Bücher veröffentlicht von Mdpi AG

The present book contains the 20 articles accepted and published in the Special Issue "Computational Methods and Applications for Numerical Analysis" of the MDPI "Mathematics" journal, which surround the theory, algorithms, programming, software, numerical simulation, and/or novel applications of computational methods to solve problems in engineering, science, and other disciplines related to computations. These topics include finite element methods, finite difference methods, meshless/meshfree methods, physics-informed neural networks, interpolation, approximation, optimization, numerical methods for ordinary/partial differential equations, etc. Their applications include crack propagation, acoustic analysis, elastodynamic analysis, free vibration analysis, structure and topology optimization, fractional equations, eigenvalue problems, inverse problems, etc.Numerical analysis is an increasingly important link between pure mathematics and its application in science and technology. It is hoped that the book will be interesting and useful for those working in the area of numerical analysis, as well as for those with a proper mathematical background and willing to become familiar with novel applications of computational techniques, which have rapidly developed nowadays.

This Special Issue of Buildings, entitled "Tradition and Innovation in Construction Project Management," serves as a platform to showcase cutting-edge international research and development in this important field. The issue aims to explore the interplay between tradition and innovation in construction project management and identify new research studies and practices that harness the potential of digital technologies and drive sustainable development across the sector. This Special Issue comprises 22 publications, consisting of 20 research articles and two review articles. With contributions from 101 co-authors representing 11 countries, this issue offers a global perspective on tradition and innovation in construction project management. We have identified five overarching topic groups: technology, management, outcome, product, and urban cities. This classification aids in organizing the papers and highlighting the main themes explored in this Special Issue.

The ninth national conference on applied geochemistry in China will be held in Chengdu, hosted by the committee of applied geochemistry, Chinese Society for Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry (CSMPG). In order to facilitate the academic exchange on applied geochemistry, this Special Issue is intended for the presentation of new advances and case illustrations in the field of applied geochemistry. The guest editors of this Special Issue are Dr. Gong, a professor from China University of Geosciences (Beijing), and Dr. Shi, a professor from the Chengdu University of Technology. This Special Issue was opened on 27 June 2022 and closed on 1 July 2023. A total 14 scientific papers have been published that capture various hot and challenging issues in applied geochemistry. These articles belong to three broad groups: (i) new advances and case illustrations in resource exploration which focus on exploration techniques in covered areas and anomaly determinations of geochemical survey data; (ii) new advances and case illustrations in environment assessment which focus on heavy metals of soils, soil nutrients assessment and geochemical survey of a top geoherb; and (iii) new advances in the basic theory of geochemistry such as elemental abundances of moon samples, equation of state of fluid mixtures, the formation's dynamic mechanism of a dendrite, provenance indices of geological materials, etc. In which, a promising concept, geochemical gene, was introduced and illustrated in tracing soils and determining geochemical anomalies.

In recent years, peptides generated from various marine organisms have attracted wide attention due to their diverse chemical structures and bioactivities, including antioxidant, immune-modulating, angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory, hypotensive, hypolipidemic, antiviral, cytotoxic, neurotoxic, anticoagulant, antifreeze, etc. Moreover, bioactive peptides can serve as additional functional components used in health foods, nutraceuticals, bio-preservatives, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.The Special Issue on "Marine Bioactive Peptides-Structure, Function, and Application" aimed to collect papers on up-to-date information regarding the preparation, structural identification, activity and functional evaluation, and application of marine bioactive peptides.

Understanding the interconnection between energy, the environment, and the economy is critical in contemporary society. The relationship between energy consumption, economic growth, and the environment has garnered significant attention from researchers and policymakers alike, and understanding the underlying causal connection between energy and the economy is crucial for modeling effective environmental and growth policies. Moreover, the emergence of new energy and environmental policies would create a plethora of further research opportunities in this evolving climate regime. For instance, several countries prioritize projects focused on energy efficiency, as they are considered low-risk, no-regret options that may yield economic benefits. In a nutshell, this Special Issue aims to address a gap in the existing literature by providing an in-depth analysis of the interplay between energy, the environment, and the economy, emphasizing the exploration of the potential environmental impacts of energy consumption and economic growth.

