Böcker utgivna av Mdpi AG

Insects and plants have been interacting for more than 350 million years, often resulting in species variability and radiation. Studying insect-plant chemical and mechanical interactions at different levels can help shed light on the complex factors driving the evolutionarily successful relationship between these two groups. This Special Issue focuses on the chemical and physical interactions between insects and plants to understand the functional significance of plant chemistry, plant surface structures, and their relationships with a broad range of ecological groups of insects, including pollinators, herbivores, and predators. The results of the investigations presented in this Special Issue can help develop effective management strategies to successfully control insect pest infestations or pollination strategies for diverse cropping environments.

A photonics-enhanced information and communication infrastructure will be the key enabler that the future digital society, industry, and economy will rely upon, shared by humans and machines. This infrastructure will be connected to a myriad of connected devices. It will require unprecedented capacity, energy, and cost efficiency and ultrafast responsivity for time-sensitive applications for humans and robots.This reprint covers recent advances and new trends in the research and standardization of optical networks with high impacts on the future digitized society and economy, encompassing all network layers from new optical components to smart network operations. Covered topics include new materials, technologies, and production processes for optical communications devices; high-speed optical transport networks, beyond terabit/s; optical wireless communications; new switching paradigms for flexible capacity scaling, low latency, and time-deterministic networking; virtualized highly flexible network control; integrated fixed-mobile architectures; and convergence of mobile, optical, and cloud computing.

Drones are becoming increasingly popular due to the diffusion of advanced low-cost systems that can be equipped with different sensors: i) GNSS receivers, ii) compact inertial platforms, iii) professional cameras for Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry; iv) light infrared cameras, v) compact LiDARs. In addition, a drone-based survey can be performed by planning the navigation with user-friendly specific apps. Even if in several applications the use of drones is completely standardized, the simplicity and the possibility of greatly automating surveys and data processing in any case require an adequate evaluation of the quality of the results.This reprint collects papers that cover a wide spectrum of applications related to the unconventional surveying using drones in different areas of the world and characterized by multi-source data. In particular, these topics are addressed: surveying with non-optical sensors (acoustic and sonar); use of superficial and underwater drones, including maximization of exchanged information via underwater acoustic communication channel and minimization of collision risk; use of a swarm of drones or one or more drones in an environment where other drones are flying, including maximization of obtained information and minimization of collision risk; use of a drone connected to a vessel equipped with a sonar; solving of issues related to flying in hard environment, in particular turbulent atmosphere and icing; direct georeferencing with different approaches; comparison between open source and commercial SfM packages.

With the development of society, large amounts of solid waste (slag, sludge, tailing, electronic waste, etc.) are generated every year. Each type of waste contains specific metals, such as As, Cr, V, Cu, Pb, and Zn, which are valuable resources and are also harmful to the environment. Recently, problems regarding the environment have increasingly attracted widespread attention. If metals in wastes are not recovered effectively, not only are resources wasted, but the environment is also seriously polluted. The current processes for recovering metals (V, Cr, Ti, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Al, As, Nb, Mg, Au, etc.) from wastes include gravimetric, magnetic, floatation, pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, bioleaching, chlorination, electrolysis methods, etc. To minimize production costs and environmental impacts, it will be more and more necessary to use cleaner and more economical methods to recover metals from wastes. The purpose of this Special Issue is to focus on the current state-of-the-art ideas, methods, technologies, etc., for utilizing waste.

Environmental pollution is one of the most relevant and frequently discussed problems of modern times, given its great impact on life on Earth. Therefore, air quality monitoring is a key aspect in reducing the prevalece of air-associated health diseases. Today, air quality is a fundamental topic in which it has become extremely important to invest. This issue has been accompanied by descriptions of indoor and outdoor monitoring systems, together with critical reviews describing the problems in terms of industrial pollution and their link to human health. This special issue also welcomed papers concerning the effect of air pollutants on patient health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

This reprint delves into the latest research and development endeavors aimed at enhancing the metallurgical, mechanical, tribological, and corrosion performance of cast irons. It contains a review and research papers that cover various topics and demonstrate overall that cast irons are still highly relevant and can be studied in detail to enhance their performance, also taking into account their environmental impact.

