This reprint provides an overview of the state of edge intelligence research and practice, including innovative programming frameworks, intelligent resource orchestration, secure communication protocols, and healthcare applications. It highlights how edge intelligence can revolutionize network infrastructure, enable innovative applications, and address technical challenges facing 5G and the IoT. This reprint aims to provide opportunities for academic researchers and industry practitioners to exchange creative ideas and then inspire further innovation and foster progress in academia and industry.
MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Geographic Information Systems and Cartography for a Sustainable World
Sustainable development is an interdisciplinary challenge that involves the environment, society, and the economy. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), outlined in the 2030 Agenda, serve as a call for action for all countries. Fulfilling the SDGs grows more pressing, while the consequences of no action are becoming evident to citizens. Scientists and spatial data stakeholders worldwide utilize Geographic Information Systems and Cartography to analyze, assess, visualize, and communicate spatial and developmental inefficiencies in support of planning efforts and policy pathways that aim to achieve sustainability objectives.
Andriani Skopeliti, Anastasia Stratigea, et.al
Ageing induces an increased prevalence of chronic skeletal diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and intervertebral disc degeneration/herniation. Dietary nutrition is an essential factor for skeletal health, the level of which is relatively easy to modify. For certain kinds of nutrients, including calcium and vitamin D, adequate dietary intake helps to reduce the risk of bone diseases. That said, some other kinds of dietary constituents, like fat and carbohydrates, play a much more complex role in bone health.
Smart Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring and Nondestructive Evaluation
Structural health monitoring (SHM) and nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technologies can be used to identify defects or damage and evaluate the health status of components or systems to avoid structural failure. Sensors are widely used to collect information about the status of engineering components or systems, and their development and application are key research topics in SHM and NDE. This reprint focuses on the most recent original contributions relating to the use of smart sensors in structural health monitoring and nondestructive evaluation.
A History of Rhetoric, Sound, and Health and Healing
A History of Rhetoric, Sound, and Health and Healing argues for medico-sonic knowledge — systematically interpreted bodily sounds with medical knowledge mediated by rhetoric — as an evolving corporeal practice with an incomparable, sprawling history. Taking a materialist-feminist perspective, the book rhetorically accounts for sound and suggests rhetoric enables bodily sounds as understandable, knowable, and treatable with power to help and discipline bodies in health, healing, and hospital contexts.
This Open Access textbook, endorsed by UK Oncology Nursing Society (UKONS), covers the effects impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Cancer care and how health care professionals and people with a cancer diagnosis have been affected. It discusses current research covering COVID and Cancer and considers the different impacts on patients with solid tumours and those with a haematological malignancy. The authors critically appraise how technology has been used to combat the pandemic as well as impacts on patient management and their well-being, education of health care professionals as well as the delivery of oncology cancer treatments.
Mark Foulkes, Helen Roe, Andreas Charalambous
Occupational Health in the Construction Industry
The construction industry is a high-hazard industry that comprises a wide range of activities involving construction, alteration, and/or repair and has a significant impact on the health and safety of the workers. Construction workers engage in many activities that may expose them to serious hazards, such as falling from rooftops, unguarded machinery, being struck by heavy construction equipment, electrocution, etc. To promote and maintain safety in the workplace, knowledge about the primary causes of accidents helps to assess the level of safety.
Reliability Analysis of Electrotechnical Devices
This is a book on the practical approaches of reliability to electrotechnical devices and systems. It includes the electromagnetic effect, radiation effect, environmental effect, and the impact of the manufacturing process on electronic materials, devices, and boards.
Life-Cycle Performance of Green Cementitious Composites under Complex Environmental Conditions
Green composites aiming to find ecofriendly ingredients and save natural resources have been widely investigated for years using agricultural and industrial wastes and by-products, natural biomaterials, etc. Besides the basic mechanical performance of green composites, the life-cycle performance of green composites under single/multiple environmental conditions should also be worthy of attention, since green ingredients sometimes reduce the durability performance of green composites, especially under fire/high temperatures, freeze–thaw cycling, dry–wet cycling, and salt corrosion.
Advances in the Experimentation and Numerical Modeling of Material Joining Processes
“Advances in the Experimentation and Numerical Modeling of Material Joining Processes" is an innovative compilation offering a comprehensive exploration of the latest developments in material-joining techniques. With 22 chapters, this MDPI scientific reprint addresses adhesive bonding, welding, friction stir welding, hybrid joining, and miscellaneous topics. The editorial (Chapter 1) provides the main limitations, possible improvements, active research lines, and prospects of material joining processes. Chapters 2 to 10 relate to adhesive bonded and welded joints.
Educational strategies Education Civics and citizenship
This open access book provides the theoretical and pedagogical foundations for a promising new approach to civic education: using social media to teach civics. While many measures indicate that youth civic engagement has long been in decline, many of these measures fail to take into account all of the ways that youth can interact with civic life. One of these understudied ways is through social media, including platforms like Twitter, where young people have the opportunity to encounter the news, engage with people in power, and bring attention to the needs in their community.
Education Adult education Civics and citizenship
This open access book presents the final findings from the case studies developed within the Horizon 2020 SMOOTH project Educational Spaces. Passing through Enclosures and Reversing Inequalities through Educational Commons. The overall objective of the project was to understand, develop, and accelerate the potential impact of education on reversing inequalities for active social inclusion of children and young people at risk in Europe, through introducing the emergent paradigm of the “commons” as an alternative value and action system in the field of education (preschools, schools, and after-school programs).
Critical Thinking for Global Citizenship Education
This open access book shares a two-part conceptual framework for critical global learning which weaves together theory and practice. The author shares the outcomes of her research and experiences developing students’ critical thinking skills within the context of global citizenship education. While rooted in literature and research findings, the book is personal and reflexive, as the author shares her experiences as a teacher trying, and sometimes failing, to support critical thinking development which allows readers to reflect on their own practice.
The Adaptability of Residential Planning and Design to World-Changing Events
The Special Issue, "The Adaptability of Residential Planning and Design to World-Changing Events," explores innovative approaches to residential design that can effectively respond to short-, medium-, and long-term challenges posed by recent extreme events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, armed conflicts, and devastating natural disasters. It provides a comprehensive guide to creating residential environments that are not only resilient to the immediate impact of these events but also adaptable to the ongoing challenges and shifts in society.
Carlos C. Duarte, Nuno D. Cortiços, et.al
Innovative Technologies and Translational Therapies for Deafness
This reprint focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and technological innovations related to inner ear diseases. It encompasses cutting-edge areas, such as virtual reality training, to enhance hearing adaptation, gene therapy, microneedle drug delivery, and more.
Olivier Sterkers, Ghizlène Lahlou, Huan Jia
Business Model-the Perspective of Systems Thinking and Innovation
The business model concept has gained a prominent position both in academia and among practitioners during the past 30+ years. The aim of this Special Issue of Systems is to contribute to a stronger theoretical basis for the business model concept. This includes a focus on the systemic character of business models and the systems approaches that this entails. Another important aspect is to allocate more attention to innovations of business models. The business models that emerged with e-commerce and e-business as such were in themselves innovations.
Cutting-Edge Innovations in Teaching, Leadership, Technology, and Assessment
Cutting-Edge Innovations in Teaching, Leadership, Technology, and Assessment explores the dynamic and evolving field of education. This book is a testament to the ever-advancing landscape of education, examining four pivotal domains reshaping the educational experience. The first domain provides innovative teaching methodologies, and delves into the transformative power of active learning, gamification, and project-based learning. An emphasis is placed on their effectiveness in engaging students and fostering deeper learning.
