Bücher veröffentlicht von Mdpi AG

This reprint aims to identify critical areas of water quality assessment, modeling, and mitigation in freshwater bodies, wastewater treatment, and groundwater aquifers, which require special attention. This links the volume to multiple regulatory options, including policy and governance measures, alternative ecosystem service dependence options (i.e., nature-based solutions), or mechanisms that link regions to international processes, like measures proposed under the Environmental Protection guidelines. The reprint will pay special attention to water quality assessment, modeling, and mitigation.

Computer-Aided Ligand- and Structure-based methodologies are an evolving field in the discovery of Marine Drugs. Computational approaches, chemistry simulation methods using bioinformatics and chemoinformatics tools and databases can be successfully used in the discovery, design and development of new chemical agents for therapeutic purposes by assisting in the structure elucidation of secondary metabolites, repurposing known Marine Natural Products (MNPs) for innovative therapeutic targets, identifying novel hits or leads against selected therapeutic targets and revealing mechanisms of action and supporting medicinal chemistry lead optimization programs.This Special Issue of Marine Drugs entitled "Marine Drug Discovery through Computer-Aided Approaches" aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the great variety of existing and advanced Computer-Aided Approaches for the discovery and identification of molecular agents with added value and health-promoting properties for the development of biotechnological and medical applications.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by several Fusarium species-mainly Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, and F. avenaceum-is a devastating disease of wheat which reduces both grain yield and quality. FHB affects the grain protein content by destroying starch granules, storage proteins, and cell walls and consequently decreases the quality of dough properties. It is also associated with mycotoxin contamination and is a significant threat to animal and human health. Furthermore, Fusarium spp. affect plant development and trigger different morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes. Current climate change scenarios predict an increase in the number of epidemics caused by this disease, and many different strategies for disease control are currently being researched. This Special Issue aims to detail the latest achievements regarding Fusarium disease in wheat, including the genetics or physiology of resistance, resistance mechanisms, host-pathogen interactions, and agronomic approaches in the field (fungicidal management, the integration of host resistance and fungicides, and the timing of fungicide application). Original research, reviews, and opinions on recent advances in strategies for the control of Fusarium disease in wheat were also welcome.

The emerging popularity of sustainable, plant-based diets presents new challenges in the delivery of healthy plant-based and functional food to consumers. Recent advances in crop biotechnology and food processing have provided innovative opportunities to enhance the nutritional quality of foods without compromising agronomic attributes such as crop yield. For instance, cereals and legumes with greater resistance to starch amylolysis have been developed and are desirable in mediating blood glucose and improving gut health. Moreover, new functional attributes could minimize the cooking burden commonly associated with whole-grain cereal and legume preparation and improve organoleptic qualities of plant-based foods. Integrated approaches that consider both the development of new raw materials through plant breeding and subsequent processing methodology are essential to develop functional foods and optimize nutrient bioaccessibility and bioavailability. This Special Issue features original research papers that will advance our knowledge and strategies for designing new cereal- and legume-based foods for improving nutrition and health. Special interests include nutritional trait development in crops using recent advances in plant biotechnology and breeding, innovative processing strategies for modulating nutrient bioaccessibility and bioavailability, physicochemical characterization and nutritional evaluation of novel raw ingredients and foods, functional food development, and dietary intervention studies aimed at cereal- or legume-based foods for health.

International logistics networks are in constant change and are facing more and more challenges while trying to cope with increasing dynamics and uncertainties. The more complex and globally distributed the associated value networks become, the greater the impact of uncertainties on the planning and management of logistics networks. Moreover, further trends have been emerging for some time that further influence the design of international logistics networks. Digitalization and technologization in logistics play a major role, as they have a particularly strong influence on the way we will plan, design, and control complex international logistics networks in the future. Additionally, the ever-increasing need for sustainable logistics solutions is also driving developments. Traditional design approaches for international logistics networks are being phased out to test new methods, and the question arises regarding how globally dispersed future logistics networks can and will be in the wake of the megatrends of digitalization and sustainability. To contribute to the necessary discussions ofthese developments, this Special Issue aims to bring together scientific contributions on key topics in international logistics.

