Bøger udgivet af Mdpi AG

Three-dimensionally printed composites offer the opportunity for the rapid manufacture of complex components with bespoke material architectures that can be designed to prioritise performance in specific regions whilst focusing on weight savings elsewhere. Recent research in this field has demonstrated tremendous progress in overcoming some of the technical challenges associated with creating continuous fibre composites using additive manufacturing, and new-to-market commercial printers offer the promise of broader adoption of these materials. Some of the remaining key challenges limiting widespread use are an understanding of the key mechanisms of failure and how these materials perform over the long term in a wide range of environments. This Special Issue features articles showcasing the latest research in the additive manufacture of polymer composites.

The reprint Advanced Concrete and Construction Materials offers a comprehensive exploration of cutting-edge research and critical insights into the dynamic field of construction materials and structural engineering. This meticulously curated volume delves beyond the traditional perceptions of concrete, examining transformative microstructures and alternative binders, which hold immense potential for revolutionizing construction practices and reducing the carbon footprint of concrete.Comprising ten diverse studies, the reprint tackles pivotal sustainability, durability, and innovation issues within the construction industry. From enhancing the strength and durability of fly ash aggregate concrete with nanosilica to exploring the utilization of waste tires for reinforcing concrete columns, each contribution offers valuable insights and showcases innovative approaches. Additionally, the reprint delves into numerical modeling techniques for specialized cementitious composites and evaluates the viability of utilizing water-treatment sludge as a sustainable alternative to clay in fired clay bricks.A valuable resource for academic professionals and researchers, this collection underscores the significance of advancing construction materials. By providing a platform for groundbreaking research and critical reviews, it encourages scholars to contribute to the ongoing discourse, thereby shaping the future of construction.

The primary objective of this reprint is to present creative academic papers focusing on antennas for various communication system applications. In an era where high-speed internet connections serve as vital conduits connecting multiple devices, user demands escalate due to technological advancements in wireless communication systems. Numerous studies have concentrated on improving microwave and radio frequency (RF) components, especially antenna systems, considered the foundation of wireless systems. Advanced communication antenna technology has significantly progressed in recent years, enhancing communication quality in home and business applications.

Justus Freiherr (Baron) von Liebig (born 12 May 1803 - died 18 April 1873) was a renowned German chemist who made significant contributions to inorganic, organic, and agricultural chemistry. Liebig's work at the University of Giessen in Germany led to the development of modern teaching methods based on experimental laboratory-oriented work. This earned him recognition as one of the "greatest chemistry teachers of all time". He is often referred to as the "father of the fertilizer industry" from his seminal contributions on nitrogen and trace minerals as essential plant nutrients.Through these contributions and more, Liebig helped shape the field of inorganic, organic, food, and agricultural chemistry. Thus, it is more than deserved that a Special Issue of Chemistry was dedicated in 2023 to commemorate 150 Years of Justus von Liebig's Legacy. We are happy that 21 colleagues and their coworkers from all areas of chemistry accepted our invitation and contributed to this Special Issue of Chemistry in 2023. Their contributions are now also collected in this Special Issue reprint.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) was one of the first tumors in which the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis were investigated and confirmed. We now recognize that tumors appearing identical under microscopic examination exhibit molecular differences, and this explains the diverse patient outcomes commonly encountered in clinical practice. Despite their similar appearance, cancers are inherently distinct. However, even in the era of molecular medicine and targeted therapies, the majority of patients with metastatic CRC ultimately succumb to the disease, experiencing a diminished quality of life and a significant number of years of potential life lost. This is especially true as younger individuals increasingly fall victim to this illness. Much remains to be understood regarding the mechanisms contributing to the carcinogenesis and temporal evolution of CRC. This Special Issue is dedicated to recent research exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying CRC, encompassing multi-omics analyses and environmental interactions with diagnostic, prognostic, or predictive value. A fascinating world is open to research, and we hope to shed further light on the biology of this common yet still lethal tumor. We are delighted to embark on this journey with our colleagues, as today's scientific progress relies on collaboration between clinicians and basic scientists. We hope you enjoy this Special Issue.