Archaeology, geography, and the Earth sciences are an integrated field devoted to researching nature, the environment, humanity, and the social sciences. Remote sensing systems have been widely applied for data acquisition at various spatial scales. Innovations in image and signal processing, IoT, big data, and deep learning models induce new potentials in the reconstruction and exploration of ancient people's material culture and lives. This Special Issue focuses on applying remote sensing techniques coupled with a data mining method to analyze and discuss humanity-, geography-, and environment-related contexts. The formal integration of archaeology and geography has been conducted over the past twenty or thirty years. In spite of this, continuous innovations, whether in imaging spectroscopy and multimodal imaging or in imaging computing using deep learning models, still motivate scholars to address related issues. The aim of this Special Issue is to compile the latest achievements in the field and to open up a forum where scholars can contribute their unique findings.

This Special issue focuses of the most relevant advances in the field of inborn errors of immunity. Indeed, as immunology is rapidly progressing, with the constant discovery of new disease entities and the better characterization of molecular mechanisms and targeted therapies, a continuous update is mandatory for clinician and researchers. In this Issue, the non-infectious manifestations of inborn errors of immunity (such as autoimmunity, atopy, and lymphoproliferation) are deeply discussed, as well as the impact of the novel genetic sequencing techniques in the diagnostic approach. Moreover, some well-known disorders, including common variable immunodeficiency, are extensively reviewed and revisited in a modern way. Also, diseases of recent description, including some disorders of immune dysregulation and inborn errors of immunity associated with syndromes, are described. Finally, some of the papers of this Special Issue focus in a detailed way the molecular mechanisms leading to immunodeficiency and immune dysregulation, also opening the way for further clinical and preclinical studies.As the expanding availability of immunological and genetic testing offers the opportunity to identify new disease entities and elucidate the function of new genes involved in the development and regulation of the immune response, we aim to present the most relevant innovations in this delicate field.

This Special Issue is a complimentary work of over 70 scholars from various countries, including Poland, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic. The issues analyzed in the 16 articles primarily focus on energy generation in rural areas, particularly in the agricultural sector. They examine specific crops or livestock production and range from case studies of individual countries to the level of the European Union.Published works collectively review the economic and environmental issues of energy generation. These include the potential of agricultural production to serve as a resource for bio-energy generation, the economic and energy efficiency of farms and rural residential housing, and the impact of agricultural production on greenhouse gas emissions. They also explore the possibility for farms to achieve energy self-sufficiency, as well as the progress and gaps in the development of renewable energy generation.

This reprint focuses on recent advancements, technical challenges, and novel design methodologies for the energy manufacturing system, including energy management, green manufacturing, sustainable manufacturing, energy saving in manufacturing systems, the operation and maintenance of power generation, prognostics and health management of power systems, and so on.With the increasing attention paid to sustainable development around the world, improving energy efficiency and applying effective means of energy saving have gradually received worldwide attention. As the largest energy consumers, manufacturing industries also inevitably face pressures on energy optimization evolution from both governments and competitors. The rational optimization of energy consumption in industrial operation activities can significantly improve the sustainability level of an entire company.

The present book contains all of the articles in the second edition of the Special Issue titled "Statistical Data Modeling and Machine Learning with Applications II". This Special Issue belongs to the "Mathematics and Computer Science" Section and aims to publish research on the theory and application of statistical data modeling and machine learning. New mathematical methods and approaches, new algorithms and research frameworks, and their applications aimed at solving diverse and nontrivial practical problems are proposed and developed in this SI. We believe that the chosen papers are attractive and useful to the international scientific community and will contribute to further research in the field of statistical data modeling and machine learning.