In this reprint, we collected 17 high-quality and innovative papers investigating several factors that have contributed to the clinical complexity of COVID-19: from host-pathogen interactions to different clinical manifestations, including the impact on healthcare systems and post-COVID-19 consequences. Moreover, several articles published in this reprint focus on the post-disease and long-term effects of COVID-19, including the quality of life of the hospitalized or non-hospitalized patients, and the physical, psychological, and social effects of the pandemic.

Explore "About an Important Phenomenon-Water Hammer", a groundbreaking Special Issue featuring insights from leading experts. When pressurized pipe flow is disrupted, water hammer-a once overlooked phenomenon-creates waves of importance in engineering, driving a dangerous surge.Dedicated to modeling water hammer and experimental verification, this Special Issue delves into contemporary water hammer discourse, tackling key challenges in fluid dynamics. It intertwines with related phenomena including fluid friction, cavitation, viscoelastic deformations, and fluid-structure interaction. Whether unraveling complexities or developing safeguarding methods, submissions enrich our understanding, enabling us to traverse historical origins, mathematical foundations, and contemporary dimensions. "About an Important Phenomenon-Water Hammer" is more than a publication; it is a platform for sharing insights and innovations shaping the future of fluid dynamics and practical engineering.

Globalization has a dramatic impact on healthcare systems and health outcomes. The effect of globalization on health systems and individuals is complex and has both positive and negative effects. Globalization has shown potential positive impacts by minimizing the gaps in health inequalities between rich and poor people and between the Global South and North and by improving healthcare for all. However, one example of the negative effect on global health is the spread of infectious diseases due to rapid mobility. A changing global healthcare environment requires changes in policy, healthcare institutions, key stakeholders, and digital and measurement tools. The chapters of this edited volume were contributed by established scholars representing diverse disciplines including public policy, public health, epidemiology, nursing, medicine, and other social sciences. This reprint is to be used by academics, policymakers, students in the healthcare field, and other stakeholders to promote research and advocacy for vulnerable communities that have been impacted by globalization in healthcare. It also provides examples of how technology and new tools can assist in the measurement of these phenomena.

This Special Issue includes ten papers by 45 authors, including excellent cutting-edge research from Japan. Looking at the papers reported here, Japan's liquid crystalline research is a global pioneer within this field. It is clear that Japanese liquid crystalline research will further develop in the future.

This Special Issue, titled "Advances in Structure, Function and Molecular Targeting of DNA Topoisomerases", includes reports on new findings and topics of current interest in the topoisomerase field. Topics include structural, biochemical, and pharmacological studies and reviews for both eukaryotic and prokaryotic topoisomerases.

One of the greatest challenges facing agricultural scientists is developing efficient technologies for sustainable and eco-friendly management of crop losses caused by plant pathogens. The effectiveness of microbial biocontrol agents (BCAs) in ensuring food security has garnered global attention, both for halting pre-harvest crop losses and for enhancing crop yields. Harnessing the potential of BCAs could not only aid in the transition to sustainable agriculture, but it would ultimately benefit farmers by reducing the crop loss burden. Considering the recent developments in this area, this volume offers novel insights into the management strategies for major soilborne plant pathogens. Additionally, it explores the biocontrol potential of novel volatile compounds, defense inducers, and genetically engineered strains of BCAs.

