Bücher veröffentlicht von Mdpi AG

Microfluidic platforms are increasingly being used for separating a wide variety of particles based on their physical and chemical properties. In the past two decades, many practical applications have been found in chemical and biological sciences, including single cell analysis, clinical diagnostics, regenerative medicine, nanomaterials synthesis, environmental monitoring, etc. In this Special Issue, we invited contributions to report state-of-the-art developments in the fields of micro- and nanofluidic separation, fractionation, sorting, and purification of all classes of particles, including, but not limited to, active devices using electric, magnetic, optical, and acoustic forces; passive devices using geometries and hydrodynamic effects at the micro/nanoscale; confined and open platforms; label-based and label-free technology; and separation of bioparticles (including blood cells), circulating tumor cells, live/dead cells, exosomes, DNA, and non-bioparticles, including polymeric or inorganic micro- and nanoparticles, droplets, bubbles, etc. Practical devices that demonstrate capabilities to solve real-world problems were of particular interest.

This book focuses on fundamental and applied research on polymer processing and its effect on the final surface as the optimization of polymer surface properties results in the unique applicability of these over other materials. The development and testing of the next generation of polymeric and composite materials is of particular interest. Special attention is given to polymer surface modification, external stimuli-responsive surfaces, coatings, adhesion, polymer and composites fatigue analysis, evaluation of the surface quality and microhardness, processing parameter optimization, characterization techniques, among others.

This book attests to the ample research needs and opportunities around migration and health, with a focus on recent as well as earlier migration to Europe. It sheds light on several issues ranging from non-communicable disease epidemiology and health services utilization to aspects of quality of life, and of some methodological challenges. 

Wildfire risk can be perceived as the combination of wildfire hazards (often described by likelihood and intensity) with the susceptibility of people, property, or other valued resources to that hazard. Reflecting the seriousness of wildfire risk to communities around the world, substantial resources are devoted to assessing wildfire hazards and risks. Wildfire hazard and risk assessments are conducted at a wide range of scales, from localized to nationwide, and are often intended to communicate and support decision making about risks, including the prioritization of scarce resources. Improvements in the underlying science of wildfire hazard and risk assessment and in the development, communication, and application of these assessments support effective decisions made on all aspects of societal adaptations to wildfire, including decisions about the prevention, mitigation, and suppression of wildfire risks. To support such efforts, this Special Issue of the journal Fire compiles articles on the understanding, modeling, and addressing of wildfire risks to homes, water resources, firefighters, and landscapes.

This book contains state-of-the-art experimental and numerical studies showing the most recent advancements in the field of rotary wing aerodynamics and aeroelasticity, with particular application to the rotorcraft and wind energy research fields.

The detection and quantification of with high precision nucleic acid biomarkers and protein biomarkers in resource-limited settings is key to the early diagnosis of diseases and for monitoring the effects of treatments. As there is an enormous demand for high-quality biomarker detection platforms that are robust and highly applicable in resource-limited settings, this book is devoted to exploring methods for detection and quantification of biomarkers, focusing on the recent advances in this field.

This reprint reports advances in the topic of Deep Eutectic Solvents regarding their use as green alternatives in different chemical applications. Studies on the extraction/preconcentration processes of pharmacologically relevant molecules, structural spectroscopic studies, and application in gas purification studies are reported. Two relevant reviews are also published in the context of carbon dioxide conversion and their use in the chemistry of transformations. This reprint therefore aims to summarize some of the pertinent issues in DES chemistry through relevant literature references.

This Special Issue draws attention to religious transformations currently emerging in the Middle East that diverge from the dominating rhetoric surrounding ''radicalization'', ''political Islam'', or the ''Islamic awakening''. Particularly after the Arab uprisings, other currents seem to be coming more to the fore that need careful examination, such as the contemporary realities of religious ambivalence, religious doubts, disengagement from religious movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood, the search for alternative forms of spirituality or individualized piety, de-veiling, and different forms of non-conformism, free thinking, non-belief, and atheism. Accordingly, the contributions to this Special Issue provide highly relevant insights into several contemporary debates that are crucial in the social sciences and religious studies. This includes processes of individualization; the study of everyday lived (non-)religion; the anthropology of doubt, ambivalence, and ambiguity; and, last but not least, the deconstruction of the religious-secular divide, a divide that is seen as almost impenetrable according to many actors in the Middle East. This Special Issue consists of a cross-section of current works in social science, religious studies, and related fields on Islam/religion and non-religion in the Middle East. The articles present case studies from different countries in the Middle East, with examples from Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, and Syria, as well as studies on diaspora and social media.