Chondrichthyes (sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras) represent one of the oldest and most ecologically various vertebrate lineages. These predators occupy the top of aquatic food webs and play important functional roles in the control of coastal and oceanic ecosystem structure and function; however, nowadays, overfishing and habitat degradation are altering their populations, leading to a worrisome decline in these species worldwide because of their low resilience due to their K-selected life history strategy (e.g., slow growth, late attainment of sexual maturity, long life spans, and low fecundity). Moreover, data on the stock status of this important resource still remain poor or non-existent, which is due to a problematic taxonomy (e.g., misidentification issues).In these regards, collecting information about these species is essential to formulate conservation strategies to preserve this precious marine resource.In this Special Issue, we aimed to expand the knowledge about these important predators. We have collected data from several parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. The main topics presented in this Special Issue are as follows: abundance and distribution of a single species or more, genetic information using different techniques, life histories (e.g., reproduction, age, and growth), demographic analyses, information about stock assessment, aggregative behaviors, and prey discrimination.

Advanced intelligent control is a rapidly developing, complex and challenging field with significant practical importance and potential applications. The authors aim to stimulate advancements in science and technology by addressing this field and presenting new trends in the design, control and applications of real-time intelligent sensor system control using advanced intelligent control methods and techniques. The purpose of the Special Issue is to promote in-depth research and communication regarding these topics. The authors focus on innovative multi-sensor fusion techniques integrated into robots, which are combined with computer vision, virtual and augmented reality (VR&AR) and intelligent communication including remote control, adaptive sensor networks and human-robot (H2R) interaction systems. Special attention is given to advancements in sensors, actuators, computation technology and communication networks that provide the necessary tools for implementing intelligent control hardware. These advancements are targeted toward various scientific research fields, including machine learning (such as deep learning), bio-inspired algorithms, recurrent neural networks, neuro-fuzzy control and artificial intelligence in general. The Special Issue includes original research papers that report on the recent advancements in intelligent control using intelligent sensors. It serves as a further extension of the previously successful Special Issue, "Advanced Intelligent Control through Versatile Intelligent Portable Platforms".

This Special Issue focuses on a variety of nanotechnology platforms, including liposomes, which are used for the delivery of therapeutics and vaccines in order to solve the world's most critical health issues and to support environmental sustainability.

Comparative pathology, translational research, and clinical trials involving domestic animals have the ultimate goal of advancing our medical knowledge of both human and veterinary species. Companion, laboratory (from mouse to non-human primates), and wildlife animals play a pivotal role in our understanding of infectious diseases-particularly those with a zoonotic component. This reprint focuses on fundamental and applied research on the comparative pathology and immunohistochemistry of veterinary species. A total of 11 high-quality papers addressing different areas of pathology have been contributed by 62 authors from seven countries, comprising 9 research articles and 2 communications.

This book is a collection of articles focused on recent research covering a species which is emblematic of scientific and commercial interest-the dromedary.The dromedary economy and its sustainability are of a capital importance for the future development of humanity. This research highlights camel productions systems and rearing practices, camel biodiversity and genetics, camel breeding and feeding, dromedary pathologies, anatomy particularities in dromedary, therapeutic virtues of camel products, as well as the industry's contribution to food security.

This second volume on the subject of intervertebral disc (IVD) regeneration ranges from in vitro IVD cell culture studies on cytokines, such as TGF¿3, GDF5, GDF6, ANG1, and ANG2, to diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) to novel advances in the diagnosis of painful discs in reports using natural language processing (NLP). This diverse issue consists of seven articles that provide a comprehensive overview of recently applied research insights. Three original articles focus on the effects of cytokines in primary cell culture. Then, two original articles report on transcriptomics data, i.e., single-cell RNA-sequencing data of in vivo rat animal models of IVD degeneration, and human prime PCR data comparing trauma versus DISH-IVDs. One original article addresses the correct diagnosis of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) in scoliotic patients, and another original article addresses the usage of NLP to improve the diagnosis of painful IVDs. The Special Issue is concluded with a review on the importance of the relatively recent "hot topic" of extracellular vesicles (EVs) for regenerative purposes in IVDs.