The near-Earth space debris environment represents an existing hazard for human activities in space. The increasing number of man-made objects resident in orbit leads to a growing risk of collisions involving active spacecraft, which could cause anything from the loss of important functionalities to vehicle break-up and, in parallel, the fragmentation of satellites that are no longer operational. The scientific community worries that such a process may lead to large fragmentation events and a cascade effect that may prevent safe access to, and the exploitation of, entire orbital regions.Addressing the space debris problem and finding potential mitigation solutions is a challenge that requires the collaboration of all involved stakeholders. In this Special Issue, three of the main investigative lines concerning space debris are presented: (1) understanding the physical processes behind in-orbit fragmentation; (2) assessing the in-orbit population of space debris; and (3) developing mitigation strategies and enabling technologies that are used to remove end-of-life satellites.

With the advancement of Earth observation techniques, vast amounts of high-resolution remote sensing data are continually captured, proving instrumental in fields such as geography, environmental monitoring, disaster management, and more. However, challenges such as data volume, complex structures, limited labeled samples, and non-convex optimization persist in processing and analyzing remote sensing data. Computational intelligence techniques, inspired by biological intelligence systems, offer potential solutions to these challenges. Computational intelligence (CI) is the theory, design, and application of biologically and linguistically motivated computational paradigms. Traditionally centered around neural networks, fuzzy systems, and evolutionary computation, CI has expanded to include various nature-inspired computing paradigms. These paradigms encompass ambient intelligence, artificial life, cultural learning, artificial endocrine networks, social reasoning, and artificial hormone networks. CI plays a vital role in developing intelligent systems, including games and cognitive developmental systems. Recent years have seen a surge in deep learning research, with deep convolutional neural networks becoming a core method in artificial intelligence. Many successful AI systems today are based on CI, and it is anticipated that CI will provide effective solutions to challenges in remote sensing in the future.

With the advancement of Earth observation techniques, vast amounts of high-resolution remote sensing data are continually captured, proving instrumental in fields such as geography, environmental monitoring, disaster management, and more. However, challenges such as data volume, complex structures, limited labeled samples, and non-convex optimization persist in processing and analyzing remote sensing data. Computational intelligence techniques, inspired by biological intelligence systems, offer potential solutions to these challenges. Computational intelligence (CI) is the theory, design, and application of biologically and linguistically motivated computational paradigms. Traditionally centered around neural networks, fuzzy systems, and evolutionary computation, CI has expanded to include various nature-inspired computing paradigms. These paradigms encompass ambient intelligence, artificial life, cultural learning, artificial endocrine networks, social reasoning, and artificial hormone networks. CI plays a vital role in developing intelligent systems, including games and cognitive developmental systems. Recent years have seen a surge in deep learning research, with deep convolutional neural networks becoming a core method in artificial intelligence. Many successful AI systems today are based on CI, and it is anticipated that CI will provide effective solutions to challenges in remote sensing in the future.

Essential oils (EOs) are some of the most important natural products due to their various biological applications. In fact, many EOs explain crucial antimicrobial activities against several phyto-, food, and human diseases; hence, they are considered possible alternatives to synthetic drugs. The second volume of this Special Issue, entitled "Plant Essential Oil with Biological Activity II," includes important scientific articles that cover several aspects of the use, extraction, biochemical characterization, application, and mechanisms of action of many EOs, either crude oil or their single constituents. This Special Issue also includes crucial studies regarding the phytotoxicity and/or cytotoxicity of some plant EOs. This Special Issue's second volume addresses knowledge discrepancies in science and promotes the global development of EO applications. It includes seventeen research articles covering a broad range of subjects and uses related to the biological activity of many plant EOs.

There have been three recent developments in AMO and cluster science: a) new and progressively precise technologies to synthesize materials with good purity statistics for their gas-phase, as thin films, or in their liquid-phase; b) significant diversification of pump-probe laser and particle sources and related experimental techniques allowing us to access both the energy response and temporal response of the target materials in ultrafast time scales; and c) increasing the availability of high-performance computer software on ever faster computers, which can be processed in both series and parallel mode. These developments have empowered the broader AMO community to address more detailed and critical aspects of the response and relaxation processes. As a result, many groups have become involved in ever-more challenging and complex investigations, pushing the frontier of knowledge. This Special Issue will provide a forum in which to broadcast emerging research results, creating a repository professional knowledge, novel research questions and outlooks, and stimulating brand-new collaborations.

