Contemporary Research in Engineering, Energy and Applied Sciences

Editors Mohamed Thariq Hameed Sultan, Tai Jan Lean, Navaneetha Krishna Chandran

Contemporary Research in Engineering, Energy and Applied Sciences brings together ten scholarly chapters that reflect the breadth, urgency, and practical orientation of current research across engineering, energy systems, materials, manufacturing, the environment, computing, and health-related applied sciences. Published by Universiti Putra Malaysia Press in 2026, the book positions contemporary research as a bridge between scientific inquiry and real-world problem-solving, especially in areas linked to sustainability, technological resilience, resource efficiency, and societal well-being. The volume opens with a systematic review of machine learning-based energy management systems for mitigating reverse power flow in grid-interconnected photovoltaic and battery energy storage networks. It then moves to sustainable infrastructure by reviewing recycled concrete aggregate and HDPE-modified asphalt mixtures, with emphasis on rutting and moisture resistance in hot-dry climates. Waste valorisation is further explored through the treatment and application of waste oil in ammonium nitrate-based explosives. At the same time, another chapter examines the search for optimal protein sources by comparing sourcing methods, bioavailability, and green extraction efficiency. Environmental monitoring is addressed through a systematic review of forest vegetation dynamics in Pakistan using satellite remote sensing. The book also examines industrial sustainability through turbine component refurbishment in thermal power plants, highlighting the shift from degradation to restoration. Digital and intelligent systems are represented through FPGA-based neuromorphic cores for edge AI, followed by a review of Lean Six Sigma and Industry 4.0 integration in electronic manufacturing services. Energy efficiency in agro-industrial processing is explored through the optimisation of steam utilisation in palm oil mills via exhaust steam reconditioning. The final chapter extends the scope of applied sciences to clinical microbiology by examining characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates. Collectively, the book demonstrates how contemporary engineering and applied science research is increasingly interdisciplinary, evidence-based and solution-driven. It is suitable for researchers, postgraduate students, engineers, industry practitioners, policymakers and academic institutions seeking insight into emerging technologies, sustainable systems, circular resource use and applied research methodologies. More importantly, it highlights how scientific knowledge can support innovation, improve operational efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen future-ready technological development across industry, academia, and society.

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