Photonics has emerged as crucial for enabling communication and sensing applications, revolutionizing industries such as data centers, autonomous driving, and 5G/6G networks. This reprint includes thirteen articles showcasing the transformative potential of photonics in supporting emerging technologies. It presents the recent advancements and future challenges in these technologies, focusing on optical performance monitoring, photonic sensors and devices, optical signal processing subsystems, and digital signal processing (DSP) for optical transmission systems. Optical performance monitoring encompasses a self-attention mechanism-based quality-of-transmission estimator for optical networks, optical-label-based monitoring for wavelength division multiplexing networks, and a key distribution scheme for enhanced security. Advancements in photonic devices include optimized silicon nitride waveguides and hybrid phase-change metasurface carpet cloaks for efficient optical signal processing. Moreover, plasmonic sensors that utilize plasmons and alternative materials like aluminum nitride are explored for sensing and detection applications. Optical signal processing subsystems, which feature an enhanced optical analog-to-digital converter, two-tone signal generation, and a programmable photonics spectral processor, as well as DSP techniques for chromatic dispersion estimation, coherent communication, are presented to support reliable optical transmission.

"Multilingualism: Consequences for brain and mind" brings together state-of-the art papers that examine the cognitive and neurological consequences of multilingualism through an exploration of how two or more languages are processed, represented, and/or controlled in one brain/mind.

"Zeolites and Porous Materials: Applications in Catalysis and Adsorption Processes" provides a comprehensive exploration of the remarkable sphere of zeolites and porous materials, and their wide-ranging applications in catalysis and adsorption processes. Written by experts in the field, this Reprint offers a valuable resource for researchers, scientists, engineers, and students seeking to understand the fundamental principles, synthesis methods, characterization techniques, and cutting-edge applications of these materials.In addition to highlighting achievements and breakthroughs, this Special Issue Reprint addresses the current challenges and future directions in the field. It presents innovative strategies to overcome limitations and paves the way for new research and development opportunities. Furthermore, the Reprint emphasizes the significance of sustainability and green chemistry, demonstrating how zeolites and porous materials can contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.Overall, "Zeolites and Porous Materials: Applications in Catalysis and Adsorption Processes" provides an up-to-date examination of zeolites and porous materials. With its diverse perspectives, and its emphasis on cutting-edge applications, this Reprint serves as an invaluable resource for anyone interested in understanding, utilizing, and pushing the boundaries of these exceptional materials.

In total, this Special Issue includes 11 papers. Firstly, Qi et al. conducted research on the large-scale non-uniform parallel solution of the two-dimensional Saint-Venant equations for flood behavior modeling. Zhang et al. proposed an efficient deep learning-based mineral identification method. Subsequently, Huang et al. proposed a named entity recognition method for geological news based on BERT model. Yang et al. proposed an automatic landslide identification method to solve the problem of the time-consuming nature and low efficiency of traditional landslide identification methods. Du et al. analyzed the potential of unsupervised machine learning methods for submarine landslide prediction. Wang et al. performed parallel computations on the inversion algorithm of the two-dimensional ZTEM. Xu et al. used the sliding window method and gray relational analysis to extract features from multi-source real-time monitoring data of landslides. Furthermore, Cao et al. proposed a new method called dual encoder transform (DualET) for the short-term prediction of photovoltaic power. Hao et al. conducted a series of parallel optimizations and large-scale parallel simulations on the high-resolution ocean model. Wang et al. proposed a time series prediction model for landslide displacements using mean-based low-rank autoregressive tensor completion. Finally, Yang et al. developed a measure of site-level gross primary productivity (GPP) using the GeoMAN model.