References to community interests appear from time to time in scholarly writings in the field of international relations and international law. The concept of community interests refers to interests protected by international law binding either all or a group of states and go beyond the delimitation of a sovereign sphere of influence. In the literature, there are existing examples of research, such as in books and journal articles, that consider the various manifestations of what has been described as "community interests" in many areas regulated by international law, including natural resources, global markets, human rights, and the use of force, and observe how law has evolved from a legal system based on more or less specific consent and aimed at promoting the particular interests of states, to one that is more generally oriented towards collectively protecting common interests and values. However, this topic has not been thoroughly researched, meaning that there is a huge gap in the existing literature, particularly in the context of ocean governance and sustainability. This Special Issue attempts to fill this gap, so as to attract more studies on this important topic in academia.

Non-ferrous metals and alloys are essential resources for the development of modern industries. With the depletion of natural minerals, non-ferrous metal recovery from metallurgical residues attracts researchers from multidisciplinary areas. Ideas for new recovery routes reduce pressure on natural resources and the environment, thus benefiting better manufacturing sustainability. This Special Issue primarily considers papers focused on the theoretical and engineering aspects of processing metal recovery from metallurgical residues.

Several natural processes determine the landscape and its evolution, over relatively short or relatively long periods of time. On the scale of human life, the evolution induced by common erosive-depositional processes or by transgressive-regressive phases can be considered slow compared with catastrophic events (volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis or large mass movements). However, both can produce significant effects on human communities, which then respond, by adapting or migrating, to the natural modifications of the local landscape. Since protohistoric times, however, the increase in planned uses of the environment has resulted in human communities increasingly becoming the protagonists of landscape change. To a greater extent, in the historical period, the landscape has changed; these changes, more or less continuously, have been due to the overlapping of natural and man-induced processes. While, on the one hand, humankind has been and continues to be prone to natural landscape changes, on the other hand, in an attempt to mitigate the risks, they have become an actor in the creation of a new landscape more suitable for their needs. The purpose of this Special Issue (Historical Landscape Evolution) is to highlight the variations of the landscapes produced, in different locations and in defined time intervals and historical contexts, by environment-human interactions, evaluating, where possible, their relative weight and positive and negative effects on both human communities and the natural environment.

Movement disorders represent a heterogeneous field of Neurology that includes a wide variety of diseases. Phenomenologically, such disturbances are classically distinguished into hyperkinetic and hypokinetic disorders. Clinical evaluation is the gold standard for the diagnosis and management of the majority of movement disorders, but diagnostic criteria continue to suffer from a high error rate. Novel technologies could help to enhance the management of the diagnostic and monitoring process. On the therapeutic level, the current treatments are only symptomatic with the main aim of improving patients' quality of life. The present reprint is a collection of high-quality reviews and original articles focused on various aspects of the clinical management of movement disorders, from relevant diagnostic techniques, to disease progression and symptom monitoring tools, to treatment management.

Energy and power are playing an increasingly pivotal role in our modern life and are transforming the way we utilize energy and the way we live. This special issue brought together the latest innovations and knowledge in energy and power engineering such as new and renewable energy, power electronics and electric motor drives, distributed generation and multi-energy systems, data analytics, and artificial intelligence.

In a constantly and rapidly changing world, it is crucial to recognize that school mathematics is framed by social, cultural, and political matters, and does not exist in isolation. This Special Issue investigates how mathematics teacher education can respond to contemporary critical challenges, by working with both prospective and practicing teachers towards cultivating critical awareness, comprehensive content, pedagogical knowledge, and skills that empower them to tackle social, cultural, and political complexities.

This topic reprint "Application of Innovative Power Electronic Technologies" encompasses a diverse range of topics and discoveries that addresses the increasing global demand for energy conversion in the context of sustainable energy, electric vehicles, industrial automation, and smart grids. This reprint brought together a selection of papers that delve into new technologies and practical applications of power electronics, offering insights into the challenges and solutions faced in the design and implementation of advanced energy conversion techniques.

This Special Issue focuses on topics related to spintronic devices, such as spin-based magnetoresistive memories, multiferroic interconnects and sensors, microfluidic solenoid valves, and magnetoelectric antennas with broad practical applications.