Although it is considerably infeasible to make further contributions to the field of mechanics, the spectacular evolution of technology and numerical calculation techniques has played a significant role in the reconsideration of this opinion and in the development of an increasing number of sophisticated models. In turn, the outcomes of these state-of-the-art methodologies have surprised scholars due to the phenomena that occur in dynamic systems. Hence, researchers began studying mechanical systems with complicated behaviors, which can be observed by carrying out experiments and using computer models.The impetus in mechanics and dynamical systems has come from many sources: computer simulation, experimental science, mathematics, and modeling. Moreover, the key requirement for a successful observation is a nonlinearity, which the system must involve. However, it is vital to acknowledge that there is a wide range of influences that affect these systems, and computer experiments change the way in which we analyze them.Thus, this Special Issue includes topics such as modeling mechanical systems, new methods in dynamic systems, behavior simulations of mechanical systems, nonlinear systems, multibody systems with elastic elements, multi-degrees of freedom, mechanical systems, experimental modal analysis, and mechanics of materials.

This reprint focuses on applications of machine learning models in a diverse range of fields and problems. It reports substantive results on a wide range of learning methods; discusses the conceptualization of problems, data representation, feature engineering, and machine learning models; undertakes critical comparisons with existing techniques; and presents an interpretation of the results. This reprint strives not only to showcase the prolific applications of machine learning, but also to provide insights into the methodologies and interpretations that underpin these advancements.

There are many eco-sensitive areas, such as mountain regions and transitional zones, around the world that cover a sizeable area of the Earth's terrestrial surface.However, due to excessive human land use and climate change, these regions are currently facing numerous challenges. In response to these challenges, many policies have been formulated and significant action has been taken, including designating protected land areas and providing ecological compensation, to balance the relationship between ecological protection and socio-economic development. These interventions must be supported by the government at different levels to ensure that these ecosystems are able to sustainably provide their services. Because of this, studies related to ecosystem services should play an essential role in managing and conserving eco-sensitive areas and protected land. This Special Issue aims to address critical knowledge gaps in our basic understanding of land use/cover change, ecosystem services and how they have changed in eco-sensitive areas, and societal trends within and outside eco-sensitive areas for dealing with future challenges. A particular focus is placed on studies regarding protected land and those that investigate the management and preservation of biodiversity and landscapes in these areas.

Agricultural land provides essential goods and services for human society, and it is the basis for ensuring food security and rural development. Under the background of rapid urbanization, population growth, and climate change, the use of agricultural land has intensified and changed on local, regional, and global scales. Although these changes have met the growing food demand and adjusting dietary structure to some extent, they have also led to negative impacts such as deforestation, wetland reduction, water pollution and shortages, and soil degradation. In addition, the change in agricultural land use is not only a driving factor but also a result of rural development, especially in developing countries. Driven by urbanization and economic development, a large amount of agricultural land has been occupied by urban sprawl and a large number of rural laborers have migrated to cities, resulting in the abandonment of marginal cropland, the non-agricultural and non-grain use of high-quality cropland, as well as crop type changes. Optimizing the trade-offs and synergies between agricultural production, farmers' livelihoods, and ecological protection has become the scientific basis for rural revitalization and sustainable development. Therefore, it is critical to systematically study the changes in agricultural land use and rural development as well as their interaction, providing scientific and practical implications for food security and sustainable rural management.

Artificial intelligence and big data applications are present in almost every corner of life. This reprint of the Special Issue entitled "Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Applications" contains a wide range of works with comprehensive information on image processing, natural language processing, computer vision, sentiment analysis, voice and gesture analysis, and other topics in the field. The latest works in multidisciplinary applications such as legal, healthcare, smart society, cyber-physical systems, and smart agriculture, among others, are also included. This compilation will spark the interest of researchers in the aforementioned fields and will serve as a knowledge base for further research in the future.

Kidney and Upper Tract Urinary Cancers (UTUCs) are diseases of increasing population coverage, the treatment of which is undergoing a continuous process of evolution. A characteristic feature of renal cell cancer (RCC) treatment is the significant heterogeneity of patients (including different stages of local advancement and different locations of metastases). Importantly, it is estimated that up to 30% of newly diagnosed RCC cases are patients with disseminated disease at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, predicting the response to modern treatment remains the unmet need of modern urologic oncology. Recent advancements in systematic treatment, i.e., immunotherapy, shed additional light on adjuvant treatment to be implemented in new clinical scenarios, including localized disease.

This reprint "Application of Geophysical Data Interpretation in Geological and Mineral Potential Mapping" published by MDPI, is a compilation of scientific papers on new interpretation results and technical developments in geophysical methods such as seismic and multiphysics approaches applied to hydrocarbon exploration, CCUS, and energy storage (including geothermal). More specifically, the papers in this compilation addressed three main problems: exploration case studies from a regional to a local scale; reservoir characterization and monitoring; and carbon capture and energy storage.