Asma Khaleel Abdallah, Ahmed Mohammed Alkaabi, Rashid Al-Riyami
Level Up! Exploring Gamification's Impact on Research and Innovation
Level Up! Exploring Gamification's Impact on Research and Innovation explores the transformative power of gamification in various fields. This edited book shows how game design elements, when integrated into non-gaming contexts, can revolutionize education, health care, luxury tourism, language learning, and more. Through a series of case studies and research, the book demonstrates the potential of gamification to enhance user engagement, improve knowledge retention, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
Agroforestry as Climate Change Adaptation
This open access book provides multidisciplinary perspectives on the potential of agroforestry to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on cocoa production. Against the backdrop of increasingly precarious farmer livelihoods, it focuses on cocoa-agroforestry in Ghana – the second largest producer of cocoa in the world. Taking the reader on a journey across experimental plots and on-farm studies, the book delivers a holistic understanding of cocoa-agroforestry. Chapters examine historical yield and climate interactions, the effects of heat and drought on cocoa plants and the role of differing shade trees on soil fertility, yields, pests and diseases.
Mette Fog Olwig, Aske Skovmand Bosselmann, Kwadwo Owusu
Artificial Intelligence Technologies for Education
Artificial intelligence education educational technology
This Reprint presents a collection of cutting-edge research and reviews on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in education, focusing on both theoretical advancements and practical implementations. It examines how AI can be leveraged to enhance personalized learning, support adaptive assessment, enable intelligent learning environments, and facilitate more effective human–computer interaction in educational contexts. The contributions cover a broad spectrum of topics, including student and cognitive modeling, educational data mining, natural language processing for educational purposes, learning analytics, and the design of automated assistants and intelligent tutoring systems.
Interdisciplinary Research into Cultural and Biological Transformations in the Paleolithic Period
The incredibly long Paleolithic period is still considered by some to be a stagnant phase in human cultural and biological evolution prior to the appearance of our direct ancestors. However, in recent years, extensive interdisciplinary research has clearly demonstrated that this is not the case. Starting from the earliest stages of human presence on the planet some three million years ago, an impressive series of transformations, innovations, modifications and adaptations characterise our lineage.
Mechatronics System Design in Medical Engineering
As the healthcare sector adapts to the evolving standards of Industry 4.0, there is a pressing need for more intelligent, automated, and efficient solutions. This evolution demands cutting-edge research that meets the increasing technical and functional requirements of modern medical applications. The integration of advanced mechatronic systems is essential to create value-added products that are not only highly functional, but also seamlessly adaptable to dynamic healthcare environments.
Intelligent Localization for Integrated Sensing and Communication
Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) systems. As 6G networks advance, the need for more efficient data collection, more intelligent system adaptability, and more accurate localization results. Traditional outdoor localization methods like GPS are limited indoors due to signal blockages, underscoring the need for innovative indoor localization technologies to meet the evolving requirements of modern applications. This "Open Access" book addresses key challenges in indoor localization using Channel State Information (CSI) and machine learning.
Current Trends, Innovations and Issues in Nursing Practice and Education
The development of health sciences in recent years has made it necessary to implement changes in the training of health professionals from the undergraduate level. This training must include the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that ultimately improve patient safety and quality of care. Concurrently, the use of different tools to assess the level of knowledge in certain areas of the training of nurses and analysis of the different study plans allow training to be oriented to the specific needs of each reality.Nowadays, it is necessary to develop, plan, and utilize new teaching methodologies and tools that allow us to assess and measure the level of knowledge of professionals and students and evaluate the quality of training at the different levels of care.
Antonio Martinez-Sabater, Elena Chover-Sierra, Carles Saus-Ortega
Self-Regulated Learning - Insights and Innovations explores the multifaceted nature of self-regulated learning (SRL) in today's dynamic educational landscape. This book serves as both a reflection on current SRL practices and a roadmap for future advancements. It offers a comprehensive look at SRL across diverse educational settings, examining topics from the application of AI in predicting educational outcomes to integrating digital tools for self-directed learning in pre-service teachers. Readers will discover the latest research, theoretical insights, and actionable strategies applicable to various learning environments.
Technological innovation continues to challenge and redefine the foundations of legal theory, policy, and practice. This volume presents a collection of rigorous scholarly contributions examining the multifaceted intersections between emerging technologies and the law. It offers an adaptive conceptualization of artificial intelligence within regulatory and ethical frameworks and explores the transformative potential of the EU AI Act on autonomous maritime navigation.
Esther Salmerón-Manzano, Francisco Manzano Agugliaro
New Challenges in Marine Aquaculture Research
This Special Issue addresses the key challenges facing marine aquaculture, including species diversification, improving animal growth efficiency, adapting to climate change, developing alternative feed sources, conserving natural resources, and reducing environmental impact. The Special Issue brings together a diverse range of research studies that tackle these challenges, covering topics such as environmental and ecological assessments, innovative approaches to optimizing feed and growth performance, as well as technological advancements aimed at promoting sustainability in marine aquaculture.
Chapter Skill, industrial transformation and work in a climate-changing world
Working patterns Climate change Industrial
This book offers a genuinely interdisciplinary engagement with the future of paid and unpaid work in the context of the twin challenges of decarbonisation and the growing impacts of an unstable climate. It is innovative in its grounding of such discussions in the everyday realities of workers’ experiences with an empirical focus on skill, occupational shifts and technological change at the workplace level. Part I: Skills and Training delves into how workers gain crucial skills across their lifetimes.
Climate Changes and the Impacts on Power and Energy Systems
The pressing topic of "climate change" has drawn significant interest and critical attention from researchers and engineers in electrical power and energy. The relationship between these two fields is bidirectional. This reprint compiles recent studies addressing essential points related to the resilience and adaptation of electrical power and energy systems to climate change, covering areas such as electric vehicles, renewable energy resources, electricity demand, buildings, power grids, and innovative solutions like machine learning, among others.
The modern world is characterized by intense and increasing conditions of uncertainty, with the result that any economic turbulences and economic recessions create issues to be addressed for the entire world, regardless of the degree of development of each economy. This book presents the consequences of economic recessions, giving readers a comprehensive understanding of the causes of the crises, their effects, the solutions, and how economies can be put on a more sustainable path in the future. Considering critical events in the global economy, the book describes how the turbulence from such crises affects economies in today’s complex world.
Climate change is expected to have a wide range of impacts on plant physiology and metabolism, soil fertility and carbon sequestration, and microbial diversity and activity. This imposes direct limitations on plant growth, fertility, and productivity. To promote the sustainability of ecosystems, efforts are needed to enhance our knowledge of molecules that govern key processes that may play a role in stress resilience mechanisms in plants. In this context, this reprint covers basic and applied innovative research aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with plant responses to abiotic stresses, including drought, cold, heat, high light, and salinity.
Isabel Marques, Ana I Ribeiro-Barros, José C. Ramalho
Vocational Education, Skill Formation, and Social Development
Vocational education and training (VET) systems are increasingly recognized not only as pathways to employment but also as critical mechanisms for fostering lifelong learning, personal development, and social cohesion. Research in this field spans diverse topics, including the integration of soft skills into educational programs, the challenges and opportunities of work-place learning, and the inclusive practices that are required for equitable education. While advancements in pedagogy and technology have enhanced the potential of VET, challenges remain in aligning training with dynamic labor market needs, ensuring access and equity, and supporting the holistic development of learners.