In the field of magnetic sensing, a wide variety of different magnetometer and gradiometer sensor types, as well as the corresponding read-out concepts, are available. Well-established sensor concepts such as Hall sensors and magnetoresistive sensors based on giant magnetoresistances (and many more) have been researched for decades. The development of these types of sensors has reached maturity in many aspects (e.g., performance metrics, reliability, and physical understanding), and these types of sensors are established in a large variety of industrial applications. Magnetic sensors based on the magnetoelectric effect are a relatively new type of magnetic sensor. The potential of magnetoelectric sensors has not yet been fully investigated. Especially in biomedical applications, magnetoelectric sensors show several advantages compared to other concepts for their ability, for example, to operate in magnetically unshielded environments and the absence of required cooling or heating systems. In recent years, research has focused on understanding the different aspects influencing the performance of magnetoelectric sensors. At Kiel University, Germany, the Collaborative Research Center 1261 "Magnetoelectric Sensors: From Composite Materials to Biomagnetic Diagnostics", funded by the German Research Foundation, has dedicated its work to establishing a fundamental understanding of magnetoelectric sensors and their performance parameters, pushing the performance of magnetoelectric sensors to the limits and establishing full magnetoelectric sensor systems in biological and clinical practice.

Cement and lime currently are the most common binders in building materials. However, alternative materials and methods are needed to overcome the functional limitations and environmental footprint of conventional products. This Special Issue dedicated to "New frontiers in cementitious and lime-based materials and composites" gathers selected reviews and experimental articles that showcase the most recent trends in this multidisciplinary field. Authoritative contributions from all around the world provide important insights into all areas of research related to cementitious and lime-based materials and composites, spanning from structural engineering to geotechnics, including materials science and processing technology. This Topical Collection is intended to foster innovation and help researchers and developers to identify new solutions for a more sustainable and functional built environment.

Games are a natural activity-we all know how to play. Perhaps this is the key feature that explains the increase in the use of game-based learning (GBL) strategies: Applying games to education converts education into a universal activity. Over the last ten years, the way in which education and training is delivered has considerably changed, not only due to a new technologic environment-plenty of social networks, MOOCs, etc.-but also because of the appearance of new methodologies. Such new methodologies are shifting the center of gravity: from the teacher to the student, with the aim of awakening relational aspects, as well as promoting imagination and divergent thinking. One new approach that holds considerable promise for helping to engage learners is, indeed, game-based learning (GBL). However, while a growing number of institutions are beginning to see the validity of GBL, there are still many challenges to overcome before this type of learning can become widespread.In this Special Issue, we want to gather several studies and experiences in GBL to be shared with other teachers and researchers.

All articles in the presented collection are high-quality examples of both basic and applied research. The publications collectively refer to apples, bananas, cherries, kiwi fruit, mango, grapes, green bean pods, pomegranates, sweet pepper, sweet potato tubers and tomato and are aimed at improving the postharvest quality and storage extension of fresh produce. The experimental works include the following postharvest treatments: 1-methylcycloprpene, methyl jasmonate, immersion in edible coatings (aloe, chitosan, plant extracts, nanoemulsions, ethanol, ascorbic acid and essential oils solutions), heat treatments, packaging, innovative packaging materials, low temperature, low O2 and high CO2 modified atmosphere, and non-destructible technique development to measure soluble solids with infra- and near infra-red spectroscopy. Preharvest treatments were also included, such as chitosan application, fruit kept on the vine, and cultivation under far-red light. Quality assessment was dependent on species, treatment and storage conditions in each case and included evaluation of color, bruising, water loss, organoleptic estimation and texture changes in addition to changes in the concentrations of sugars, organic acids, amino acids, fatty acids, carotenoids, tocopherols, phytosterols, phenolic compounds and aroma volatiles. Gene transcription related to ethylene biosynthesis, modification of cell wall components, synthesis of aroma compounds and lipid metabolism were also the focus of some of the articles.

This book examines the state of the art of biosorption as an economical and environmentally friendly technique for pollutant removal in wastewater. Several articles are included that develop the applications of biosorption showing the high efficiency and versatility of this process, as well as showing recent advances in this field. Different modalities of biosorption are demonstrated from free biomass to immobilized biomass, as well as the combination of biomass with modern materials to form composites, emphasizing the significant versatility of this technique. In addition, different examples with biomasses of very different natures are also included and discussed, as are the factors that influence biosorption processes. Other contributions offer some examples of apparently useless materials that are reused and applied in the elimination of pollutants. Therefore, this book is an excellent complement for those researchers who work on biosorption as well as a starting point for those who want to begin research on this topic.