This Special Issue aims to assemble the latest perspectives and research findings to illuminate the role of altered sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathogenesis. It comprises one editorial article, five review articles, and six original research articles, which collectively emphasize the significance of SNA in the pathogenesis of various CVDs, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, diabetic wound healing, and chronic pain-associated CVDs.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) encompasses a range of disorders affecting the heart and blood vessels, including coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and conditions such as aortic aneurysm and lower extremity peripheral artery disease. It remains the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming 17.9 million lives annually, despite the availability of numerous therapeutic drugs. Thus, further research is warranted to enhance CVD treatment and reduce its morbidity and mortality.Diabetes and hypertension are conditions commonly found in aging populations that share common pathogenic pathways and are both strong, independent risk factors for CVD. Reducing blood glucose and blood pressure levels can significantly contribute to mitigating CVD-related morbidity and mortality.This Special Issue aims to present the latest perspectives and research findings on diabetes, hypertension, and CVD, comprising one Editorial article, eight review articles, and eight original research articles. These articles provide a comprehensive overview of recent developments in research on hypertension, insulin resistance/diabetes, and CVD, including atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysm, and myocardial infarction. They offer insights into CVD pathogenesis and facilitate the development of new therapeutic approaches.

In the 21st century, global agriculture is facing two major competing issues, urgently calling for us to investigate the nexus of land-food-climate. First, food production will need to substantially increase to meet the growing demand of a larger and wealthier population. Moreover, climate change, urbanization, and several other drivers are posing challenges to food production. Farmers can increase food production either by expanding their land area or by raising existing agricultural land productivity. Given the limited cultivatable land, and high socio-economic and ecosystem costs of clearing more land for agriculture, the prospect of expanding agricultural land is almost non-existent. Therefore, it is vital to raise crop yields on existing farmlands by adopting sustainable land management practices. Several social, economic, demographic, and biophysical factors can affect the implementation of land management practices in different agricultural production systems. Consequently, the design and implementation of location-specific land management practices that can enhance crop yields while minimizing adverse environmental impacts are important and require further research and investigation. In this Special Issue, we invited manuscripts that address research issues including the following: Sustainable intensification of agricultural land; Modeling agricultural systems and food production; Design and implementation of land management practices; Economic analysis of agricultural interventions; Adoption and diffusion of agricultural technologies; Environmental benefits of land management practices.

With the development of industrialization, environmental pollution problems are becoming increasingly severe. This reprint focuses on research related to the environment and energy fields and includes ten research papers and two review papers. This reprint highlights advanced oxidation processes, functional materials adsorption, and environmental microbial technology for water pollution remediation, electrostatic precipitators for air pollution purification, radioactive waste treatment, energy materials, and other topics.

Understanding the molecular biology of RNA viruses, e.g., the functions of viral RNA elements and proteins and their interplay with host factors, is essential in dissecting the mechanism of the pathogenesis of RNA viruses, as well as screening antivirals. This reprint presents the latest progress in the molecular biology of several RNA viruses and state-of-the-art technology used to study the molecular biology of RNA viruses and their interactions with host cellular proteins. Moreover, novel antiviral drugs and cell culture systems are described.

This Special Issue explores the origin, structure, function, and other properties of a wide range of raw starches, including their production and application in food, industry, and the environment. This Special Issue covers the separation process, modification and other technical means of starch, and explains the relationship between the separation process, modification technology and morphology, structure, and physicochemical and functional properties of starch granules. Understanding the structural changes induced by the processing technology and the digestive and antidigestive properties of starch is an essential theme of this Special Issue. Current and emerging trends in starch applications are also presented. This Special Issue also details the microstructure of starch, the multiscale structure of starch (including the amylose/amylopectin ratio, fine structures of amylose and amylopectin, short-range ordered structures, helical structures, crystalline features, and lamellar structures), the pasting and thermal properties of starch, gelatinization, and digestibility. This Special Issue is edited by a team of experts with a solid background in starch extraction research and is intended for all those involved in research and development in the field of starch.

