Bücher veröffentlicht von Mdpi AG

This reprint focuses on the geometrical and spectroscopic features as well as potential applications of halogen, chalcogen, pnictogen, tetrel, and triel bonds in chemical reactions, crystal engineering, molecular recognition, and biological systems. We particularly aim to present studies concerning the bonds formed between some novel important electron donors and acceptors, similarities and differences between these bonds, structures of the complexes composed of these bonds in solution and gas phases, spectroscopic methods for measuring these bonds in solution and gas phases, and applications of these bonds in chemical reactions, crystal engineering, molecular recognition, and biological systems.

The Special Issue "Numerical Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow 2022" contains scientific articles on experiments and simulations of heat transfer in compressible and incompressible fluids, including single- and two-phase flows. The articles present the current state of knowledge, solve scientific and industrial problems, and set directions for future research. The Special Issue is addressed to specialists from around the world dealing with numerical modelling and experiments on heat transfer in flowing fluids.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses chronic idiopathic relapsing and remitting gastrointestinal autoimmune diseases characterized by chronic inflammatory disorders of complex etiology, posing clinical challenges due to their often therapy-refractory nature. The primary disorders within the IBD classification are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), sharing similarities but exhibiting distinct differences, sometimes making their discrimination challenging.A prominent feature of IBD is the inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, characterized by the robust and persistent infiltration of immune cells and compromised intestinal barrier integrity, leading to a phenomenon known as "leaky gut." Inflammation can manifest acutely or chronically, known as relapsing, and can increase in severity over time, thereby causing life-long morbidities and reduced quality of life for affected individuals, underscoring the need for a deeper comprehension of the molecular contributors to disease pathogenesis and progression.

Gesture recognition (GR) aims to interpret human gestures, having an impact on a number of different application fields. This Special Issue is devoted to describing and examining up-to-date technologies to measure gestures, algorithms to interpret data, and applications related to GR. These technologies involve camera-based systems (e.g., ground truth system, GTS; Azura Kinect), wearable sensors (e.g., inertial measurement units, IMUs; micro electro-mechanical systems, MEMS; angular displacement sensors, ADS; resistive flex sensors, RFSs), electromagnetic field measurements (e.g., leap motion sensor), acoustic-based inputs (e.g., microphone, stethoscope), radar systems (e.g., continuous wave), and tactile sensors (e.g., pressure sensitive transistors). Data interpretations are detailed by means of classifiers (e.g., neural networks, NN; convolutional neural network, CNN; hidden Markov models, HMM; and k-nearest neighbors, kNN). The applications are for medical purposes (e.g., to provide physiotherapy solutions, to assess Parkinson's disease, and to electrocardiogram detection), for social inclusion (e.g., sign language recognition: British, American, and Italian ones), for sport activity scoring (e.g., taekwondo), for machine interaction (e.g., to control a holographic display), and for safety purposes (e.g., to drowsiness recognition). This Special Issue is addressed to all the researchers, professionals, and designers interested in GR and to all the users driven by curiosity and passion. The Guest Editors would like to acknowledge and express their gratitude to all of the authors involved.

This Special Issue reprint highlights seventy years since the discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in 1952 by Russian scientists LV Radushkevich and VM Lukyanovich in what was then the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or the USSR. It also reflects the popularization by the well-known Japanese scientist S Iijima, since 1991, of carbon nanostructures, including CNTs, towards nanotechnology as a forever impactful and inspiring field. For researchers, academics, and teachers of all levels, from novice to expert to guru, the articles contained within this Special Issue are themed around sustainability from nanotechnology, pertaining to diameter measurement, rotor system molecular simulation, ultra-high tensile strength, energy, filtration via membrane distillation, environmental remediation using adsorption, ionic liquids as curing agents, biosensors and bioinspired sensors, and electrical/mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites. The CNT is a legacy 1D nanomaterial, only after which was 2D graphene able to emerge.This is a global and mixed-country authorship Special Issue, with this reprint containing articles from Canada, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, Spain, India, Japan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the USA, Germany, Turkiye, and Malaysia. The Guest Editor is from Singapore and began publishing critical work on the CNT-polymer interface towards the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite up to 20 years ago.