At the crossroads of culture and commerce, the advertising industry is a regime of paradoxes. This book examines the place of advertising on today’s creative industries, exploring the major challenges advertisers confront as they engage with other creative sectors. Izabela Derda, author, media scholar, and industry expert, offers insights into how the industry keeps deconstructing its own creative processes and collaborative models as it attempts to stay relevant. Through extensive case studies and interviews with industry professionals and thought leaders, this book examines the sector’s struggle to adapt to new business models and to monetize creativity in today’s media landscape, from re-engaging audiences through media more typical of arts and entertainment to managing intricate cross-sectoral creative collaborations.
Research and information Artificial Intelligence
The present book contains all the articles accepted and published in the Special Issue “Advances in Artificial Intelligence: Models, Optimization, and Machine Learning, 2nd Edition” of the MDPI Mathematics journal. The content of this Special Issue encompasses a diverse array of topics related to artificial intelligence, spanning both foundational theories and practical applications.
Florin Leon, Mircea Hulea, Marius Gavrilescu
Fractional-order systems extend classical integer-order models, providing a more accurate description of real-world physical phenomena. In image processing, critical techniques like noise suppression and image fusion in medical imaging are essential for clinical diagnosis and treatment. The increasing diversity of image acquisition models has further emphasized the importance of these techniques.
Advances in Developmental Biology in Tree Fruit and Nut Crops
This reprint of the Special Issue “Advances in Developmental Biology in Tree Fruit and Nut Crops” brings together 16 diverse studies that illuminate how genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors shape the growth and productivity of key tree fruit and nut species. Several articles explore hormone-mediated processes, such as the role of exogenous abscisic acid in anthocyanin biosynthesis in blueberry leaves, the effects of gibberellic acid on Shine Muscat grapes, and the influence of endogenous hormones on seed hardness in pomegranate.
Entrepreneurial Education Strengthening Resilience, Societal Change and Sustainability
Working life is in a major transition and environmental, societal, and economic problems challenge human activities. The need to develop reliance and sustainability also through higher education is evident. It has been anticipated that emphasis on entrepreneurship competencies will be even stronger in the future. In this reprint, we provide insights on how to develop entrepreneurial competencies within higher education and its existing networks.
Jaana Seikkula-Leino, Mats Westerberg, Priti Verma, Maria Salomaa
Governance, Regulation and Management of Global Sport Organisations
Sports management International institutions
This book is a bold and ambitious analysis of the challenges facing global sport in the 21st century and how those challenges can be met through good governance, management and regulation. Connecting the political and managerial dimensions of sport, from international governing bodies such as the International Olympic Committee through to national governing bodies, leagues and professional sport organisations, the book offers a new way of thinking about the trajectory of contemporary sport.
This anthology brings together a set of 10 critical analyses of the intersection of sociology, politics, and policy within the contested terrain of sport. The concept of contested terrain is used to capture the uniqueness and complexity of sport as a site for discussion, debate, negotiation, and conflict involving diverse interest groups with varying levels of resources and contrasting, competing sets of ideas and beliefs. The contested terrain of sport includes the politics of recognition and legitimacy for new sports, as witnessed by the entry of breakdancing into the 2024 Paris Olympics and the increasing pressure to include e-sports.
Gender, Class, and Respectability in Leisure
This book interrogates the role of gender and class in shaping women’s everyday leisure practices. Drawing on empirical research in urban Turkey, the book explores how leisure is perceived and practised by women within their communities. The book examines the relationship of women’s leisure to their labour, women’s access to and uses of public leisure spaces, and the dynamics of their everyday sociability within their neighbourhoods. It is the first book to apply Skegg’s concept of ‘respectability’ – socially recognised judgments and standards which label the ‘right’ practices, that hold morality and power in a given context – as a theoretical tool with which to understand leisure in a country in which modernisation and Westernisation have been a central dynamic shaping political, social, and cultural life.
This open access book explores the linkages between geopolitics and hosting mega-events. It encompasses and transcends the international and domestic dimensions of soft power to unpack how mega-events shape cities and societies through notions of unity and greatness, but also investigates local developments beneath the Potemkin surface of the global spectacle. Drawing on a global range of case studies from Eastern Europe, Western Europe, North America, South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia, this volume features the sensitivity of grounded local research framed within geopolitical perspectives.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a common but complicated condition that is often associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This book is an essential resource for healthcare professionals, combining expert knowledge with practical strategies for managing the challenges of VTE in various clinical contexts.
This Special Issue focuses on novel and scarcely investigated topics in relation to atrial fibrillation (AF), from the role of f-wave harmonic spectral structures in improving the preoperative prediction of catheter ablation outcomes in AF to the design of a study to investigate the effectiveness of a hand-held device in screening for AF when embedded into the handles of supermarket trolleys.
Statistical Methods in Data Science and Applications
The rise of big data has significantly elevated the significance of data science, catalyzing extensive research across multiple fields, including mathematics, statistics, computer science, and artificial intelligence. Data science encompasses modeling, computation, and learning processes to transform data into information, information into knowledge, and knowledge into actionable decisions.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Intervention Strategies for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
Medicine and Nursing Cardiovascular medicine
This reprint provides insights into the cardiovascular risk landscape, emphasizing the impact of major risk factors and their interaction with the cardiovascular system. In this Special Issue, the role of other less established risk factors such as uric acid, sleep disorders, or blood pressure variability has been taken into consideration. Evidence-based strategies to prevent the detrimental consequences of these risk factors have been focused on in this Special Issue, with particular emphasis on glycemic control, lipid management, hypertension diagnosis, blood pressure regulation, and implementation of lifestyle modifications. By implementing the most modern strategies and fostering collaboration across disciplines, we can reduce the cardiovascular risk, thereby avoiding adverse outcomes.
Nonlinear Dynamics in Cardiovascular Signals
The cardiovascular system involves many regulatory mechanisms that maintain the stability of blood pressure by interacting strongly with other vital systems (including the respiratory, endocrine, and autonomous nervous systems). Non-invasive measurements of cardiovascular signals have enhanced the study of the cardiovascular system, providing deeper insights into its physiological modulation, the pathophysiology of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases, and new methods to improve their diagnosis and prognosis.
Advances in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Medicine and Nursing Cardiovascular System - Medicine
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is a versatile and non-invasive imaging modality that accurately diagnoses and characterizes cardiovascular disease. CMR is widely accepted as the gold standard for the evaluation of cardiac function. CMR can also characterize various conditions affecting myocardial tissue such as inflammation, edema, necrosis, and fibrosis. Recently, new techniques including T1 mapping, extracellular volume fraction, myocardial strain, 4D flow, DWI/DTI, and chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) have further expanded the role of CMR in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of cardiovascular diseases.
Modern Pharmaceutics for Cardiovascular Diseases
Although various non-pharmaceutical strategies addressed to the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases such as tobacco control policies, reducing the consumption of harmful food, and increasing physical activity still represent a key strategy, often they are not sufficient. Moreover, despite the availability of a plethora of pharmaceutic approaches specifically targeting mechanisms involved in cardiovascular diseases over recent years, the burden of these pathologies has only been marginally alleviated.
New Insights into Cardiovascular and Exercise Physiology
This reprint aims to provide insights into recent knowledge on the cardiovascular system and its adaptation to different diseases and exogenous conditions. Considering the increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases, a major cause of death worldwide, and the need to attain treatment strategies, knowledge of the physiological processes behind them remains the basis for future research and is a prerequisite for improved clinical studies. Physical exercise is increasingly being regarded as one of the potentially beneficial measures to improve cardiovascular health, interfering with numerous elements of the cardiovascular system and affecting a multitude of potential mechanisms.