The significance of non-invasive imaging techniques, particularly ultrasound, cannot be overstated in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. These methods are not only essential but also revolutionize the way in which diagnoses are made. In recent times, modern imaging tools have taken on a more prominent role in everyday diagnostic processes. The advent of new handheld imaging devices has been a game changer in the realms of gynecology and obstetrics. This technological evolution brings with it the need for specialized training and continuing education for medical professionals to stay abreast of these advancements. While these innovative methods show promise, there is a necessity for ongoing research and evidence to firmly establish their efficacy and value in daily clinical practice. Additionally, the integration of technology in healthcare extends beyond imaging tools. The use of applications (apps) is on the rise among both patients and physicians. These apps serve as valuable tools for medical care, enhancing patient-doctor interactions and enabling a better management of healthcare. They represent a significant stride towards more interactive patient-centered care, leveraging technology to streamline processes and improve patient outcomes.

The field of medical and surgical retina has grown exponentially over the recent few decades. Several novel and promising treatments, technological developments, and advanced surgical techniques have become available for eye conditions, including age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusions, diabetic retinopathy and macular oedema, retinal detachment, macular holes and membranes, genetic disorders, uveitis, and inflammations.This Special Issue summarizes modern therapeutic and surgical approaches to retinal and vitreoretinal diseases, making a valuable contribution to our existing knowledge, describing the current state of the art, and providing directions for future research.

Increased awareness of the nutritional properties of foods and recent trends towards low-input and sustainable agriculture have led to a renewed interest in underutilized crops. In addition, the dependence on a small number of crop species limits the capability to cope with challenges posed by the adverse effects of climate change affecting food security. This Special Issue deals with the continuum aspects, 'from farm to fork', in terms of ways that minor cereals could boost food security, foster rural development, support sustainable land care and contribute to healthier diets. In this Special Issue, we aim to publish innovative research and review papers about the rediscovery of minor cereals, their technological, biochemical and nutritional characteristics, and test their attitude for the formulation of innovative wholegrain, low or gluten-free products which will meet the need of health-conscious consumers so as to encourage the use of niche cereals. New raw materials, new functional ingredients, upcycling of waste materials and in vivo experiments to test the effect of assumption of these cereals will be further addressed in this Special Issue. Predictions of product quality, adopting chemometrics, multi-variate and statistical data analysis approaches were also welcome. In conclusion, this Special Issue aims to provide fundamental understanding and the current strategies for revitalization of underutilized cereals, which represent a reservoir of biodiversity that is useful to ensure sustainable production in the context of climate change.

This Special Issue aims to provide the reader with the latest Biomedical imaging innovation used to better understand the heart's physiology, performance, function, and structure. Furthermore, each imaging technique provides specific benefits for diagnosing, treating, and following cardiovascular diseases. Technological progress improves the precision, sensitivity, and accuracy of the specialized measurements needed to assess complex conditions. In this Special Issue, "Biomedical Imaging Technologies for Cardiovascular Disease-Volume II". Seventeen manuscripts were taken into consideration. All of which underwent a rigorous peer-review process. A total of eleven original articles and six reviews were published.

Numerous chronic complications appear in the evolution of diabetes mellitus type 2 and type 1, and they significantly influence the duration of life of the patient. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease where pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory mechanisms are intensely expressed. Given the numerous beneficial effects present in compounds extracted from different plants, such as reduction in insulin resistance, improvement of endothelial function, improvement of beta-cell function, improvement of lipid metabolism, antioxidant effect, and anti-inflammatory effect, the idea behind this Special Issue is to present significant results from original research or from international data in review articles. It is not only the potential chemical substances extracted form plants that are important, but also the delivery of these substances to target tissues; therefore, the Issu also focuses on modalities to improve the biological effects of these substances, such as nanotechnology. The standardization of these substances and their potential evolution toward drug development is the key concept of this Special Issue, with the ultimate goal to develop new drugs starting from beneficial plant compounds to target the complications of diabetes mellitus at the molecular level.

This Special Issue on "Migrants and Human Rights Protections" delves into human rights law's enduring struggles to extend protections to migrants. The contributions engage with this subject-matter from a wide range of perspectives that bring to the fore both the universal and particular in migrants' experiences of human rights protection regimes across countries and continents. This Special Issue also reminds of the value of developments in the Global South.

The use of pesticides has played a pivotal role in the control of destructive pathogens, particularly in horticulture. At present, recent regulations on plant protection are encouraging the adoption of alternative methods to synthetic pesticides due to concerns about environmental pollution, pesticide residues in agricultural products, and the development of pathogen resistance. As a result, the control of plant pathogens in horticulture is now facing new challenges as it strives to adapt to these new pathogen control strategies to meet consumer demand. This Special Issue contains the latest research findings and future perspectives on the utilization of natural substances such as plant extracts or molecules, microorganisms, by-products, biocompost, and resistance varieties.