This Special Issue addresses philosophical questions regarding various non-classical religious beliefs. The contemporary philosophy of religion includes an active and venerable tradition of arguments concerning religious beliefs. While some new approaches address different questions, the vast majority address the belief in and nature of God. Frequently, 'God' is defined as a perfect being: a supernatural being with the greatest powers and qualities (omniscience, omnibenevolence, necessity, omnipresence, etc.) who created the universe. This concept of God is often labeled as 'classical theism.'While defining 'God' as a perfect being is fairly common in Abrahamic religious traditions, it is far less prevalent in non-Western traditions. In Indian religions, Gods are bound by karma and therefore not omnipotent. In Afro-American traditions, vodoun or loa are sometimes regarded as localized and therefore not omni-present. Many adherents of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism also hold beliefs on 'intermediary' supernatural beings that lack perfection, such as angels, demons, and Jinn.This Special Issue contains publications that discuss various topics pertaining to non-classical religious beliefs, including the epistemic features of belief in spirits or demons, belief in angels, belief in animism, process theism, Indian beliefs and practices, Chinese philosophy of religion, Afro-Brazilian practices, and neo-pagan spirituality.

With the development of society and the economy, sustainable structures and construction are becoming increasingly necessary in civil engineering. Sustainability in construction refers to eco-friendly and economical practices that occur throughout the whole life cycle of structures, including their design, construction, service and demolition. Sustainable structures include fabricated and modular structures, structures constructed using bio-based materials, as well as others. Specifically, timber, bamboo and light steel have become increasingly popular building materials. Additionally, wall panels made from eco-friendly materials can be used to reduce buildings' energy consumption and carbon emissions. Sustainable construction necessitates prefabricated construction and the recycling and reuse of materials, structures, etc. Key problems have been proposed and solved in regard to sustainable structures and construction in practice.This Special Issue provides an international forum for the presentation and discussion of the latest developments in sustainable structures and construction in civil engineering.The topics of interest include the modeling, testing and construction of sustainable structures. Original papers focused on all aspects of sustainable structures and construction have been accepted for publication.

Today, spectrometric and spectroscopic techniques are the gold standard for studying food quality and safety. They are ideal and versatile tools in the evaluation of functional components, such as proteins and lipids, as well as key components related to food safety, such as pesticide residues, pollutants, authentication, and illicit adulterants. Spectrometry and spectroscopy are also the cornerstone of many modern biochemical techniques, such as proteomics and metabolomics. This Special Issue, entitled "Recent Advances of Spectrometric and Spectroscopic Techniques in Food Quality and Safety" introduced explorations and advancements in food quality and safety and prospects for future application trends related to spectrometry and spectroscopy.

This reprint focuses on the recent advances in fluid power technology reporting results in a wide range of applications. Studies concerning the developments of pumps both at constant and variable displacement are reported. Analyses are focused on the improvement of efficiency, control, design and pressure ripple reduction.About fluid power, several applications are investigated with the aim of reducing energy losses, in particular implementations in an excavator, a hybrid transmission and a system for agricultural solutions are described. Applications are studied focusing also on the effects of a particular load holding valve, and facing the relevant aspects of the condition monitoring, failure modes and effects analysis.The fluid power covers a very wide range of application as demonstrated by the paper concerning an exoskeleton device.Finally, a particular application concerning a gas pressure regulator with lower noise emission is reported.

This Special Issue covers an important topic that has relevance not only from a scientific point of view but also from nutritional, policy, and industrial perspectives. We are currently being subjected to increasing obesogenic pressures, with sugars being hidden in many foods, creating the perfect environment for the slow but consistent progression of metabolic dysfunction. The consumption and impact of dietary sugars on the gastrointestinal system is discussed, together with the dietary sources of naturally occurring and added sugars, as well as the role of different diets and dietary regimens in preventing post-prandial sugar increases and hyperinsulinemia. The intestinal metabolism of dietary sugars, including the formation and absorption of advanced glycation end products and their impact on gut microbiota, is also considered. In terms of the impact of dietary sugars on other metabolic processes, the increased and sustained consumption of sugars causes long-term alterations in beta-cell function and the hypothalamic pathways controlling energy balance and the development of addictive behaviors, inducing mitochondrial impairment, oxidative stress, and the modulation of inflammatory pathways. Seeking to advance the development of prevention strategies to avoid the negative impact of dietary sugars, we outline the role of exercise in reducing blood markers of glucose dysmetabolism and the importance of preventing excessive sugar consumption in critical phases of development owing to its long-term consequences. Additionally, we discuss pathophysiological processes and mechanisms of disease.