This reprint , which is titled "Electrode Materials for Rechargeable Lithium Batteries", focuses on various novel high-performance anode and cathode materials used to develop rechargeable lithium batteries. This reprint's overall focus will range from material design and fabrication technology to scientific understanding and potential/engineering applications.Electrode materials used in advanced lithium-ion batteries, lithium metal batteries, lithium sulfur batteries, and lithium oxygen/air batteries are of particular interest. Special attention is given to the fabrication and synthesis of electrode materials, lithium dendrite growth and inhibition, polysulfide transformation, novel electrode structure design, electrode material failure, lithium storage mechanisms, electrochemical performance optimization, safety assessment and evaluation, advanced characterization techniques, multi-scale computational modeling, etc.

Fruit tree breeding research has primarily focused on the discovery of new economically valuable varieties in order to fulfill different consumer and industrial demands, improving fruit trees' tolerance to environmental challenges, increasing their postharvest life, and developing cost-effective cultural approaches. The breeding of woody fruit trees is restricted by a variety of drawbacks, including long breeding cycles from the seed to fruit-bearing stage, long developmental stages that increase the costs of growing individuals to maturity in the field, and, frequently, severe heterozygosity impeding theoretical breeding methods. The expansion of biotechnology and the increasing prevalence of genomics have created new prospects for countering these limitations in the breeding of major fruit species. This Special Issue is a collection of 11 important research works focusing on commercially important fruit crops, such as apple, peach, pear, kiwi, persimmon, blueberry, and red bayberry. Readers from all over the globe are expected to greatly benefit from this Special Issue.

The dental pulp, surrounded by the barriers of enamel, dentin and cementum, has several functions. It senses thermal and mechanical stimuli, defends against invading microorganisms and supports root development in young patients. Loss of dental pulp due to caries or trauma requires root canal treatment with synthetic materials. Recent advances in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering aim to restore the dentin-pulp complex using stem cells, growth factors and tailored scaffolds to achieve biological regeneration within the root canal. This Special Issue highlights scientific advances in pulp regeneration, bridging the gap between research and clinical application.

The digital economy creates new conditions for creating entrepreneurial solutions. Technology determines the emergence of innovative business models, the existence of which would not be possible without the potential of such technologies. The unlimited ingenuity of contemporary entrepreneurs is currently focused on the search for innovative solutions in the sphere of using the opportunities offered by digital technology. It should be noted that the development of new paradigms in the science of management and economics results from transformations in the global economy, where ideas and concepts arise in various places, often thanks to global access to information and knowledge through technological, Internet-based platforms. This is the most crucial assumption of this Special Issue.

The study of innovative and sustainable technologies for the recovery and reuse of raw materials (RMs) from primary and secondary resources is fundamental for economic and industrial development, in compliance with environmental protection and in the context of a circular economy. Bio/hydrometallurgy consists of leaching and recovery unit operations. Leaching is the solubilization of metals from a solid phase using chemicals or biological agents, whereas recovery is the extraction of metals from polymetallic leachate using physicochemical processes, electrowinning or biological processes. Bio/hydrometallurgical processes are new solutions and represent environmentally sustainable practices, not only in the mining and environmental sectors for the extraction of base, precious and toxic metals and rare earth elements (REE), but also for secondary resource valorization with a high content of critical raw materials (CRMs), which are fundamental in modern technological applications. The economics of the processes, which are closely linked to the choice and optimization of the experimental parameters, are of great importance. For publication in this Special Issue, we have considered those articles that contribute to the improvement of innovative bio- and/or hydrometallurgical processes applied for the recovery of valuable and critical metals.

In modern engineering practice, more different types of concrete structures are used. Current applications in the construction of modern structures, or applications in the strengthening and reinforcement of existing structures, require the analysis of structures of different material properties and shapes exposed to different types of loads such as quasi-static, dynamic, cyclic, impact or seismic. In practice, several experimental tests exist that provide new insights into concrete as a material at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. These results significantly increase knowledge about the behavior of concrete as a material. Such tests are expensive, but their significance lies in the possibility of implementing material behavior in new numerical models. The development of new numerical models can simulate the behavior of concrete as a building material with improved properties due to a new type of aggregate, some chemical composition, etc. Also numerical models can simulate the behavior of concrete structures whose load capacity can be increased form of fastening. This special issue collected and presented experimental results as well as new numerical simulations of the behavior of concrete as a material and concrete structures. A thorough understanding, which processes affect the reduction of strength and the formation of cracks in concrete, is key to the analysis of existing materials and design of improved innovative materials of concrete and concrete structures.