The vast number of recently published research papers on computational and numerical methods for solving various structural problems proves that this topic has great potential, and the further advancements that can be accomplished are still numerous.This reprint contains innovative investigations dealing with accurate, reliable, and effective numerical approaches in the field of both structural mechanics and the mechanics of materials.In particular, these studies present a numerical analysis focused on the development of finite-element or finite-element-based methods for novel problems, as well as different computational techniques involving the solution of those problems that require the development of numerical methods to obtain approximate but accurate solutions.In any circumstance, the contributing authors have emphasized the novelty of their approaches, highlighting the improvements with respect to the existing literature. Much attention has also been dedicated to the numerical investigations of advanced and innovative materials, as well as multiscale analyses, employed in many engineering fields, such as civil, mechanical, and aerospace engineering.

Rapid urbanization and industrialization, in addition to the presence of new pollutants, make it necessary to search for new wastewater treatment technologies to achieve future water quality requirements. Additionally, waste reduction and the reuse of treated wastewater seem to be excellent options to realize the concept of a circular economy.This Reprint compiles the latest research on relevant wastewater treatment concerns, including the occurrence of emerging contaminants and their removal in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), novel technologies for wastewater and sludge treatment, sludge valorization, the transformation of agricultural residues into materials for wastewater treatment, biodegradation of recalcitrant compounds, etc.

Lipid-based nanosystems, including solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), cationic lipid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, and liposomes, have been extensively studied to improve drug delivery through different administration routes. The main advantages linked to these systems are the ability to protect, transport, and control the release of lipophilic and hydrophilic molecules (either small molecular weight or macromolecules); the use of generally recognized as safe (GRAS) excipients that minimize the toxicity of the formulations; and the possibility to modulate pharmacokinetics and enable the site-specific delivery of encapsulated payloads. In addition, the versatility of lipid-based nanosystems has been further demonstrated through the delivery of vaccines, protection of cosmetic actives, or improvement in the moisturizing properties of cosmetic formulations. Currently, lipid-based nanosystems are well established, and there are already different commercially approved formulations for different human disorders. This success has actually paved the way to diversifying the pipeline of development, upon addressing unmet medical needs for several indications, such as cancer; neurological disorders; and autoimmune, genetic, and infectious diseases. This Special Issue aims to update readers on the latest research on lipid-based nanosystems, both at the preclinical and clinical levels.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has emerged as a useful tool for optimizing biological treatment in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID). Reactive TDM has rationalized the management of primary non-response and secondary loss of response to biologics, while cumulative evidence suggests that proactive TDM is efficacious for optimizing anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy in patients with IBD. Proactive TDM can be very useful for optimizing biological therapy in specific IBD populations, such as pregnant women as well as patients with perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease and acute severe ulcerative colitis who are characterized by high drug clearance. Preliminary data suggest that proactive TDM may also have a role in de-escalating anti-TNF therapy in patients in clinical remission including stopping the immunomodulator when combined with anti-TNF therapy. However, several knowledge gaps and limitations hinder the wide implementation of TDM in clinical practice, including the optimal drug concentration to target the lag time between sampling and results and the lack of harmonization of TDM assays. Recent advances regarding the role of TDM include the use of rapid point-of-care assays and the incorporation of model-informed precision dosing. The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight the clinical utility of TDM and discuss the barriers and recent advances of TDM of biologics in IBD and other IMID.

Biomedical sensors stand at the forefront of modern medical technologies, serving as indispensable components in diverse instruments and equipment. These sensors unravel the intricacies of biological processes and medical interventions. The recent surge in high-density sensor systems, characterized by arrangements in matrix arrays and other configurations, has ushered in a new era of functional evaluation. This spans electrophysiological activity, the metabolic responses of organs and tissues, and motor control analysis, all enriched with crucial spatial information. Functional mapping, a burgeoning approach in various biomedical techniques such as EEG, EMG, ECG, NIRS, and MEG, is proving to be transformative. Its integration enhances our comprehension of complex biological behaviors, where the precise spatial localization of sensing methodologies becomes paramount. The applications of functional mapping using biomedical sensors extend across multiple fields, including neuroscience, neuromuscular physiology, rehabilitation, and cardiology. Its utility ranges from diagnostic purposes to assessing the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. The primary objective of this reprint was to collect papers that delineate the forefront of techniques, methods, and applications in the realm of biomedical sensors. Additionally, the focus extends to specific algorithms for data processing, ensuring a robust understanding of functional information intricately associated with spatial localization.