This book provides a comprehensive review of inflammatory myocardial diseases. It is organized into three sections: (1) Pathobiology of Myocardial Inflammatory Diseases; (2) Imaging for Inflammatory Myocardial Diseases; and (3) Interventions for Inflammatory Myocardial Diseases. Chapters address topics including inflammatory diseases in rheumatological patients; acute and recurrent pediatric pericarditis; clinical detection methods; imaging methods, including cardiac magnetic resonance in scleroderma; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for fulminant myocarditis complicated with cardiogenic shock and surgical interventions.
Renin-Angiotensin System in Cardiovascular Biology
Medicine and Nursing Cardiovascular Biology
The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in maintaining the salt and water balance of very diverse animal species under very diverse conditions. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a hormone with much more complex actions than is typical for other agonists with heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Its principal receptor, angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R), is distributed in many cells of the body in diverse organs, controlling the water and salt balance, vascular contractility, and blood pressure.
Mária Szekeres, György L. Nádasy, András Balla
C-Reactive Protein and Cardiovascular Disease : Clinical Aspects
This Special Issue focuses on the clinical relevance of the C-reactive protein. Most physicians are familiar with it as a diagnostic biomarker. Only a few have realized that it can be a pathomolecule. After all, the biomarker is, of course, not a physiological function. The main task of CRP is to mark cells to be disposed of, which has been shown for decades in various animal models and has been broken down into molecular detail. The articles presented in this Special Issue reveal a broad spectrum of indications with CRP involvement.
Advancements in Cardiovascular and Antidiabetic Drug Therapy
The aim of this reprint is to immerse the reader in the transformative advancements in drug-based therapies for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, two major contributors to global morbidity and mortality. From the groundbreaking use of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in heart failure and diabetes management to the development of novel incretin therapies and innovative insulin delivery systems, this collection examines the potential and promise of these cutting-edge pharmacological strategies.
Sympathetic Nerves and Cardiovascular Diseases
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.
The Special Issue “Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Cardiorenometabolic Syndrome and Its Components”, guest-edited by Dr. Andrej Belančić, Prof. Bojan Jelaković, and Dr. Martina Matovinović, explored the complex interrelationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the global burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This interdisciplinary collection examined how insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, central obesity, and hypertension—core components of MetS—converge to elevate the risk of T2DM and cardiovascular disease, the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.
Andrej Belancic, Bojan Jelakovic, Martina Matovinović
Periodontitis: Current Status and the Future
Periodontitis is a common inflammatory disease, in which the composition of the oral biofilm and the individual immune response have significant impacts. Severe periodontitis is one of the most prevalent conditions in the world, leading to periodontitis being a public health concern. It is widely accepted that periodontitis may be a modifiable risk factor/modulator for several systemic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic kidney disease.
Oxidative stress (OS) is recognized as a pivotal contributor to the pathogenesis of various, chronic human ailments, including cardiovascular and renal diseases, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, inflammatory conditions, and the aging process. It manifests as an imbalance between the generation and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) within cells and tissues. OS occurs when the production of these species surpasses the detoxification capacity of the biological system.
Calcified aortic valve disease (CAVD) affects over six million Americans and is associated with changes in the mechanical properties of valve leaflets, resulting in impaired valvular blood flow. CAVD is a fibrocalcific disease with multifactorial risk factors that are related to the complex environment where the aortic valve (AV) resides. This special issue focuses on the field of heart disease, exploring the relationship between heart valve disease, arrhythmia, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease, as well as research progress on new treatment strategies and risk prediction.
Medicinal Plants Alternative Medicine - Therapuetics
For centuries, plants have been humanity's most reliable and accessible source of healing. From ancient civilizations to modern herbal medicine, medicinal plants have provided remedies for countless ailments, both physical and mental. They hold within them the power to treat, prevent, and promote health naturally, making them an integral part of human survival and wellness. Medicinal Plants - Harnessing the Healing Power of Plants is a comprehensive exploration of the rich heritage of plant-based medicine.
Gel-Based Materials for Biomedical Engineering
This Special Issue, entitled “Gel-Based Materials for Biomedical Engineering”, presents recent advances in the design, fabrication, and biomedical application of gel-based materials. Gels, particularly hydrogels, have attracted considerable attention in tissue engineering, wound healing, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine due to their high water content, biocompatibility, and structural tunability. The contributions in this collection highlight a variety of gel systems, including natural and synthetic polymer-based hydrogels, nanocomposite gels, and stimuli-responsive materials.
The aim of this Special Issue on Landscape Heritage: Geomorphology, Geoheritage and Geoparks is to expose to the international scientific community the most innovative studies that are being developed in the field of applied geomorphology, especially those related to the conservation, protection and sustainable management of abiotic heritage and its relationship with other territorial aspects (ecosystemic, historical–cultural, educational and divulgation) and exceptional landscapes.
Rafael Becerra-Ramírez, Javier Dóniz-Páez
Advances in Disease Diagnostics and Pathogen Biocontrol of Horticulture Crops
This Special Issue addresses current challenges in the plant health of horticultural crops, highlighting the role of biocontrol agents as sustainable alternatives to the overuse of chemical pesticides. In a context where pathogens threaten global agricultural productivity, this collection of studies offers innovative approaches. The included articles range from region-specific epidemiological analyses, such as the study of downy mildew in Spanish vineyards, to findings on new diseases, such as the occurrence of Botrytis cinerea on pecan nuts in China.
Graciela Dolores Ávila-Quezada, Irasema Vargas-Arispuro
Chemical and Biochemical Processes for Energy Sources
This Issue illustrates the variety of contributions made by chemical and biochemical processes to the production of energy carriers, mostly renewables, to carbon dioxide processing (the capturing, storage, and recycling of value-added chemicals), and to some auxiliary unit operations make the recovery of the main product possible. The main renewable fuels considered are ethanol, biodiesel, biogas, and methane production, as well as hydrogen production based on chemical catalysis and biological processes.
Biochemical Interactions of Iron Nutrition in Plants
Iron is an essential micronutrient. Plants acquire iron from the soil, and its uptake, transport, and assimilation have been intensively studied for the last few decades. The basic mechanisms of root iron uptake, the biochemical processes of iron assimilation, and the major components of the genetic background of iron homeostasis and its regulation have been revealed. Important topics have emerged, such as the correction of iron deficiency, biofortification, the interaction of iron with other elements, and the interaction of plants with fungi and bacteria affecting iron acquisition.
Biochemistry, as an interdisciplinary science, is very dynamic, and its boundaries are very hard to define not only because they are constantly changing but also because they are dependent on the specificities of each time period and scientific environments. Nevertheless, understanding life on earth and human health are long-lasting topics in biochemistry. This reprint is based on the Special Issue titled “Feature Papers in BioChem”, which included an editorial, six articles, and four reviews.
Emerging Strategies in Drug Development and Clinical Care in the Era of Personalized and Precision Medicine
In the dynamic realm of modern medicine, we stand at a pivotal juncture where the convergence of disease, drugs, and patient individuality is shaping a new paradigm. The field is transitioning from traditional drug development towards personalized therapeutic strategies tailored to the unique physiology of each person. Over past decades, significant progress in preventive measures, diagnostic techniques, and treatment approaches has greatly improved patient care.
Cristina Manuela Dragoi, Alina Crenguța Nicolae, Lon-Bogdan Dumitrescu
Abiotic Stress Signaling and Responses in Plants
Plant responses to environmental factors are extraordinarily complex. They can be observed at various levels of plant organization, ranging from changes in the intensity of basic biochemical processes, such as respiration, photosynthesis, and transpiration, to morphological and anatomical changes in organs. However, these biochemical changes are preceded by the activation of an efficient signaling system which endures environmental fluctuations. This Special Issue showcases the latest reports on the impact of abiotic factors on plant responses. It contains 3 reviews and 9 original works and is preceded by an editorial summarizing the most important issues discussed in the publications.