In this age of data-driven transformation, where the fusion of blockchain technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT) is shaping the fabric of our digital society, the need for security and privacy has never been more important. This Special Issue delves into the intricate confluence of these two disruptive forces and provides a comprehensive overview of security and privacy aspects in this regard. This compilation encapsulates the essence of these multi-layered challenges by focusing on protection goals, such as confidentiality, integrity, availability, and privacy. The research articles and literature reviews presented here offer a sophisticated mesh of insights, ranging from complex data-driven applications and smart services to novel approaches that enhance security and privacy in the context of blockchain technologies and the IoT. Innovative solutions are highlighted from various perspectives, and challenges such as secure data transmission, confidential communication, and tamper-proof data storage are explored. In this way, this Special Issue is a beacon for practitioners, researchers, and technology enthusiasts. Developers seeking to harness the potential of blockchain technology and IoT find rich insights while users obtain a comprehensive overview of the latest research and trends. The symphony of interdisciplinary knowledge presented here creates a harmonious blend of theory and practice, highlighting the intricate interdependencies between technological advances and the need for security and privacy.

Technological advances have led to the constant development of new techniques to optimise conventional chemical processing technologies. These efforts are relevant because they have produced a wide range of inorganic materials with new functional properties. One research subject that has garnered increased interest from several groups worldwide during the last three decades is the morphological aspect of powder and particulate materials. As a result, significant efforts have been made to investigate new techniques suitable for processing particles on a nanometric scale. Hydrothermal processing has emerged as a prevalent method for rapidly processing nanostructured particles of multiple inorganic compounds for various technical applications.This Special Issue highlights the cutting-edge strategies conducted by several research groups specialising in hydrothermal processing. These strategies are based on fundamental studies on producing nanoparticles using specific chemical reaction conditions, analysing reactant precursors, process intensification, new particle morphological characterisation techniques, nanofluid functionality, and other topics. This reprint provided relevant information to motivate young researchers to continue developing environmentally friendly hydrothermal processing methods for sustainable materials.

This reprint is a series of articles devoted to advanced applications in fractional calculus, from both analytical and numerical perspectives. The topics covered include symmetry analysis, image enhancements, heat transfer mechanisms, and machine learning.

This Topic, "Sustainability in Buildings: New trends in the management of construction and demolition waste", collected works related to the use of new sustainable building materials, new trends in the recycling of materials for their application in construction, and the application of new techniques and measurement processes that favour the development of sustainable construction.This printed work contains some of the most cutting-edge research carried out by leading international researchers in the field of building engineering. In this way, the work complements the existing literature on construction and demolition waste management from a multidisciplinary perspective, which encourages the exchange of ideas and points of view.

The present reprint contains the 13 articles that were accepted and published in the Special Issue "Fuzzy Sets, Fuzzy Logic and Their Applications, 2021" of the MDPI "Mathematics" journal, which cover a wide range of topics connected to the theory and applications of fuzzy sets and systems, of fuzzy logic and of their extensions/generalizations. The reprint is the third volume of a successful series which started with the Special Issue "Fuzzy Sets, Fuzzy Logic and Their Applications" (2019, 20 papers) and was followed by "Fuzzy Sets, Fuzzy Logic and Their Applications, 2020" (24 papers).

Forest plantations are among the tangible solutions to meet the world's needs for timber and wood products (e.g., timber, firewood, pulp, and paper) and other ecosystem services that are constantly increasing and compensate for the loss of millions of hectares of forests caused by the increase in the severity and frequency of fires, insect attacks, and environmental stresses in humid, arid, and semiarid zones. Faced with these major constraints and challenges in the context of climate change, it is not enough to plant millions of seedlings, but we must ensure the genetic selection of seeds adapted to current and future climates, the morphophysiological quality of seedlings, the quality of sites, and the optimization of cultural as well as sylvicultural practices (e.g., from seeds to sustainable plantations) to achieve the objectives of various programs (reforestation and wood production; restoration of damaged, degraded, or destroyed ecosystems; desert greening; and agroforestry) in terms of survival, growth, and yield. This Special Issue deals with different facets and topics of the seedling production chain in different countries and continents, from growing media to planting performance related to reforestation, restoration, and agroforestry programs.

