Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing: The Human-Data-Technology Nexus

This is an open access book. It gathers the first volume of the proceedings of the 31st edition of the International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing, FAIM 2022, held on June 19 – 23, 2022, in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Covering four thematic areas including Manufacturing Processes, Machine Tools, Manufacturing Systems, and Enabling Technologies, it reports on advanced manufacturing processes, and innovative materials for 3D printing, applications of machine learning, artificial intelligence and mixed reality in various production sectors, as well as important issues in human-robot collaboration, including methods for improving safety. Contributions also cover strategies to improve quality control, supply chain management and training in the manufacturing industry, and methods supporting circular supply chain and sustainable manufacturing. All in all, this book provides academicians, engineers and professionals with extensive information on both scientific and industrial advances in the converging fields of manufacturing, production, and automation

Prospects for Electric Mobility: Systemic, Economic and Environmental Issues

The transport sector, which is currently almost completely based on fossil fuels, is one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Heading towards a more sustainable development of mobility could be possible with more energy efficient automotive technologies such as battery electric vehicles. The number of electric vehicles has been increasing over the last decade, but there are still many challenges that have to be solved in the future. This Special Issue “Prospects for Electric Mobility: Systemic, Economic and Environmental Issues” contributes to the better understanding of the current situation as well as the future prospects and impediments for electro mobility. The published papers range from historical development of electricity use in different transport modes and the recent challenges up to future perspectives

Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing: The Human-Data-Technology Nexus

This is an open access book. It gathers the first volume of the proceedings of the 31st edition of the International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing, FAIM 2022, held on June 19 – 23, 2022, in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Covering four thematic areas including Manufacturing Processes, Machine Tools, Manufacturing Systems, and Enabling Technologies, it reports on advanced manufacturing processes, and innovative materials for 3D printing, applications of machine learning, artificial intelligence and mixed reality in various production sectors, as well as important issues in human-robot collaboration, including methods for improving safety. Contributions also cover strategies to improve quality control, supply chain management and training in the manufacturing industry, and methods supporting circular supply chain and sustainable manufacturing. All in all, this book provides academicians, engineers and professionals with extensive information on both scientific and industrial advances in the converging fields of manufacturing, production, and automation

Hospitalised Saudi problem drinkers: A psychosocial profile

Many characteristics of those entering alcohol treatment in Saudi Arabia remain unknown. Above all, their psychosocial characteristics and their patterns of drinking. In order to provide adequate and effective treatment and prevention intervention, it is necessary, before anything else, to elicit the facts about those with alcohol problems. As part of solving the mystery of alcohol problems in Saudi Arabia, the main objective of this research is to draw a general profile and investigate the patterns of drinking of hospitalised problem drinkers in Saudi Arabia. To achieve this goal, 136 hospitalised patients and 11 therapists were interviewed. The interviewed patients consisted almost entirely of male patients who, at the time of data collection, were hospitalised for having an alcohol problem in four of Saudi Arabia's treatment hospitals (Al-Amal hospitals in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Qaseem). Two instruments were implemented for use with the patients. The first was a comprehensive instrument devised by the researcher to elicit information regarding the psychosocial profile of hospitalised problem drinkers. The second was the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), which was used to identify problem drinking as well the frequency and the quantity of drinking. The therapists, however, were selected from Al-Amal hospital in Riyadh. Unlike the patients' interviews, the therapists' interviews were semi-structured and were aimed at eliciting more information regarding problem drinking and its treatment from the therapist's point of view. The results showed that a typical profile of a hospitalised Saudi problem drinker is that he is most likely to be of younger age (20-35 years old), married, of little education (high school or less), on a low income (less than 3000SR), and unemployed. In addition, if currently or previously employed, the hospitalised Saudi problem drinker is likely to hold an administrative post, live in a city, occupy a house which is owned by others and shared with seven people or more. The parents of a typical hospitalised Saudi problem drinker are most likely not living together, as a result of either separation, divorce or the death of one or both of them. The parents are most likely to be illiterate, and have a history of remarriage. Furthermore, if married or previously married, the hospitalised Saudi problem drinker is most likely to have an uneducated housewife and more than three children. Contrary to the drinking practices in many countries where alcohol is allowed, araq and cologne are the most common types of alcohol consumed by hospitalised problem drinkers. Although it is forbidden, alcohol is easily accessible, especially in the form of cologne. Alcohol drinking mostly takes place in hidden places, at home, in private resorts or outside the city. Many hospitalised problem drinkers restrict the time of their drinking to weekends. Another finding of this research shows that about a quarter of the patients are not really alcohol dependants. Most hospitalised problem drinkers, including those with high alcohol dependence, abstain during the holy month of Ramadan. The majority of hospitalised problem drinkers are smokers (cigarettes and shisha), and users of illegal drugs (hashish is the commonest). The interviews with therapists confirmed many of the research findings produced by investigations of the patients. Also, they provided many suggestions regarding the improvement of treatment and prevention of alcohol problems in Saudi Arabia. The implications of the research findings are discussed in depth in the last chapter