In the face of the formidable challenge posed by global climate change, the imperative to transform the building sector into a bastion of sustainable practices has never been more urgent. The Reprint of the Topic "Building Energy and Environment" is a compendium of cutting-edge research and innovative solutions that aims to propel the construction industry towards the goals of "carbon peaking" and "carbon neutrality".

Soilless Culture Systems (SCSs) have expanded globally into protected and open-field horticulture. However, it is crucial to ensure the sustainability of this system in order to address resource challenges, minimize environmental impacts and establish a resilient and efficient agricultural system in the face of global challenges. This Special Issue reprint emphasizes the significance of transitioning to sustainable horticultural practices, outlines the challenges encountered, and presents various strategies to reduce or eliminate the utilization of peat in growing media. Additionally, it introduces cascade systems strategies that include recycling nutrient solutions, minimizing pesticide emissions, and integrating eco-friendly practices. Utilizing microorganisms has been identified as a potential strategy to augment the resilience of plants against the onslaught of pests and diseases. This approach is expected to reduce the utilization of chemicals for the same purpose considerably. This Special Issue reprint significantly contributes to advancing sustainable SCSs and growing media, providing diverse strategies and insights in order to propel its progress as a viable form of sustainable agriculture. It comprises 11 original contributions and an editorial written by 45 authors from 10 different countries. These numbers differ slightly from what was reported in the Editorial, as the Editorial was written before the last article was published.

The effort of the Editors has received global attention. Indebtedness is due to Saha and Asif and coworkers from Canada, Joseph and Mahapatra and coworkers from Poland and India, Ramirez-Montoya and coworkers from Spain and Mexico, Mota-Panizio and coworkers from Portugal and Brazil, Izquierdo and Lopez-Coca and coworkers from Spain, Vinitnantharat and coworkers from Thailand and the UK, Roy and Fini and coworkers from India and the USA, Lawson and Luyima and coworkers from Ghana and South Korea, Fouad El Mansouri and coworkers from Morocco and Spain, and Man Zhang and Yaning Zhang and coworkers from China for the 10 scholarly research papers dealing with the synthesis, characterization, properties, and applications of new carbon materials. The applications are mainly centered around environmental remediation owing to the intensity of the problem and comprise of water decontamination and the removal of heavy metals and organic compounds like tannic acid from contaminated sources. The use of biochar in agriculture for preventing nitrogen leaching for soil has also been included. Unconventional carbon-related materials like rice husk ash and carbon steel slag were also used for exotic applications.

Recent years have seen growing interest in equine lung and heart health, and advances in technology and a focus on equine welfare have driven this research. This Special Issue explores novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, including imaging techniques and lung function testing, immunological features, and immunomodulatory treatments for equine asthma and common racehorse respiratory issues. Moreover, it reports on novel echocardiography data of donkeys. This collection offers valuable insights into equine cardio-respiratory medicine.

The Special Issue entitled "Advances in Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering" is devoted to the publication of the latest research, field works, and laboratory investigations in the area of rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering. This Special Issue has published novel contributions in different areas of geotechnical and geomechanical engineering such as slope and embankment, tunneling and underground space technologies, pile and foundation, rock mechanics and rock blasting, excavation and leveling projects, ground improvement techniques, unsaturated soil, practical issues in soft soil, mining technology, geo-environmental engineering, new laboratory testing, applied geology for construction, and novel geotechnical construction methods. The focus of this reprint is on the development of computational methods for solving problems in the fields of rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in humans today, and the number of people affected by cancer is growing. As a result, the search for new antitumor agents that may be more effective and secure than existing treatments is an ongoing effort. Nature provides a wide range of compounds with a great variety of chemical scaffolds and distinct bioactivity profiles. Indeed, natural products are a rich source of bioactive molecules that, over the years, have found application in the treatment of many diseases, including cancer. Natural products have played an important role in chemotherapy and chemoprevention by providing antitumor drugs such as camptothecin, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, vinblastine, and vincristine, as well as understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying antitumor activity. Significant advances in natural source isolation and extraction techniques have enabled the identification of novel lead compounds as useful starting points for the generation of optimized molecules with enhanced therapeutic potential via semi-synthetic or synthetic processes. The focus of this Topic is on natural substances derived from plants or animals, as well as their synthetic derivatives, which have been investigated for their ability to counteract cancer progression.