Thermoelectricity is a well-known phenomenon that enables the conversion of heat into electric energy without moving parts. Its exploitation has been widely considered to contribute to the increasing need for energy along with the concerns about the environmental impact of traditional fossil energy sources. In the last few years, significant improvements in the performance of thermoelectric materials have been achieved through chemical doping, solid solution formation, and nanoengineering approaches. Furthermore, the feasibility of flexible, stretchable, and conformable thermoelectric harvesters has been demonstrated and has attracted the interest of an audience from many different fields. However, the path for practical applications of thermoelectrics is still a long one. This Special Issue of Materials intends to bridge the gap between materials science and applications of thermoelectric materials. Many topics are welcome: new thermoelectric compounds; the correlation between material structure and thermoelectric properties; bulk thermoelectric ceramics, oxides, and chalcogenides; bulk thermoelectric alloys and intermetallics; organic and polymeric thermoelectrics; thermoelectric thin films, multilayers, and nanocomposites; theory and modeling; thermal transport and thermal conductivity; applications and devices based on thermoelectric materials; standardization and metrology; and more.

Pancreatic neoplasms include different pathological entities with variable biological behavior and different treatment modalities. Surgery and adjuvant therapy are the cornerstones of the therapeutic approach; however, even after radical resection, the majority of patients experience disease recurrence and the prognosis of pancreatic cancer remains dismal.  A multimodal therapeutic approach, based on a combination of neoadjuvant therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery, appears fundamental to improving the outcomes. This Special Issue of the Journal of Clinical Medicine, entitled "Recent Advances in Pancreatic Neoplasms", focuses on possible new strategies to treat pancreatic neoplasms.

Mobile mapping is applied widely in society, for example, in asset management, fleet management, construction planning, road safety, and maintenance optimization. Yet, further advances in these technologies are called for. Advances can be radical, such as changes to the prevailing paradigms in mobile mapping, or incremental, such as the state-of-the-art mobile mapping methods. With current multi-sensor systems in mobile mapping, laser-scanned data are often registered in point clouds with the aid of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) positioning or simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) techniques and then labeled and colored with the aid of machine learning methods and digital camera data. These multi-sensor platforms are beginning to undergo further advancements via the addition of multi-spectral and other sensors and via the development of machine learning techniques used in processing this multi-modal data. Embedded systems and minimalistic system designs are also attracting attention, from both academic and commercial perspectives.This book contains the accepted publications of the Special Issue ''Advances in Mobile Mapping Technologies'' of the Remote Sensing journal. It consists of works introducing a new mobile mapping dataset (''Paris CARLA 3D''), system calibration studies, SLAM topics, and multiple deep learning works for asset detection. We, the Guest Editors, Ville Lehtola from University of Twente, Netherlands, Andreas Nüchter from University of Würzburg, Germany, and François Goulette from Mines Paris- PSL University, France, wish to thank all the authors who contributed to this collection.

The book entitled "Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry" focuses on functionalized natural/synthetic polymeric materials and their preparation, characterization, and multidimensional applications. This book extensively appraises the research papers on the latest developments of the functionalized natural/synthetic polymers, such as the effect of functionalized polymeric additives on the degradation of aliphatic polyesters, development of nanoparticle functionalized bio-based or composite polymeric structures, water or wastewater purification, natural fibers or clay-based hybrid polymers and their applications, environmental remediation of antibiotics and dyes using polymer-based nanofibers, bio-based polymeric conjugate for the synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles and their catalytic degradation of ecological pollutant, polymeric-grafted membranes based on ethyl cellulose for gas separation, and polyamide-laccase nanofiber membranes for the degradation of organic and antibiotics from water. Additionally, the book envisages the reviews on recent developments in the techniques and visualization of biopolymer structures and their derivatives and fabrication and characterization of polymeric nanofibers via multidimensional electrospinning techniques and their appliances in environmental pollutant removal.