The bioeconomy-using renewable bio-resources from the soil and sea to produce food, materials and energy-supports the achievement of sustainable development goals. Its scope is very broad as it involves primary production sectors (agriculture) and sectors that use these resources (manufacture of food, beverages and tobacco).This Special Issue, "Prospects and Challenges of Bioeconomy Sustainability Assessment", includes an Editorial, thirteen articles, ten reviews and one perspective with international authors. All papers are highly innovative and support the goals of a sustainable world.

This reprint of a Special Issue in the journal Algorithms is dedicated to scheduling algorithms and their various applications. In addition to the Editorial, it contains 12 papers including a survey of assembly and production line design and scheduling under uncertainty. Other topics addressed in this reprint are the energy management of power systems, cost scheduling for financial data supply chains, staff scheduling in the construction industry, various assignment problems, single-lane roundabouts, robotic arm-based batching systems with conveyor belts, as well as single-machine and flow-shop scheduling problems.

The construction industry makes a significant contribution to the global economy. Effective management of construction projects is essential to ensuring timely completion that meets quality standards within a project's prescribed scope and budget. Furthermore, assuring sustainability is crucial to reducing the impact of construction on the environment. The construction industry is also affected by globalization and increasing susceptibility to disasters highlighting the need for health and safety and resilience in the industry, especially after global pandemics and natural disasters. Digitalization and industrialization pave the way to the solution or mitigation of numerous issues in the construction industry by transforming business operations, improving productivity and safety, ensuring quality and compliance to standards, increasing sustainability, among other measures. It is imperative for project managers and other construction stakeholders to be digitally oriented.This reprint comprises of a collection of cutting-edge research articles in construction and project management that explores advances in digital, sustainable, and industrialized construction solutions for prevalent issues in construction and project management and investigates the needs of health and safety and resilience in the construction industry.

The special issue of Crystals entitled "Synthesis, Crystal Structures and Hirshfeld Surface Analysis of Coordination Compounds" (Volume II) resulted in the publication of 13 articles. The chemistry of coordination compounds plays a vital role in various areas of science, including inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, catalysis, materials science, and medicine. The main goal of this edition was the synthesis of new complex compounds with interesting properties. In order to achieve this goal, it was important to know the crystal structure and intermolecular interactions described by Hirshfeld surfaces. The crystal structure analysis plays a crucial role in predicting and correlating material properties and designing new materials. Whereas the Hirshfeld analysis provides valuable insights into the interactions between atoms in a crystal structure. It can be used to quantify and visualize intermolecular contacts, hydrogen bonding patterns, and other types of non-covalent interactions. Additionally, it can also help understand the effects of crystal packing on molecular properties, such as charge transfer, electrostatic interactions, and deformation of electron density. Overall, the chemistry of coordination compounds provides a rich framework for understanding and manipulating the properties and behavior of various substances. Its significance spans across different scientific disciplines, contributing to advancements in technology, medicine, and our understanding of the natural world. I hope, that readers will find interesting articles in this special issue of Crystals.

Integrated crop management involves several eco-friendly measures combined to sustain production. The integration of these management practices leads to improved soil health and crop productivity. However, the benefits of Integrated Crop Management are largely influenced by the environment, soil type and fertility, and crop type. Mono-cropping systems or the use of the same crop rotation have led to reduced soil quality, favoring insect pest infestation and reducing farm profits.This Special Issue focus on the impacts of Integrated Crop Management practices on soil health, crop productivity, and a reduction in the impacts of expected climate change on crop production in a sustainable manner.