This compilation of scientific work delves into innovative wastewater treatment technologies, focusing primarily on the development and optimization of novel catalysts for the effective removal of pollutants. Covering a range of catalysts, including precious metals and nanomaterials, the research offers new insights into cost-effective and efficient pollutant removal methods. Aimed at environmental scientists, engineers, and policymakers, this publication represents a significant contribution from top researchers in the field. It serves as a key resource for those looking to understand and apply the latest advancements in wastewater treatment.

Steroids are a large group of compounds whose structure is based on a 17-carbon skeleton, with a specific cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene ring system. Natural steroids have been fine-tuned through evolution to build membranes; act as chemical messengers that regulate metabolic, immune and reproductive functions in animals and stimulate the growth of, or otherwise protect, animal organisms. The steroid core represents a suitable motive for structural modifications. Therefore, a large group of semi-synthetic steroid derivatives have occupied the attention of synthetic chemists as well as medicinal chemists due to their potential biological activity, including anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and (anti)hormonal activities.This Reprint of the Special Issue of Molecules titled "Steroid Compounds with Potential Biological Activity" is dedicated to both experimental and theoretical studies on steroid chemistry, structural biology, biosynthesis, metabolism, and pharmacology. The Issue focuses on the isolation and synthesis of steroid compounds, diverse in origin, as well as their structural characterization and identification. Published articles and reviews relate to in vitro and in silico studies of the pharmacological properties, molecular biology, biochemistry and structural biology of steroids.

The Special Issue entitled "Advances in Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering" is devoted to the publication of the latest research, field works, and laboratory investigations in the area of rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering. This Special Issue has published novel contributions in different areas of geotechnical and geomechanical engineering such as slope and embankment, tunneling and underground space technologies, pile and foundation, rock mechanics and rock blasting, excavation and leveling projects, ground improvement techniques, unsaturated soil, practical issues in soft soil, mining technology, geo-environmental engineering, new laboratory testing, applied geology for construction, and novel geotechnical construction methods. The focus of this reprint is on the development of computational methods for solving problems in the fields of rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering.

This reprint focuses on the latest advances in the field of the 3Rs, as applied to laboratory animals. The continuous progress in the application of the 3Rs will allow for us to achieve a more humane and equally competitive science, improving animal welfare.

The healthcare system's ability to diagnose and care for people with schizophrenia has improved in recent decades, as effective pharmacological and psychosocial interventions are now available. However, schizophrenia remains a leading cause of disability and premature mortality.The utilization of pharmacological and psychosocial interventions in the healthcare system, which have the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for people with schizophrenia, heavily depends on medical professionals completing accurate and comprehensive assessments of patients' psychopathologies, cognitive profiles, physical health statuses and any environmental factors that may influence them.This Special Issue reprint on schizophrenia, from the Journal of Clinical Medicine, presents a collection of articles on current approaches to assessment and treatment, as well as new findings and future perspectives of schizophrenia research and care.

In this Special Issue, recent advancements in the field of pediatric tumors are discussed, and novel prognostic markers are critically appraised. Greater understanding of the heterogeneity of pediatric cancers will ultimately lead to new therapeutic strategies with the potential to provide new prospects for precision medicine in pediatric oncology.

This Special Issue is a collection of eleven articles (five reviews and six studies) that describe a wide range of approaches to modulating metalloproteinase activity in disease. The techniques described are in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo.

This Special Issue, entitled "Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Ni-Co Laterite Deposits", presents an updated overview of Ni-Co laterites as sources of Ni and Co but also of other metals of interest, such as Sc, PGE or REE. This collection is composed by researchers from different fields. The Special Issue starts with two general descriptions of previously unknown laterite deposits, a clay-type Ni-laterite deposit from Cuba and a magnesium silicate Ni-laterite deposit from the Philippines. It follows with four papers focusing on the occurrence of Co, Sc and other critical metals located in current tropical environments (the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Brazil) as well as non-tropical environments (the Balkan peninsula, Spain and Chile). The three following papers deal with novel techniques or methodologies to improve the characterization of the Ni-laterite profiles, involving the use Al as a Sc proxy, water correction of in situ portable XRF analyses, and the study of hyperspectral data using quadrant scan. The next paper focuses on the silicification commonly observed, yet understudied, in some Ni-laterite profiles using oxygen and silicon isotopes. And finally, the last contribution examines the presence of unusual minerals (diamond, SiC) in Ni-laterite breccias.