Solidification is a critical step for many manufacturing processes. The importance comes from the fact that the solidification microstructure has a significant influence on the properties of the solidified materials. The kinetics of solidification also determines the distribution of solute atoms, which eventually leads to micro-segregation, secondary phases, and formation of various defects, which exert enormous influence on mechanical properties. By combining the bedrock computational physics and informatics with systematic experiments and advanced manufacturing, we can reduce the cost, risk, and cycle time for new product development. Numerical simulation of solidification processes can help scientists to gain a better understanding of the kinetics governing the macroscopic as well as microscopic features of the solidification process. From an industrial point of view, solidification modeling enables engineers to predict the properties of the material and subsequently modify the process parameters to produce materials of higher quality. This Special Issue embraced studies on numerical simulation of solidification processes for a variety of applications and processes. In this collection, we present eleven high-quality papers authored by distinguished researchers, encompassing a diverse array of solidification modeling studies. Topics include steel casting and solidification, permeability, segregation, cracking, thermal distortion, dendrite growth, grain morphology, welding, and additive manufacturing.

Discover a compelling Reprint featuring insightful scientific works across various fields centered on the significance of watersheds in shaping global landscapes. This comprehensive reprint presents cutting-edge research, offering valuable resources for researchers, practitioners, educators, and students. Delve into watershed analysis and its interdisciplinary nature, addressing pressing sustainability issues. This reprint welcomed research in fostering knowledge exchange and innovative research, making a lasting impact on scientific advancement and environmental stewardship.

In recent years, cancer immunotherapy has made remarkable progress, revolutionizing cancer treatment. Our Special Issue "Cancer Immunology" in the journal Cancers showcased cutting-edge research and reviews. Building on that success, this new Special Issue explores recent advancements, technologies, and future prospects in cancer immunology, pre-clinical assessments, and clinical trials. While immune checkpoint inhibitors have been transformative, addressing limited response remains crucial. Strategies to overcome resistance, such as combination therapies and targeted pathways, are discussed in the issue. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is an important area of immunotherapy, with exciting findings for enhancing CAR persistence and efficacy. Conventional treatments and monoclonal antibodies also activate immunological mechanisms, boosting cytotoxic efficacy against specific cancers. Identifying biomarkers associated with treatment response is vital for personalized cancer immunotherapy. Potential biomarkers like immune cell densities and estrogen receptor expression are explored in this Issue. The review articles cover advancements in CAR T cell therapy, tumor metabolic alterations, immune suppressive cells, and the role of bacteria in cancer immunotherapy. This Special Issue is a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals, guiding future developments towards more effective and personalized cancer immunotherapies.

It is widely accepted that free-radical-induced oxidative damage is involved with various human diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, neural disorders, diabetes, obesity, and cancers. Therefore, antioxidants can help in disease prevention by effectively quenching free radicals or inhibiting the damage caused by them. It is recognized that the health effects of natural products, including food and herbal medicines, are generally associated with antioxidative activities or the free-radical-scavenging properties of phytochemicals. This Special Issue (SI) brought together the current research concerning phytochemical antioxidants and critical thinking on the role of antioxidants in reducing oxidative stress in various diseases. The SI provided a platform for biochemists, food scientists, and nutritionists to exchange new ideas. It includes 19 original research papers and 4 reviews, and covered in vitro, in vivo, and human-based studies, such as the antioxidative activities of phytochemicals, molecular mechanisms of phytochemical antioxidants in disease prevention, and the role of phytochemicals or antioxidants in signaling, cell metabolism, and chronic diseases. We would like to thank Prof. Stanley Omaye, the Editor-in-Chief of Antioxidants, for offering us this opportunity to publish "Phytochemical Antioxidants and Health". We appreciate the contributions from authors for their significant findings. We also owe our peer reviewers a huge debt of gratitude for their insightful comments, which helped to improve the quality of the manuscripts published in this SI.

Plant-derived volatile agents are important as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals food flavours and fragrances. Because of antimicrobial properties and high volatility, these products have strong potential to be used in novel agricultural, food and pharmaceutical applications. However, lack of knowledge on chemistry and biological activity of their vapours is the main limiting factor for their introduction to the practice. Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is to present the recent advances and developments in the area of antimicrobial activity of plant volatile agents in vapour phase. The issue papers provide information on various aspects of antibacterial/antifungal effects and chemical properties of plant volatiles, with special emphasis on innovative bioassays and modern sampling methods for testing and analysing their vapours. The information in this Special Issue should be useful for medicinal, pharmaceutical, food and agricultural experts working in the areas related to management of infectious diseases, food preservation, and protection of agriculture products. It may also stimulate interest of pharmaceutical, food and agriculture industries in research and development of new antimicrobial agents.

