Bücher veröffentlicht von Mdpi AG

The rapid development of polymer science has brought convenience to people's lives. At the same time, more and more waste is produced from the use of polymer products, which causes harm to the environment. In order to protect the living environment, scholars have researched and developed the recycling technology of waste plastics. On the other hand, many contemporary medicines contain polymers as a component, so a detailed study of the decay of such polymers, at least to their exit from the body, is required.

The spreading antibiotic resistance of bacteria is one of the most important challenges of modern medicine, and a search for methods that could replace conventional treatments of bacterial infections is urgently needed. Bacteriophage therapy is considered one of the most important alternatives to commonly applied antibacterial strategies.This Special Issue, titled "Bacteriophage Therapy: Recent Developments and Applications of a Renaissance Weapon", collected eleven articles focused on different aspects of phage therapy. It includes five original articles, two case studies, and four reviews presenting research on the application of phages against pathogens posing a serious threat to human health, such as Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio cholerae, and Staphylococcus aureus. The published articles also relate to the practical aspects of phage application, such as the development of modern phage carriers or the employment of mathematical tools for predicting bacteriophage features and their antibacterial potential. Furthermore, an important research topic discussed in this Special Issue is the application of phages in food safety, where phages could potentially replace routinely used antibacterials.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, and although it is usually considered as a disorder that only affects movement, a broad spectrum of non-motor symptoms (NMSs) can be observed in PD patients. Although the realities of the disease vary enormously from patient to patient, almost all of them have one or more NMS. In fact, a wide range of behavioural, neuropsychiatric, and physical symptoms frequently play a primary role in managing the disorder and constitute a major disease burden for patients and caregivers.The current reprint includes a compilation of published articles about NMSs in Parkinson's disease and potential treatment strategies.

This collection aims to emphasize the ever-changing nature of sport. In doing so, the reader is moved away from the traditional routes of organized and elite sport to consider how sport and other physical activities evolve and shift in response to and in anticipation of broader social changes. Included within are contributions stemming from the idea of "rethinking sport" that address the notion of training as part of cancer treatment, the development of informal and lifestyle sports, parkour activities in James Bond movies, and the phenomenon of Timbersports. This collection has a further specific focus on topics related to "social issues" and how sport may counter or create inequalities. This anthology includes chapters that engage in analyses of several of these topics, such as sexual abuse, drug abuse, health promotion programs, trauma-informed coaching, inclusion and exclusion mechanisms in gym culture, the long-term social impact of sport gentrification, and human rights and racialization in sport. Built on the work of established and emerging scholars, this collection includes research from a variety of disciplines including sociology, sport science, social work, cultural studies, gender studies, and more.

Agriculture is facing the challenge of the transition to sustainability under a changing climatic scenario. Understanding the complexity of the agroecosystems can favor research on innovative agronomic practices to guide this change. The optimization of the spatiotemporal combination among plants in farming systems (crop sequence and intercropping), the exploitation of the different forms of biodiversity at the soil and plant levels, the increase in the use efficiency of native resources (radiation and rainfall, N2, CO2, H2O, etc.), and the reduction in the dependence on external energy input (soil tillage, agrochemicals, and mineral fertilizers) represent the driving force behind this paradigmatic change. This approach will ensure the enhancement of the territorial vocation in productive and qualitative terms, whilst also promoting several ecosystem services from carbon sequestration to landscape ecology. The scientific community is called to take up this challenge. The present reprint is focused on the recent advancements in the broad scientific area of field crops in order to identify strategies and tactics calibrated site-by-site for eco-friendly and efficient agronomic management. This is a reprint of the closed Special Issue "Cropping Systems and Agronomic Management Practices of Field Crops" edited by Prof. Umberto Anastasi and Dr. Aurelio Scavo, which collected 37 research articles and 2 reviews related to the recent advancements in the wide scientific area of field crops.

This Special Issue presents a collection of recent advancements in sediment transport research and hydraulic engineering that contribute to filling the knowledge gap in morphodynamic processes at different scales, with an outlook towards innovative river engineering approaches, monitoring systems, available technologies, and management practices tackling rapidly changing environmental conditions.

