anthony Petrella, assistant professor of bioengineering, co-authored a paper entitled “Computer-Assisted versus Manual Alignment in Total Hip Arthroscopy: A Probabilistic Approach to Range of Motion,” which examines the benefits of computerized surgical instruments that help a surgeon position hip implants in the body with greater accuracy. Using specialized statistical methods, their study showed that hip implants positioned with computer assistance gave patients a greater range of motion at the hip and reduced the chances of hip dislocation. Delivered at the Hip Society Meeting, 2008, the paper was published online by the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons 2008. (http://www.clinorthop.org)