Nanotechnology induced biomedical applications has been marching in the vanguard during the last decade, due to the outstanding properties of emerging 2D materials such as graphene derivatives, other layered nanomaterials, and metallic nanoparticles of gold, silver, copper, etc., providing great achievements and new trends in various fields of science. The present Special Issue highlights some great contributions focusing on the development of bionanocomposites, biomolecules sensors, drug and gene delivery systems, as well as on the evaluation of the antimicrobial property of graphene derivatives and metallic nanoparticles. The goal of this themed collection of articles is to attract the interest of a broad research audience of chemists, biologists, pharmacologists, materials scientists, and researchers in the field of nanomedicine.

This reprint focuses on the theme of sustainable land use decisions from urban to rural contexts, including urban growth and sprawl, spatial allocation of urban green space, urban industrial land transformation in China, sustainable rural land use in the context of rural revitalization, and the ecological effects of land use change. The reprint's interdisciplinary approach and diverse perspectives offer valuable insights into the complex issues of land use and its impacts on the environment and human well-being.¿

Thermal fluid dynamics and their control are critical scientific issues in the field of aerospace, especially for the propulsion system, in which the working medium is the thermal fluids. Flighting higher, faster, and more efficiently has been continuously pursued by humanity, from first to last. Various novel aerospace propulsion systems have been developed in recent years. Thermal fluid dynamics and their efficient control are the key to enhancing the propulsion efficiency, controlling the combustion stability, reducing emissions, and expanding the operating boundaries of the engine. There is an urgent need to develop new thermal fluid theories and technologies, and reveal the coupling mechanisms of multiple physical fields. This reprint addresses the recent advances in thermal fluids, focusing on the shock/vortical flow in the high-speed inlet, flow control in the compressor/turbine, the atomization of liquid fuel and mixing the enhancement method in the combustor, the internal/external flow of the nozzle, as well as heat dissipation, etc.

In recent decades, solid scientific evidence has demonstrated the role of dietary bioactive compounds in the maintenance of health. However, in the last few decades, interest in the nutritional field has expanded further, with researchers seeking novel compounds with the capacity to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases (such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes). Additionally, efforts have been made to potentially alleviate dietary deficiencies (such as a lack of essential minerals). In general, bioactive compounds are non-nutritional components derived from plant sources. In recent years, their consumption has been related to the prevention of multiple pathologies through several mechanisms that include reducing oxidative stress and the inhibition, enzymatic activation, or modulation in the expression of certain genes. Improvements in analytical techniques have allowed the scientific community to identify these compounds in foods in order to elucidate the mechanisms that relate them to health. In this context, this Special Issue of Nutrients, entitled "Emerging Dietary Bioactives in Health and Disease", welcomed original studies as well as review articles examining the impact of bioactive compounds on health and disease. Epidemiological and interventional studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses are welcomed in this effort.

The Special Issue "Shaping Tomorrow's Arctic," explores the past, present, and future of the Arctic. Decisions made now are fundamentally shaping the multiple Arctics of 2050. This collection of research articles, reviews, and commentaries address Arctic futures from local, national, regional, and international perspectives, spanning a wide range of disciplines and including perspectives from Indigenous and early career, as well as senior scholars. Special Issue authors address questions such as: In looking forward, what can we learn from past experiences, as well as from recent responses to change? What steps should we be taking now to lay the foundation for equitable, just and inclusive Arctics? How might futures differ for multiple Arctic populations, economies, cultures, and governance? The resulting scope of "Shaping Tomorrow's Arctic" extends from the need to restructure approaches to societal and economic equity, to ways to build capacity for adaptation, knowledge co-production for resilient futures, and Arctic-global repercussions. The articles present enduring foundations for future research and decision-making that can guide us through this complexity, to think ahead, co-produce approaches, and try to make the better choices-not just for us and now-rather systematically, for the most vulnerable, and into the future. We know our prior paths have led us to the uncertain present and a perilous future. It is time to make intentional choices to shape thriving Arctic futures.

Based on the current status, world-famous prominent teams of researchers and surgeons wrote papers for this topic, in which each is interested. This Special Issue, "Advances in Minimally Invasive Liver Resection for Cancer Therapies", is dedicated to the further steps forward, which should be taken in implementing minimally invasive liver resection as a standard surgical practice of cancer therapy.

Electromagnetic analysis plays a very important role today in the design of electrical and electronic systems. The fields of application of electromagnetism are innumerable and pervasive: energy and signal transmission lines, communications, and high frequency electromagnetic systems, just to name a few. This Special Issue aims to promote cutting-edge research in this direction and offers a timely collection of works to benefit researchers and practitioners.