Małgorzata Nykiel, Mateusz Labudda, Beata Prabucka
Chitosan and Other Edible Coatings with Antimicrobial Activity: Synthesis, Properties and Horticultural Applications
Antimicrobial edible coatings for whole or fresh-cut fruits and vegetables based on natural biopolymers that serve as carriers of antimicrobial agents or that are inherently antimicrobial, such as chitosan, are increasingly gaining interest from researchers and industry due to their potential to maintain quality and safety. Additionally, edible coatings can also function as a barrier to water vapors and gases, regulating physiological aspects in fruit.
Treatment and Management of Fusarium Disease in Wheat
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.
Coagulation is a crucial and essential defense mechanism that is typically well-balanced and effective under normal circumstances. However, since Virchow’s Triad was published in the mid-19th century, its elements have inspired an overwhelming amount of innovative and cutting-edge research, much of which was initiated at the bedside and later unraveled in the laboratory. These approaches have been multidisciplinary, driven by out-of-the-box thinking, keen observation, and problem-solving.
Osteoporosis is defined as a systemic bone loss disease exemplified by the deterioration of bone tissues and low bone mineral density (BMD), subsequently leading to an enhanced risk of developing fragility-related fractures. It’s a chronic inflammatory condition and is the 4th most burdensome chronic disease after ischemic heart disease, dementia, and lung cancer, with a huge economic burden on the world economy. This skeletal disorder affects predominantly women compared to men, and the risk increases with age.
In recent years, interest in nutrition has grown, with a particular focus on the pivotal role of antioxidants in the formulation of functional diets essential for animal health and disease prevention. This comprehensive reprint offers a deep dive into the world of innovative antioxidants that can be used in animal nutrition. The key to this field lies on the oxidative balance. The inclusion of antioxidants aligns with sustainable farming practices, following the One Health principles, thus supporting health and feed and food safety
Computational Intelligence and Human–Computer Interaction
The present Special Issue contains all of the articles accepted and published in the Special Issue of MDPI’s journal Mathematics titled "Computational Intelligence and Human–Computer Interaction: Modern Methods and Applications, 2nd Edition", as a follow-up on the first edition. This Special Issue covered a wide range of topics connected to the theory and application of different computational intelligence techniques to the domain of human–computer interaction, such as automatic speech recognition, speech processing and analysis, virtual reality, emotion-aware applications, digital storytelling, natural language processing, smart cars and devices, and online learning.
Grigoreta Sofia Cojocar, Maja Jazvinšćak Jembrek
Patient-focused Development of Biopharmaceutical Products
Biotechnology Medicinal chemistry Pharmacology
This open access book builds the case for the business motivation, techniques, and approaches to use in development of a medicinal product for human therapy, whether delivered via an oral dose form (“pill” or solution) or a delivery system (device). It shares the growing demands by patients and caregivers, as well as regulators, for designs which are most easily understood and usable, and which can ensure the medication can be consistently delivered and will, therefore, allow best outcomes.
Robert R. Nesbitt, Ramakrishna Venugopalan, Wolfgang Fraunhofer
Development, Characterization, and Application of Bioactive Peptides, Diagnostic Biomarkers, and Pharmaceutical Proteins
As proteins and peptides are the most abundant and versatile biomolecules, playing many critical roles in nearly every life process, many proteins/peptides are also strongly associated with human health and diseases. Various protein/peptide molecules have been proposed as biomarkers with potential diagnostic or prognostic value, and renewed interests in exploring peptides/proteins as crucial targets for therapeutic purposes have arisen. Bioactive proteins/peptides including various enzymes, antibodies, and peptide hormones have been developed and serve as biopharmaceuticals for clinical use.
Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Food Industry
With breakthroughs of artificial intelligence (AI) under the fourth industrial revolution, intelligent applications are providing innovative solutions for the food industry. AI is able to support the positive transformation and upgrading of food technologies alongside the digitization, automatization, and intelligence of the food industry in light of its powerful perceiving, reasoning, and decision-making capabilities. Novel applications based on AI are changing all activities in the food industry, ranging from production to processing and packaging, transporting and storing, and consuming and disposing, benefiting all actors in food industry.
Effect of Processing on Sensory Quality and Bioactive Components in Food Products
In order to obtain high-quality food products, we need to control them from their origin. This ranges from the crops themselves to the reception of raw materials at the factory. The effect of industrial processing on the final quality of food is an essential factor that can guarantee its acceptance for sale, thus avoiding the losses that a rejected or withdrawn product could cause a company. In addition, preserving the integrity of bioactive ingredients during food processing is a challenge in the agri-food industry.
Antonio José Pérez-López, Luis Noguera-Artiaga
Milk Processing and Dairy Products Industry
Milk Processing and Dairy Products Industry offers a comprehensive overview of the processing and manufacturing stages involved in transforming milk into a wide range of dairy products, from the reception of raw materials to final packaging. It also addresses key aspects of quality assurance and food safety. As a unique and authoritative reference, this book bridges the gap between theoretical foundations and real-world applications. It provides readers with a thorough understanding of the technologies, processes, and quality standards that shape today’s dairy industry.
Further Research in Food Processing Safety and Quality from Field to Fork
The global population is continuously growing, increasing the demand for food production. While agricultural innovations support this goal, food safety is often overlooked. Additionally, the nutritional value of food changes during storage, highlighting the need for efficient contaminant monitoring and sensitive detection techniques to track harmful substances. Advances in green extraction methods, pesticide residue analysis, and novel sensor technologies are essential for addressing contemporary food safety challenges.
Tamara Lazarevic-Pasti, Nebojsa Potkonjak
Emerging Non-Thermal Food Processing Technologies
There is a strong consumer trend towards high-quality and healthy foods with ‘fresh‐like’ characteristics. On the other hand, thermal processing technologies, especially conventional ones, negatively affect both the sensory and nutritional properties of foods. At the same time, limited shelf-life and safety concerns of fresh foods necessitate food processing. Therefore, scientists are exploring the possibility of using nonthermal technologies for various purposes such as shelf-life extension and safety improvement. However, their applicability and scalability are still under intensive investigation.
Asgar Farahnaky, Mahsa Majzoobi, Mohsen Gavahian
Food Polysaccharides, Starch, and Protein
Natural macromolecular substances, such as polysaccharides, starch, and protein, are prevalent in the organs of plants and animals and are major types of biopolymer components in food. They not only provide people with energy and nutrition but are also used in food processing as natural additives due to their gelling, emulsifying, film-forming properties, etc. The food industry has been gaining increasing impetus recently to create desired nutritional profiles and to improve the quality of food products, and so we expect a greater emphasis will be placed on understanding the physicochemical characteristics of food polysaccharides, starch, and protein.
Study on Physicochemical Properties of Food Protein
This reprint discusses the importance of studying the physicochemical properties of food proteins, which play crucial roles in providing essential amino acids and contributing to the overall quality of our foods. The demand for sustainable and nutritious food sources has led to a surge of interest in understanding and utilizing proteins derived from various sources. The studies in this reprint explore various aspects, including protein solubility, structural integrity, emulsifying properties, and allergenic epitopes, as well as the application of different processing techniques such as ultrasonication, high-pressure processing, and esterification.
Antioxidant Activity of Fermented Foods and Food Microorganisms
This Special Issue focuses on the antioxidant activity of fermented foods, but also on biosynthesis and mass production of antioxidants from fermented foods and food microorganisms (e.g., lactic acid bacteria, yeast, fungi, bacteria, etc.) and the evaluation of their antioxidative functions.