Calixarene Complexes: Synthesis, Properties and Applications II. Calixarenes have been largely exploited as ionic and neutral molecule receptors, and present an increasing number of applications in different fields.

Spatial Planning and Land-Use Management play a pivotal role in striking a balance between enhancing the quality of life for communities and addressing environmental protection and natural resource management. Additionally, they facilitate the exploration of alternative land-use scenarios that cater to socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental needs, ensuring the welfare of populations while upholding principles of efficiency, equity, and sustainability. Recognizing the enduring impact of spatial planning and land-use management on the future trajectory of societies, it is imperative to establish optimal systems and tools in the present day. This is particularly crucial in regions poised for swift increases in demand for housing, infrastructure, services, and food. A strategic redirection of measures towards a more inclusive and system-oriented territorial development emerges as a potentially effective approach.The purpose of the Special Issue "Spatial Planning and Land-Use Management" is to highlight the latest advancements in this field. It presents case studies from three continents: Europe, South America, and Asia. The articles can assist policymakers in making well-informed decisions by providing valuable insights that contribute to the formulation of more sustainable land-use practices.

This reprint, based on the Special Issue, provides a general overview of different biosensors, briefly explaining the general approaches to identifying them, their construction, and their performance. A discussion concerning how the required components of biosensors are combined to perform analytical work is presented. Different signal-transducing mechanisms are discussed, particularly those addressing the immobilization of biomolecular components in the vicinity of a transducer interface, and their functional integration with electronic or optical devices.

Grassland ecological management and utilization is a hot topic which attracts grassland scientists around the world, and this reprint focuses on research related to the management and utilization of traditional grasslands, the restoration and management of degraded grasslands, and grassland conservation. This reprint contains empirical studies and systematic reviews regarding grassland effective management and sustainability. It includes the management of grassland species, grassland production, grassland grazing, grassland nutrients, grassland restoration, and other topics. We hope that it will serve as a meaningful resource which provides valuable insights and evidence-based strategies for anyone interested in sustainable grassland management.

Diagnostic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is an indispensable tool for staging and histologic sampling of upper and lower GI lesions, aided by elastography, contrast-enhanced EUS and artificial intelligence in diagnostic EUS.In the early 1990s EUS became interventional and since then the scope and range of EUS-guided interventions has dramatically increased, extending from EUS-assisted rendez-vous ERCP, EUS-guided celiac plexus block/neurolysis and fiducial placement, and EUS-guided biliary and pancreatic drainage-both in regular and altered anatomy-to the treatment of cysts and solid lesions in the pancreas/liver with EUS-guided local therapies (such as the EUS-guided injection of antitumoral agents/immunotherapy or EUS-guided ablative techniques), EUS-guided coiling/glue injection for gastric varices, and EUS-guided drainage of abdominopelvic collections. The introduction of lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMSs) revolutionized the therapeutic capabilities of EUS by allowing the creation of new gastrointestinal anastomoses. This, in turn, made possible interventions that were previously part of the surgical or interventional radiology realm, such as EUS-guided cystogastrostomy (EUS-CG)/endoscopic necrosectomy, EUS-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE), EUS-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GD), EUS-directed transgastric ERCP (EGDE), and EUS-directed transenteric ERCP (EDEE).These and many other tremendous advances, too many to enumerate in a short paragraph, make diagnostic and therapeutic EUS a very exciting field. In this Special Issue, we summarize the current state of the art regarding EUS and EUS-guided therapies.

The reprint "Breast Cancer: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach from Imaging to Therapy" provides a thorough examination of breast cancer management, bridging knowledge gaps and delving into the emotional aspects of diagnosis and treatment. In today's challenging times, a comprehensive approach is essential to maintain a high standard of care. Breast cancer's impact extends beyond individuals, affecting entire communities through social, economic, and psychological consequences. To address these challenges, a multidisciplinary strategy is crucial, integrating human resources and cutting-edge technology for early detection and more effective treatments.This publication features eleven articles covering various topics from early diagnosis to targeted therapies. Firstly, the authors explore the use of magnetic resonance imaging and emerging techniques, assessing their role in the preoperative stage. Then, the implications of radiotherapy and the significance of surgery, especially for specific breast cancer types and high-risk patients, are evaluated. Additionally, the reprint delves into the psychological effects of genetic predisposition, diagnosis, and treatment, considering their impact on social and familial behaviors. These interdisciplinary discussions highlight the need for a holistic understanding of breast cancer, emphasizing collaborative efforts to advance knowledge and enhance patient outcomes.