The fatigue of metallic materials stands as a pivotal challenge in engineering applications. Exploring the fatigue damage mechanism and fatigue life prediction of metallic materials is of paramount importance. This reprint includes articles that explore relevant topics, and they are intended for academic researchers, engineers, and students seeking a comprehensive understanding of the recent advancements in this field.

Numerous scientific research projects are concerned with improving and protecting the environment. The first steps towards solving the problem of environmental pollution include researching and monitoring the presence and concentration of pollutants, especially heavy metals. It is known from previous studies that fungi bioaccumulate high concentrations of heavy metals, the concentration of which depends, to a greater or lesser extent, on factors such as the species, sampling area, and anatomical parts of the fungus, but also the substrate on which they grow. As the concentration of heavy metals in fungi increases, the importance of fungi as bioindicators of environmental pollution also increases. However, extremely high concentrations of toxic heavy metals in fungi can have negative effects on human health. Constantly monitoring and controlling the levels of metals and metalloids in the human diet is necessary, both in foods of plant and animal origin and in food supplements, or in this case edible mushrooms, whose availability on the market and general popularity are constantly increasing. Therefore, this reprint provides good insights into the development of science and technology in relation to heavy metal concentrations in mushrooms.

The 3rd International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering 2023 (ICAME-23) was organized on 24th August 2023 by the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Capital University of Science and Technology (CUST). All the articles are single-blindfold reviewed. The acceptance rate of the conference was 65%. ICAME is held annually and welcame high-quality theoretical and empirical original research papers, case studies, and review papers from researchers, academicians, professionals, practitioners, and students worldwide. ICAME-23 accepted research papers in the discipline of: Experimental and Computational Fluid Dynamics; Thermodynamics and heat transfer analysis; Machine and Mechanisms; Design and Solid Mechanics; Manufacturing, Production and Industrial Engineering; Engineering and Technology Management; Renewable Energy and Environmental Engineering; Bioengineering; Materials and Failure Analysis; Other Related Fields. The ICAME-23 conference provided a platform for the national and international speakers/participants to present their state-of-the-art research work to diverse audiences from academia and industry. The conference proceedings are published in the Engineering Proceeding of MDPI, Switzerland. All the articles are individually indexed and are citable via Digital Object Identification (DOI).

Manuscripts in this monograph are sorted into five categories: 1. Case Reports: a description of living as a bedridden patient; structured interviews with severely affected ME/CFS patients; how past events contribute to severe ME/CFS; a comparison of moderately ill, severely ill, and very severely ill; case reports of ME/CFS in children. 2. A healthcare provider's view of managing ME/CFS patients. 3. Characterization of the Severely and Very Severely Affected: (1) the most troubling symptoms; (2) disease severity diminishes capacity for exercise, (3) operationalized definitions of the severely ill and very severely ill; (4) the usefulness of a modified Korean Chalder Fatigue Scale Questionnaire; (5) cardiac dimensions and function in patients; (6) an easier tilt test; and (7) review of sleep studies. 4. Progress in Diagnosis and Treatment: (1) objective measures for grading ME/CFS; (2) a sitting tilt test for orthostatic intolerance; (3) the benefits of IVIgG; (4) risks and protective factors in suicidality; (5) malnutrition and overcoming it; (7) partnerships between patients, caregivers, and providers, and the use of technology; (8) a holistic model of care, "Compassion in Practice; and (9) the effects of suffering, utilizing a four-phase model. 5. Impact of the Disease: (1) a historical perspective; (2) the impact of ME/CFS on psychosocial dynamics; (3) the educational needs of school-aged; and (4) the economic impact of ME/CFS

This reprint includes studies on diagnosing, evaluating and managing the pathologies diagnosed during pregnancy. The information provided in these pages is helpful for specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology but also for other medical specialities involved in treating pregnant women with associated pathologies. Studying the articles in the reprint could contribute to improving case management.