Aflatoxins are among the most dangerous natural contaminants affecting global food and feed systems. This book offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of recent scientific and technological advances in detecting, controlling, and mitigating aflatoxin contamination. Addressing a wide range of multidisciplinary perspectives, from food safety and toxicology to biotechnology and regulatory science, this book explores innovative strategies for minimizing risks associated with aflatoxins in agriculture and food processing.
Global Perspective on the Relationship Between Dietary Habits and Health
The relationship between lifestyle habits and health has always been and continues to be an important area of interest to public health professionals. Among the lifestyle factors, diet is considered to play a crucial role in managing physical and mental health, as well as reducing the risk of other diseases. Dietary habits and their patterns vary considerably around the globe, depending upon many factors, including cultural and religious beliefs, economic stability, technological development, and food security.
Akkinapally Venketeshwer Rao, Leticia Rao
Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand
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.
This book explores the types and processing of olives, olive oil, and its by-products, which are increasingly recognized as an important supply of bioactive compounds. By using unique biotechnological processing methods, the value of olive mill by-products can be upgraded, thus establishing a sustainable circular economy. Bioactive polyphenols such as oleuropein obtained from olive industry by-products can be applied to develop innovative products such as nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals.
Advanced Research in Inactivation Technologies of Foodborne Microorganisms
During the last few decades, alternative inactivation processes have gained increasing attention from the food industry. These involve alternative technologies to thermal treatments that have unquestioned limitations, such as the denaturation of thermolabile compounds and the substantial modification of nutritional and sensorial aspects, of which the modern consumer is increasingly aware. Indeed, they show great potential for the inactivation of foodborne microorganisms on a wide range of both solid and liquid food products, assuring their microbial safety without altering their fresh-like aspects and quality.
Advanced in Dewatering and Drying Processes
Drying and dewatering processes have many industrial applications, such as in the agricultural, energy, food, chemical, pharmaceutical, paper, and textile industries. In most drying applications, there is a need to control or improve the quality of the output product. At the same time, since the drying process is an energy-intensive operation, improvements to the existing dryer design are desirable in order to save energy. This is a motivation for further research on process intensification and energy consumption reduction, while ensuring a high-quality final product.
Application of Artificial Intelligence in Industrial Process Modelling and Optimization
Artificial Intelligence industrial process modeling
This Special Issue aims to enable readers to understand the latest technologies in artificial intelligence in industrial process modelling and optimization. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into industrial process modelling and optimization has emerged as a transformative force. This Special Issue aims to explore the application of AI approaches in industrial process modelling and optimization.
Agribusiness Agricultural science Economics
Revitalising the way the social sciences question agri-environmental governance, this book introduces ""the everyday governance approach"" as a means to improving the sustainability of agriculture and food systems. The ""everyday"" refers to localised practices, specific networks, and practical norms that emerge in a process of interaction, translation, and reinterpretation. The authors build this approach on assemblage thinking and theory, which focuses on the collective production of the social through complex sets of connections.
Jérémie Forney, Dana Bentia, Angga Dwiartama
Evaluation and Prevention of Mycotoxin Contamination and Toxicological Effects
Over the last few decades, mycotoxins, toxic fungal secondary metabolites that frequently contaminate foods and feeds, have attracted great interest at both scientific and industrial levels. The toxicity of these compounds has led to several regulations in many countries to control and quantify these contaminants for their subsequent risk assessment.
The Internet of Things—Current Trends, Applications and Future Challenges
The Internet of Things (IoT) represents one of the most significant technological advancements of our era. It interconnects a multitude of devices and systems, thereby transforming how we interact with the world around us. The breadth and depth of IoT applications span various domains, offering innovative solutions and posing new challenges. This reprint, "The Internet of Things—Current Trends, Applications and Future Challenges," explores these dimensions through a curated selection of research studies and reviews that address the multifaceted nature of IoT technologies
Deep Learning and Edge Computing for Internet of Things
Information technology Deep learning Internet of Things
The evolution of 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies is leading to ubiquitous connections between humans and their environment, such as autopilot transportation, mobile e-commerce, unmanned vehicles, and healthcare applications, bringing revolutionary changes to our daily lives. Moreover, the computing environment results in the requirement for support of an increasing range of functionality: multi-sensory data processing and analysis, complex systems control strategies, and, ultimately, artificial intelligence.
Blockchain Security and Its Application in Internet of Things
The reprint aims to guide readers through the latest cybersecurity approaches in applying blockchain technology across various fields of the Internet of Things (IoT). From addressing the security and privacy challenges faced by blockchain, the authentication and authorization mechanisms in blockchain and IoT, and the cryptographic protocols for these technologies, to the design of services and trust management in blockchain-IoT systems, we seek to unveil the potential and prospects of these cutting-edge solutions. In this reprint, leading experts in the field share their research findings, innovative insights, and visions for the future.
Internet of Things, Embedded Solutions, and Edge Intelligence for Smart Health
The Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming increasingly popular in the healthcare domain due to the possibilities offered to monitor patients' health status remotely in real time. Moreover, the integration of IoT with edge intelligence solutions has started to bring further advantages in its use; in fact, by allowing the devices to locally process and analyze the data, it can make a difference in applications where real-time decision-making or low latency is required.
Applied and Computational Mathematics for Digital Environments, 2nd Edition
The present reprint contains a total of 10 articles accepted and published in the Special Issue “Applied and Computational Mathematics for Digital Environments, 2nd Edition”. The topics of interest include, among others, scientific research, applied tasks, and problems in the following areas: 1. Building mathematical, structural, and information models of intelligent computer systems for monitoring and managing the parameters of digital environments;2. Software and mathematical technologies in the implementation of the intelligent monitoring and computer control of digital environments’ parameters; 3. The application of mathematical models, Internet of Things technologies, machine learning, and artificial intelligence for big data analysis of digital environments; 4. Mathematical models and algorithms for identifying stable patterns between the parameters of digital environments and their complex and separate influence; 5. Mathematical modeling, machine learning, and their implementation within the concept of “smart” digital environments.
Maintenance 4.0 Technologies for Sustainable Manufacturing
Maintenance 4.0’s core objective is to revolutionize and improve maintenance processes, demonstrating the practical application of Industry 4.0 technologies in manufacturing. While technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Big Data Analytics, and AI are the primary drivers of Industry 4.0, it is Maintenance 4.0 that brings them to life. The literature reveals that implementing I4.0 technologies offers numerous advantages. However, it is important to note that realizing these potential maintenance benefits requires more than just overcoming the technological challenges associated with Industry 4.0 integration.
Technological and Experimental Advances in Microgrids and Renewable Energy Systems
Technology Engineering Electronics engineering
Research is underway to expedite the development of green and sustainable energy solutions, which is crucial for achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Among these efforts, the integration of microgrids and renewable energy systems emerges as a pivotal area, enhancing the flexibility and autonomy of the power infrastructure. This Special Issue covers a broad spectrum of the most recent technological and experimental advancements to facilitate the global expansion of microgrids and renewable energy systems.
Advances in Medical Image Processing, Segmentation and Classification
Medical data typically include physiological signals, diagnostic images, and treatment histories, offering essential insights into patient conditions and outcomes. Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems—used for detection, segmentation, and classification—are now key components of clinical workflows. These systems apply image processing techniques to ensure accurate analysis across CT, MRI, X-ray, and ultrasound scans. Artificial intelligence (AI), especially machine learning and deep learning, has further advanced CAD by enabling automated, accurate disease detection.