The collection is comprised of 40 reprinted articles grouped into six sections. Section 1 is concerned with the interface between climate change, water resources and public health. The water-related impacts of climate change on agriculture and, subsequently, on public health are also assessed. Agricultural water management is covered in Section 2. Novel water retention and nutrient management technologies and strategies are introduced. Some articles deal with the water-energy-food nexus: (a) the nexus accessibility and tracking progress towards achieving the sustainable development goals; (b) the interplay of the water-energy security and food consumption patterns towards achieving nutrition security; and (c) gender and other vulnerabilities to water-energy accessibility in rural households. Sustainable flood retention basins and other drainage systems are analyzed and assessed in the third section. Methods to evaluate the risk of dam failure are proposed. The prediction of multiple functions of sustainable flood retention basins under uncertainty via multi-instance, multi-label learning is covered. Section 4 deals with water quality challenges and treatment technologies. The response of eutrophication on nutrients and hydrological regimes is assessed. The collection also deals with activated carbon, pyrolysis and graphene practices in Section 5. Finally, Section 6 covers topical water system modeling challenges such as water pipe leakage control topics.

The collection is comprised of 40 reprinted articles grouped into six sections. Section 1 is concerned with the interface between climate change, water resources and public health. The water-related impacts of climate change on agriculture and, subsequently, on public health are also assessed. Agricultural water management is covered in Section 2. Novel water retention and nutrient management technologies and strategies are introduced. Some articles deal with the water-energy-food nexus: (a) the nexus accessibility and tracking progress towards achieving the sustainable development goals; (b) the interplay of the water-energy security and food consumption patterns towards achieving nutrition security; and (c) gender and other vulnerabilities to water-energy accessibility in rural households. Sustainable flood retention basins and other drainage systems are analyzed and assessed in the third section. Methods to evaluate the risk of dam failure are proposed. The prediction of multiple functions of sustainable flood retention basins under uncertainty via multi-instance, multi-label learning is covered. Section 4 deals with water quality challenges and treatment technologies. The response of eutrophication on nutrients and hydrological regimes is assessed. The collection also deals with activated carbon, pyrolysis and graphene practices in Section 5. Finally, Section 6 covers topical water system modeling challenges such as water pipe leakage control topics.

Climate change is expected to have a wide range of impacts on plant physiology and metabolism, soil fertility and carbon sequestration, and microbial diversity and activity. This imposes direct limitations on plant growth, fertility, and productivity. To promote the sustainability of ecosystems, efforts are needed to enhance our knowledge of molecules that govern key processes that may play a role in stress resilience mechanisms in plants. In this context, this book covers basic and applied innovative research aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with plant responses to abiotic stresses, including drought, cold, heat, high light, and salinity. Taken together, the new information provided in these manuscripts not only increases our understanding of the molecular basis of plants' adaptive responses but also provides key fundamentals for the future successful selection and breeding of tolerant crops.

In the past decade, the rapid increase in the production of fossil energy has been made possible by effective reservoir stimulation and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies for unconventional oil and gas reservoirs. As one of the most important reservoir stimulation technologies, hydraulic fracturing aims to increase the contact area between the target formation and production well. Such stimulation technologies usually involve complex fluid-solid coupling processes, including fracture initiation, fracture propagation, and fracture conductivity, etc. Enhanced oil recovery has been used to solve the problem of oil rate declining sharply after a period of production. In this process, some special chemicals will be injected into the reservoir to increase the recovery effectiveness of the residual oil. EOR processes often involve complex physical-chemical processes, including liquid emulsification, water-rock reactions, etc. Therefore, the progress of reservoir stimulation and EOR technology will contribute to the rapid development of unconventional oil and gas resources. Meanwhile, these technologies are also used in the development of geothermal and coal resources.