This Special Issue consists of selected papers from the Experimental Stress Analysis 2020 conference. Experimental Stress Analysis 2020 was organized with the support of the Czech Society for Mechanics, Expert Group of Experimental Mechanics, and was, for this particular year, held online in 19-22 October 2020. The objectives of the conference included identification of current situation, sharing professional experience and knowledge, discussing new theoretical and practical findings, and the establishment and strengthening of relationships between universities, companies, and scientists from the field of experimental mechanics in mechanical and civil engineering. The topics of the conference were focused on experimental research on materials and structures subjected to mechanical, thermal-mechanical, and dynamic loading, including damage, fatigue, and fracture analyses. The selected papers deal with top-level contemporary phenomena, such as modern durable materials, numerical modeling and simulations, and innovative non-destructive materials'' testing.

Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness has been a successful Special Issue, which addressed novel topics in any subject related to sports medicine, physical fitness, and human movement. The article collection was able to positively evaluate three systematic reviews, nineteen original articles, and one brief report. These encompassed a broad range of topics ranging from accident kinematics, soccer monitoring, children''s physical evaluation, adapted physical activity, physical evaluation for people with intellectual disabilities, performance analysis in rowers, ultramarathon racers, karateka''s, rugby players, volleyball and basketball players, and cross-fit athletes, and also aspects related to biomechanics, fatigue and injury prevention in racing motorcycle riders, gymnasts, and cyclists.These scientific contributions within the field of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness broaden the understanding of specific aspects of each analyzed discipline.It has been a pleasure for the Editorial Team to have served the International Journal Of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental chronic disorder which etiology seems the result of complex interactions between multiple factors, including genetic, biological, and environmental influences. Treatment research has proved that the combination of both medication with behavioral therapy can improve ADHD symptoms; Moreover, recent studies suggest the need for new approaches aimed at the underlying triggers of this complex disorder (such as stress, poor sleep or certain dietary plans), on the basis that making adequate lifestyle changes to minimize these triggers could contribute to better control ADHD symptoms. In this context, studies addressing the efficacy of nutrition on the developmental course of ADHD observe that deficiencies in certain types of foods can worse the symptoms of attention deficit, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, while adequate dietary plans could optimize brain functions. Nevertheless, the specific causal pathways of the dietary styles adjuvant for medication and psychotherapies contributing to prevent/reduce ADHD symptoms are largely unknown, as well as the long-term effects.This book includes evidence of the potential contribution of the nutrition styles on the treatment outcomes of individuals with ADHD and other frequent mental-psychiatric disorders across development, and the underlying mechanisms explaining the direct and mediational effects. The contents of this book could contribute to the elaboration of guidelines/recommendations for improving caring capacity of healthcare practitioners and family caregiverss.

The main goal of this Special Issue was to contribute to, highlight and discuss topics related to various aspects of two-phase gas-liquid flows, which can be used both in fundamental sciences and practical applications, and we believe that this main goal was successfully achieved. This Special Issue received studies from Russia, China, Thailand, ROC-Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. We were very grateful to see that all the papers presented findings characterized as unconventional, innovative, and methodologically new. We hope that the readers of the journal Water can enjoy and learn about the experimental and numerical study of two-phase flows from the published material, and share these results with the scientific community, policymakers and stakeholders. Last but not least, we would like to thank Ms. Aroa Wang, Assistant Editor at MDPI, for her dedication and willingness to publish this Special Issue. She is a major supporter of the Special Issues, and we are indebted to her.

This volume includes 12 chapters of pilgrim studies on European pilgrimages in the Catholic tradition in multidisciplinary perspectives. The contributions'' methodological perspectives range from quantitative approaches of social science to qualitative approaches of the humanities, from religious studies to political science, and from philosophy to geography. The themes of this contribution reflect on the Italian landscape of pilgrimage, on the Oberammergau passion play, on the pilgrim aspect of the 1989 revolution in Romania, and two types of pilgrimage in the Catholic tradition and how they present themselves on the internet. Three social science chapters provide new data and analysis to the most popular pilgrim destination in Europe: The Ways of St. James to Santiago de Compostela. Five studies discuss papal pilgrims and pilgrim popes. The chapters range from a historical analysis of the pilgrimage from Mexico to Rome in the 19th century and a quantitative analysis of all papal addresses in Fatima in the 20th and 21st centuries, from two chapters on the most influential pilgrim pope, John Paul II, to his homeland Poland, and to an analysis of the Vatican''s virtual approach to pilgrimage.

This book highlights novel nano-engineering advances that enable enhanced bone formation at the implant/biomaterial and bone tissue interface, towards bone tissue engineering applications. Spanning a variety of biomaterial categories, from nanofibrous scaffolds (natural and synthetic) to the nanoscale modification of metallic implants, novel bioactive and therapeutic modifications have made it possible to enhance new bone formation, which could be particularly useful for the management of compromised sites.