Antenna Design and Optimization for 5G, 6G, and IoT
In the ever-evolving landscape of wireless communication, antenna design and optimization play a crucial role in enabling next-generation networks. As we transition from 5G to 6G and expand the Internet of Things (IoT), the demand for compact, efficient, and high-performance antennas continues to grow. Seamless connectivity, ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) require innovative antenna solutions to meet diverse performance needs.
Data Privacy and Cybersecurity in Mobile Crowdsensing
Mobile crowdsensing (MCS) has emerged as a pivotal element in contemporary communication technology, witnessing substantial growth recently. The advent of 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and edge computing has propelled MCS researchers to achieve enhanced sensing efficiency and broaden its application spectrum across various domains such as environmental monitoring, traffic management, and healthcare. However, despite these advantages, MCS confronts significant security and privacy challenges due to its open and diverse nature. Critical concerns encompass data leakage, unauthorized access, data tampering, and cross-network attacks.
Applications of Antenna Technology in Sensors
Antenna-based sensors have gained significant attention in recent years, particularly within wireless sensor networks (WSNs), due to their strong potential for current and near-future applications. These systems offer broad utility across a wide range of fields, including military operations, emergency response, healthcare, environmental monitoring, and entertainment. Depending on the application, operating frequencies can span from UHF to millimeter-wave bands.
The management of hydrocephalus is a complex and significant challenge in neurosurgical practice, with varied clinical presentations and multiple treatment options. The book Hydrocephalus - Surgical Treatment covers hydrocephalus secondary to subarachnoid and intraventricular hemorrhage, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, and post-traumatic hydrocephalus. The book presents the personal experiences of experts, as well as current evidence-based approaches for the diagnosis and surgical management of hydrocephalus.
Application of Intelligent Techniques in Power System Stability, Control and Protection
The central objective of this reprint is to present the vital factors associated with smart grid systems, reliability assessment, protection methodologies, and design advancements through recent research findings to utility engineers, engineering students, research scholars, and power managers. This reprint includes ten chapters, covering all the prime critical aspects of modern power systems like uncertainty in electricity pricing due to solar or wind systems, distribution system coordination, frequency control challenges due to RE, and artificial intelligence-based protection methodologies.
Veerapandiyan Veerasamy, Shailendra Singh, Sunil Kumar Singh
Globalization, climate change, and digitalization are fundamentally changing the business environment. Companies face growing challenges that require new approaches to internationalization, sustainable development, and innovation. This publication provides a comprehensive overview of the current trends and strategies that are shaping the future of business in the 21st century. In the first section of the book, the authors examine internationalization in the current business environment – from the influence of top management on the performance of Indian companies to the dynamics of global labor mobility and its impact on trade and investment.
The Constitutional Court of Indonesia functions in one of the most diverse societies in the world. It is required to resolve disputes within a kaleidoscope of diversity and plurality with flexibility, pragmatism, asymmetry, and wisdom. Whilst national minimum norms are important for nation-building, recognition of local customs, diversities and indigenous systems are equally important to protect the territorial integrity of Indonesia and ensure local peace and stability.
Bertus de Villiers, Saldi Isra, Pan Mohamad Faiz
This is a reprint of the Special Issue “Urban-Rural-Partnerships: Sustainable and Resilient” in Land, which, based on the URP2020 objectives, invited original contributions dealing with interactions in regional systems, particularly between urban and rural actors, institutions and projects to tackle great societal challenges. The 16 contributions published included conceptual and methodological papers, as well as case studies dedicated to striking examples and providing transferable knowledge and solutions.
Emotional regulation refers to recognising, managing, and responding to emotional experiences in a healthy and constructive way. It involves adjusting one's emotional responses, whether by suppressing, amplifying, or changing how emotions are expressed, depending on the context and situation. Emotional regulation is crucial for mental health because it helps individuals cope with stress, prevent emotional overwhelm, and maintain emotional stability. Effective regulation can improve relationships, decision-making, and overall well-being, reducing the risk of mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation disorders.
Linear models are statistical models that play a crucial role in several fields of science and are of practical importance in statistics. The most typical type is the linear regression model. Many phenomena, such as those in biology, medicine, economics, management, geology, meteorology, agriculture and industry, can be approximately described with linear models. Thus, the further research and development of linear models is still a hot research topic.
Hot Topics in Reproductive Medicine Research
This Special Issue titled "Hot Topics in Reproductive Medicine Research" tries to cover some of the most debated topics in this field from a scientific and clinical point of view. In particular, the quality of embryos using compared tools such as incubator time-lapse and aneuploidy detection, the endometrioma impact on embryo quality, the influence of paternal age on obstetrical and perinatal outcome in IVF, and the possibility of performing assisted reproductive technology (ART) without discarding or freezing embryos.
The Nursing Process as a Strategy for a (De-)Professionalization in Nursing
The nursing process generally is understood as key element of professional nursing care in Germany. This study follows this argument back to the introduction of the nursing process in the 1970s and 1980s. At that time, the German healthcare system underwent dramatic changes and economic reorganization, which can be understood as the emergence of the neoliberal rationale in Germany. The argument of cost explosion was used to restructure hospitals into enterprises that were to operate based on the logic of the market. Its cybernetic logic made the nursing process an ideal instrument to restructure nursing care.
This is one of the few books nurses wrote on their own professional and educational challenges. Therefore, the book is of great importance to nurses and nursing teachers. It covers various topics from standardized education to the professional pathology of nurses and the nurses' approach to different chapters of human pathology. We are proud to present you a true example of inclusivity, because our book benefits from a global perspective, including chapters written by specialists from four continents, each reflecting and sharing their own experience.
Self-cleaning surfaces can be achieved using a variety of strategies, materials and technologies, and their applications are as wide as their production methods. The interdisciplinary topic “advanced self-cleaning surfaces” has collected a variety of approaches for self-cleaning, including theoretical approaches, as well as small-scale laboratory experiments and material validation in relevant environments, demonstrating how tailoring the surface for the nano- and micro-meter scale surface phenomena can affect the larger-scale phenomena.
Maria Vittoria Diamanti, Massimiliano D'Arienzo
This book is a dissemination of research on mental health and school adjustment approached from a psychoeducational perspective. From this perspective, mental health and/or psychological variables are examined for higher academic performance and better school adjustment. The study of mental health and school adjustment is especially relevant if we want to improve the quality of education and school performance from primary education to university.
Arantzazu Rodríguez-Fernández, Iker Izar-de-la-Fuente
Computing and Information Computer science
With the popularity of the social media, a large amount of user-generated content, such as comments, is emerging, which is crucial for all industries. Recently, the development of deep learning and computing power have made it possible to handle complex data. However, there are still some including (but are not limited to): (1) How can we construct a multi-modal sentiment analysis framework? (2) How can we accurately extract aspect–sentiment quadruples? (3) How can we generate fine-grained sentiment text? To tackle these challenges, this Special Issue focuses on multi-modal sentiment analysis, aspect–sentiment extraction, interpretability, and so on.
Advances in Polymer Blends and Composites
Polymer blends and composites are seen as valuable technical solutions to improve the mechanical and other properties of polymers. Hence, nowadays, these materials are used in a wide range of applications. The actual trends in research and development of these materials arise from two main requirements, which often need to be conciliated: i) increasing performance of polymer materials and extending their applications as advanced materials in various fields; ii) better fitting of new materials to sustainable development requirements that involve the improvement of the environmental behavior of polymer materials.