The states of bridge structures decline over time due to various degradation processes, such as creep, corrosion, and cyclic loading. During its life cycle, a bridge also faces the great threat of multiple hazards, such as winds, earthquakes, collisions, waves, landslides, and so on. Structural damages in an existing bridge affect operational and structural safety and weaken the sustainability of bridges. Therefore, advanced damage diagnosis techniques and safety assessment methods are strongly required to ensure structural safety and achieve infrastructure sustainability. This Special Issue aims to bring together recent scientific developments in probabilistic hazard analysis, structural exposure models, damage diagnosis methods, testing and measurement techniques, dynamic behavior and protection technology, damage mechanisms, risk assessment framework, and resilience-based approaches. Since we have past one year since this Special Issue opened, thirteen papers have been published, the majority of which focus on the structural safety assessment of bridges under wind, earthquake, collision, wave, etc. The Guest Editors believe that this reprint will provide important theoretical and technical support for bridge damage diagnosis and safety assessment and promote communication and cooperation between design, construction, research, teaching, and production.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a highly prevalent disorder with strong associations with cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, metabolic, and cognitive consequences, including drowsy driving. Positive Airway Pressure treatment is the first-line therapy for adults with obstructive sleep apnea who are symptomatic. However, many individuals with comorbidities do not report symptoms that are associated with the disorder, and adherence to treatment is poor, especially in individuals with cardiovascular diseases. This reprint contains reviews and original articles that aim to update the current perspectives on the treatment modalities of obstructive sleep apnea to highlight multidisciplinary approaches, personalized treatment strategies, and the identification of the predictors of a patient's response to treatment, both in the general population and in clinical cohorts.

In Buddhist monasticism, women are relegated to second rank, mainly for two reasons: first, they do not always have access to the same level of education as their male counterparts and are therefore not credited with the same learning (erudition); second, in some countries, they are excluded from one or all ordination rites. Thus, we have, on the one hand, full-fledged monks, and on the other, female religious practitioners who, in several Asian countries, are not ordained (Burma, Sri Lanka and Thailand) or are only semi-ordained (India, Mongolia, Nepal and Tibet). As for Chinese and Korean monasticisms, there are fully ordained nuns, but they still have to respect traditional norms regarding gender hierarchy. The resulting asymmetry between ordained men and women is a facet of living Buddhism. However, in recent decades, Buddhist nuns are also taking steps to resolve some of the discrimination they face, thereby showing their agency.

Taking into account the increasing general concern related to the necessity of reducing CO2 emissions, a very important aspect of this topic refers to the green energy sector. In this vein, the present Special Issue is focused on the area of Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE). This Special Issue contains valuable works related to ORE.

Geohazards, such as landslides, rock avalanches, debris flow, ground fissures, and ground subsidence, pose a significant threat to people's lives and property. Recently, machine learning (ML) has become the predominant approach in geohazard modeling, offering advantages such as an excellent generalization ability and accurately describing complex and nonlinear behaviors. However, the utilization of advanced algorithms in deep learning remains poorly understood in this field. Additionally, there are fundamental challenges associated with ML modeling, including input variable selection, uncertainty quantification, and hyperparameter tuning. This reprint presents original research exploring new advances and challenges in the application of ML in the spatial-temporal modeling of geohazards. The contributions cover the susceptibility analysis of glacier debris flow and landslides, the displacement prediction of reservoir landslides, slope stability prediction and classification, building resilience evaluation, and the prediction of rainfall-induced landslide warning signals.

Acoustic sensors have been utilized commercially for more than 60 years. Acoustic sensing technologies have been studied extensively and the information, transmission, reception, transformation, processing, and application of acoustic signals have been developed, with acoustic sensors as the central focus. An acoustic sensor is a device that converts a sound wave signal into an electrical signal. This Special Issue on Acoustic Sensors and Their Applications presents original research covering recent advances in all aspects of the design, development, testing, and application of acoustic sensors.