Big Data analysis is one of the most contemporary areas of development and research in the present day. Tremendous amounts of data are generated every single day from digital technologies and modern information systems, such as cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Analysis of these enormous amounts of data has become a crucial need and requires a lot of effort in order to extract valuable knowledge for decision-making, which in turn will help both academia and industry.Big Data and Data Science have appeared due to the significant need for generating, storing, organizing, and processing immense amounts of data. Data scientists strive to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) approaches and models to allow computers to detect and identify what the data represents and be able to detect patterns more quickly, efficiently, and reliably than humans.The goal behind this Special Issue is to explore and discuss various principles, tools, and models in the context of Data Science, as well as diverse and varied concepts and techniques in Big Data in Biology, Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, and other areas that work with Big Data.

The Special Issue (SI) titled "Impact of climate warming and disturbances on forest ecosystems" underscores the critical importance of understanding how forests respond to environmental challenges and past management. The rapid pace of climate change is altering disturbance patterns and the adaptability of forests. Some key outputs of this SI include evidence on how climate change is already impacting forest ecosystems. The climatic envelope of many forest species has shifted due to global warming, making species more vulnerable, especially those in lower elevations and those at the edges of their distribution. Urgent adaptive measures in forest management are necessary to address this challenge. Climate change also affects vegetation phenology, tree growth, stand productivity, reproduction rates, and stand regeneration.

The reprint presents scientific papers focused on a wide range of environmental engineering topics, including water and wastewater management, water and sediment pollution control and remediation, waste management, soil degradation, conservation and remediation, landscape management, and climate change and the carbon footprint of construction. This issue provides an integrated view of the trends in environmental engineering and the solutions to the problems associated with achieving sustainability.

Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous, largely age-related group of disorders, characterised by the progressive degeneration or death of neurons in the central or peripheral nervous system. The prevalence of these diseases is increasing, in part due to the ageing of the population, with a consequent growing economic burden on healthcare systems. Although, in some cases, these diseases can be managed with treatments, current therapies are mostly symptomatic, do not address the underlying cause of the disease and have little or no effect on disease progression.This Special Issue aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the progress made in research into neurodegenerative diseases, from understanding the molecular basis, to establishing more effective diagnostic tools, to developing new therapies. Some papers focus on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, motor neuron disease and Huntington's disease. Others address more general aspects of neurodegeneration, ranging from the common mechanisms of cellular damage to the role of dietary effects on the nervous system. Overall, this Special Issue highlights the continuing efforts of the scientific community to unravel the molecular basis of disease onset and progression, to achieve earlier diagnosis, to identify novel therapeutic targets and, ultimately, to develop more effective therapies to counteract the progression of these still fatal diseases.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of nonlinear control systems, this reprint stands as a beacon of knowledge, showcasing the remarkable progress made over the last few decades. With a focus on design methodologies and their applications, this text employs various mathematical tools to address the myriad challenges inherent in nonlinearly controlled systems.This reprint extends its reach beyond traditional boundaries, presenting applications of nonlinear control across diverse fields such as energy, health care, robotics, biology, and big data research. As technology continues to advance, nonlinear control emerges as a critical player in shaping the future of theory and technology adoption across these domains.Despite the wealth of the existing literature, synthesizing control strategies for a broader class of nonlinear systems, especially those integrated with emerging technologies in communication and computation, remains a formidable task. This reprint addresses this gap, providing a cutting-edge collection of articles that push the boundaries of both theoretical background and practical applications. With its emphasis on novel developments and the broader class of applications, this reprint opens doors to new possibilities, making it a must-read for anyone seeking to navigate the intricate challenges of nonlinear control systems in the 21st century.