Agricultural production management is facing a new era of intelligence and automation. With developments in sensor technologies, the temporal, spectral, and spatial resolution from ground/air/space platforms have been notably improved. Optical sensors play an essential role in agriculture production management. Specifically, monitoring plant health, growth conditions, and insect infestation has traditionally involved extensive fieldwork. We believe that sensors, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are not simply scientific experiments but opportunities to make our agricultural production management more efficient and cost-effective, further contributing to the healthy development of natural-human systems. This reprint compiles the latest research on optical sensors and machine learning in agricultural monitoring, including related topics: Machine learning approaches for crop health, growth, and yield monitoring; Combined multisource/multi-sensor data to improve the crop parameters mapping; Crop-related growth models, artificial intelligence models, algorithms, and precision management; Farmland environmental monitoring and management; Ground, air, and space platforms application in precision agriculture; Development and application of field robotics; High-throughput field information survey; Phenological monitoring.

Zeolites are crystalline aluminosilicates possessing a 3D network structure. They are widely considered to have been the leading materials of the last few decades in the fields of chemical engineering, energy sources, and environmental protection. Zeolites with various pore sizes can be obtained with different ratios of SiO2 and Al2O3, demonstrating large specific areas and strong gas adsorption. Therefore, they are commonly used for various processes, such as dehydration, gas separation and synthesis, air pollution control (H2S, SO2, and NOx decontamination), fuel conversion (electrolyte film), petroleum cracking, and others, playing the roles of a membrane, catalyst, and support.This Special Issue is dedicated to novel research and discussions on zeolites, with a focus on, but not limited to, the following: (1) Fundamental research on mechanisms of the formation of pores for zeolites; (2) Zeolites used as the membrane, catalyst, and support; (3) Theoretical simulation and machine learning research for zeolites; (4) Novel applications for zeolites; (5) Related porous materials

This Special Issue brings together the latest advancements across various facets of viscous and viscoelastic fluid flows. Encompassing a spectrum of contributions, the topics span from innovative numerical methods and sophisticated mathematical modeling to cutting-edge experimental research. In addition to providing insights into the current state of research in these domains, the issue aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of the intricate dynamics and behaviors exhibited by viscous and viscoelastic fluids.

Seismic exploration is a geophysical method with deeper exploration capabilities and higher resolution than potential geophysical methods. It has been widely used in the fields of oil and gas, mineral, and environmental exploration, as well as engineering. This Special Issue provides several advanced methods and technologies for seismic data processing and interpretation, including the following: noise elimination, migration and inversion, passive seismic exploration, a theory for seismic wave propagation, and also Artificial Intelligence technology used in seismic data processing.

Energy crises and environmental pollution are two serious problems facing the development of human society. Photocatalysis is a promising environmentally friendly technology to address the above issues due to its low energy input and carbon footprint. In particular, graphitic carbon nitride, a typical organic-nonmetallic semiconductor photocatalyst, has become a research hotspot due to its unique properties; g-C3N4 is innoxious, inexpensive, easy to synthesize, has an appropriate energy band gap (2.7 eV), and demonstrates outstanding thermal stability and chemical stability. Nevertheless, some inherent scientific factors, such as its small surface area, low utilization of visible light, and fast recombination of electrons and holes, limit its applications in the field of photocatalysis. Among key modification methods, the construction of a heterojunction/homojunction between graphitic carbon nitride and other semiconductor photocatalysts with interleaved energy band positions is an effective approach to improve photocatalytic activity, attributed to the accelerated photon-generated carrier transfer rate. In particular, such S-scheme structures can simultaneously accelerate photon-generated carrier transfer rates and yield higher redox potentials. Therefore, there is an urgent need to design a neoteric g-C3N4-based photocatalytic system that can further promote the development of photocatalysis.

Drought and climate change have decreased water availability for agriculture in arid and semiarid regions, and therefore efficiency enhancements in irrigation water management aimed at conserving water are key to adjust to limits in water supply, as well as improve the profitability and sustainability of agricultural production. Agricultural water management tools and practices that reduce water uses with acceptable impacts on crop production are viable strategies required to cope with diminished water supplies and generate new sources of irrigation water. This Special Issue focuses on "Agricultural Water Conservation: Tools, Strategies, and Practices", which aims to bring together a collection of recent cutting-edge research and advancements in applied agricultural water conservation. It provides a broad overview focusing on irrigation decision support systems, drought management plans, deficit irrigation strategies, soil mulching, surface and subsurface drip irrigation, conservation tillage, and optimal water and fertilizer management practices.