Biomedical imaging has arguably demonstrated the most rapid advancements in the entire biomedical field in the recent decade. Besides the expansion of established imaging instrumentation into broader applications in tissue, cellular, and molecular diagnostic imaging, there have been substantial modifications in the imaging protocols that have progressed the capabilities of these existing imaging modalities. Technological advancements are stimulating further novel approaches in diagnosis and in the measurement, as well as monitoring, of treatment outcomes. The adaptation of innovations in imaging technologies, methods, and protocols for broader applications is often limited by the inability to share them with investigators outside their original field. Therefore, it is crucial to facilitate the sharing of such advances in biomedical imaging that occur in a particular field with other areas. A broader vision exploring the full potential of an innovation often requires adding a new, perhaps outside, perspective. This Special Issue of Bioengineering aims to serve as a medium for such interdisciplinary exchange and the expansive stimulation of innovative applications, perhaps through facilitating new collaborations between various fields and investigators. Therefore, the next big thing in biomedical imaging may stem from diverse minds finding new ways forward.

This Special Issue aimed to assemble works associated with the different aspects of polymeric composites. This Special Issue is a collection of 13 original papers in the areas of the design, production, and assessment of the properties of new materials.

Wind power took on a leading role as the primary power source during the expected realization of carbon neutrality. Currently, large horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) have become mainstream, progressing toward further increasing their size, which is not easy. For floating offshore wind turbines, vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs), in which the tilt of the axis of rotation is not an issue, could be superior to HAWTs. There has also been a possibility to increase the output power of small VAWTs via proximity arrangement, which could lead to small VAWT wind farms utilizing land more effectively. Furthermore, owing to the inherent characteristics of VAWTs, i.e., no wind direction dependence resulting in a simple structure, low-cost wind power generation equipment can be developed, regardless of the size and application of the VAWT. As we move toward a carbon-free society, it is important to investigate various possibilities of VAWTs. Therefore, this Special Issue collected original papers on various topics related to VAWTs. The collected papers are classified into four groups, including four papers related to the interaction among rotors in wind turbine clusters, four papers related to the optimization of rotor shape/construction (using machine learning, deflection or end plates, and the gap between the main blade and arm), one paper related to the effects of the rotor axis's inclination on the offshore floating VAWT performance, and one paper related to the life cycle assessment. Our aim is for this Special Issue to contribute to the practical application of vertical-axis wind turbines.

We are compiling and publishing a collection of the latest research papers in the fields of Geopolymer and Alkali-Activated Materials (AAM). This compilation includes eight original research and two review papers covering a diverse range of topics, including various raw materials, manufacturing processes, and applications in the realms of Geopolymer and AAM. The publication aims to provide comprehensive information on the raw materials, production methods, and uses within the Geopolymer and AAM.

The safety of engineering structures under natural hazards (e.g., earthquakes, wind, fire and tsunamis) is a subject of great interest to researchers, and is important for protecting human life and reducing economic losses. This reprint focuses on experimental, theoretical, computational and relevant research on advanced methods in the design and disaster mitigation of engineering structures, including the following: analysing and simulating natural hazards; damage assessments of engineering structures under natural hazards; modelling and applications of new construction materials for structural engineering; design methodologies of innovative structural components and systems; advanced testing and modelling technologies; maintenance, repair and retrofit of existing structures; vulnerability, risk and reliability assessments of engineering structures under earthquakes, wind, fire and tsunamis; and advanced methods for the evaluation and design of resistance and resilience features of structural systems.

Exploring the celestial expanse of optimization and its transformative applications, our featured reprint comprises a compilation that delves into the heart of optimization, unraveling the convergence of theory and practice across various domains.

Composting is experiencing a "second youth", and the number of plants, as well as the uses of compost, are increasing exponentially all over the world. This Special Issue is an example of the current leading research related to composting and compost and their key role in the circular bioeconomy. Aspects such as composting process control, organic waste biodegradability and associated impacts in the form of gaseous emissions are examples of this research.

This is a collection of original research articles, reviews, communications, opinions, hypotheses, and concept papers summarizing advances related to the origin of life in various complex chemical and prebiotically feasible environments.

Ultra-Precision Engineering (UPE) is a comprehensive field that concerns the design, manufacture and measurement of ultra-precision components and systems. With the progress of new solutions to UPE, the demand of advanced mechatronic systems with high-performance on freedom, stroke, resolution, accuracy and bandwidth has been continuously increasing. This Special Issue is a collection of 13 excellent research papers published in Actuators, showcasing and discussing new advances in actuators and mechatronic systems for UPE as well as ultra-precision machines.