Eduard-Marius Lungulescu, Radu Setnescu, Cristina Stancu
Polymeric Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications
Recently, polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted significant attention in biomedical applications. Due to their advantageous properties, including biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity, natural and synthetic polymers are versatile materials that offer several advantages for the therapy and diagnosis of a vast range of diseases and health conditions.
Stephanie Andrade, Joana A. Loureiro, Maria João Ramalho
Cables, as the "arteries" and "nerves" of the national economy, are widely used in energy transmission, information transmission and various motor instruments. However, with the increasing demand for electricity and the energy infrastructure’s inevitable aging, cable and electrical fires have become the main cause of fire-related accidents. Our Special Issue, named “Cable and Electrical Fires”, compiles current research on cable and electrical fires, as well as present progress to the wider community and encourage further research in this area. Up to now, 11 high-quality articles have been included in this Special Issue.
New Advances in the Management of Voice Disorders
Despite recurring symptoms in voice disorder patterns, experience and know-how of clinicians—the practical knowledge acquired over the years on various medical or therapeutic methods of providers—the extent of the voice disorder, prognosis, and effective as well as efficient treatments for the individual patient remain unaffected. In order to optimize medical–therapeutic action, it is necessary to be regularly informed about the selection of appropriate treatment options for voice disorders based on new research evidence from, for example, clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, in order to pursue better clinical reasoning and treatment success.
Advances in Mine Backfilling Technology and Materials
Backfill mining has become a key sustainable solution for waste management and ground control in underground mines, valued for its efficiency and environmental benefits. Recent research has significantly advanced backfill methods, materials, and system performance, driving broader industry adoption. This Special Issue highlights innovative studies across multiple dimensions, from fundamental material properties under dynamic loads to practical applications like improved dewatering and optimized mining techniques.
Damage and Failure Analysis of Polymer-Based Composites
A thorough understanding of the damage and failure mechanisms of composites is fundamental to improving the performance of composite structures and achieving optimized designs. In this Special Issue, we present the latest research findings on damage and failure analysis of polymer-based composites, covering a wide range of important topics from the damage mechanisms of composite materials and structures to the enhancement of durability in high-performance materials, utilizing various advanced analytical methods and testing technologies.
Xiaoquan Cheng, Wenjun Huang, Qian Zhang
This book studies the social consequences of bureaucratic and scientific change during the transition to modern states and societies in the Age of Enlightenment, as it explores how the Habsburg Empire deployed new ways and means to integrate existing structures into supra-regional systems of order. Exemplarily focused on Lower Austria, the book ties together the bustling imperial capital of Vienna and its hinterlands, where there was little economic, political, and social change before 1850.
Towns between Empires contains contributions regarding urban administration and governance in the historical regions that are now in Romania, and that fall under the early modern concept of good governance. Chapters give insight into the concepts and solutions applied by urban governments to political, social and economic issues that were under their care and control. The authors approach various aspects of this topic: town councils as political and economic elites of early modern towns, urban political systems as models of early modern ideas of administration, relations between towns and central authorities (the Prince), healthcare as good governance.
Clinical Advances in Allergy and Asthma: Issues, Strategies, and Future Directions
This reprint aims to provide the reader with the latest clinical strategies and therapeutic innovations employed in managing asthma and allergies. This Special Issue seeks to unveil the potential and prospects of a multidisciplinary approach from traditional diagnostic methods to advanced functional monitoring techniques and the innovation of conventional and emerging therapies, including revolutionary monoclonal antibody-based biologic therapies. In this reprint, leading experts share their insights and cutting-edge visions for redefining the treatment of complex diseases, highlighting the path to increasingly personalized and effective management.
This book discusses the state of the art of the human lymphatic system and its involvement in health and disease conditions. The modulation of lymphatic organs and their interplay could be valid strategies to prevent and treat different diseases, promoting a global healthy state. The authors emphasize the strict correlation between anatomic-morphological and functional changes and different pathophysiological states. This book is designed to encourage researchers to investigate the anatomic morphology of the lymphatic system and its correlation to different disease states.
Skin Sensitization Testing Using New Approach Methodologies
Skin sensitization, representing one of the regulatory toxicity endpoints, is seeing significant progress in the uptake of new approach methodologies, comprising non-animal evaluations, to provide regulatory and product development information on chemical and product hazard and potency.
Economic theory Economic history Philosophy
This book adopts an integrated history and philosophy of science approach to consider the historical origins and methodological pitfalls of field experiments in economics. It explains key concepts such as control and randomization and identifies two distinct origins of field experimentation in economics: controlled laboratory experiments and randomized field trials. Careful historical analysis reveals that two strands of field experiments have developed, with rather different methodological rationales regarding the validity, both internal and external, of inferences about experimental results.
Modern liberal democracy and authoritarian collectivism have known diverse political regimes; autocratic, oligarchic or democratic, they each consist of a mixed, partly oligarchic regime in which plebeian politics are subordinated. With authoritarian collectivism’s defeat, a return to modernity has produced one more hybrid configuration. An in-depth investigation of political modernity and how it is differentiated from other forms of society, this book researches its origins and trajectory as a specific dimension of modern civilisation – articulating a renewed critical theory through an analysis of rights and law, politics, state and autonomy, social reproduction, crisis and political change.
Morphological and Physiological Research on Fish
The Special Issue “Morphological and Physiological Research on Fish” focuses on the application of morphological and physiological research conducted on fish, with the goal of providing information on the relevance of morphological studies and their relationships to functions. Fish are not only the largest and most diverse group of vertebrates, but they also have a wide range of applications in research and industry.
Morphological Design and Synthesis of Nanoparticles
The aim of this reprint is to capture some of the current trends in nanoparticle research focused on the correlation between nanoparticle morphology and function. For instance, the asymmetry of Janus nanoparticles gives them amphiphilic properties and the ability to partition at interfaces, self-assemble into superstructures, emulsify, or act as unidirectional nanomotors, among other things. However, there are countless other examples of functionality that stem from the morphological design of the nanoparticles, such as in nanoparticle catalysis, in drug delivery systems, or for nanoparticles used as technology facilitators for designing nanostructured materials, interfaces, and composites.
Advances in Deep-Learning-Based Sensing, Imaging, and Video Processing
This Topical Collection focuses on fundamental and applied research on deep learning based visual sensing, imaging and video processing. Deep learning techniques have shown their capabilities to discover knowledge from massive unstructured data, providing data-driven solutions for representation and decision making. They have demonstrated significant technical advancement potential for many research fields and applications, such as sensors and imaging, audio-visual signal processing, and pattern recognition.
Information-Theoretic Methods in Deep Learning
The rapid development of deep learning has led to groundbreaking advancements across various fields, from computer vision to natural language processing and beyond. Information theory, as a mathematical foundation for understanding data representation, learning, and communication, has emerged as a powerful tool in advancing deep learning methods.This Special Issue, "Information-Theoretic Methods in Deep Learning: Theory and Applications", presents cutting-edge research that bridges the gap between information theory and deep learning.
This Edited Volume, Public Finance and Accounting is a collection of reviewed and relevant research chapters, offering a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the field of Public Finance and Accounting. The book comprises single chapters authored by various researchers and edited by an expert active in the field. All chapters are complete in themselves, but they are united under a common research study topic. This publication aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research efforts by international authors and to open up new possible research paths for further novel developments.
Advanced Research in Shipping Informatics and Communications
The aim of this Special Issue is to provide the reader with an overview of the technological revolution the shipping industry is experiencing through the integration of informatics and digitalization. Shipping 4.0 is leading the industry ahead, embracing new technologies, and, at the same time, facing an evolving cyber security threat landscape. In this Special Issue a number of leading academic and industry experts are providing their insight through published research covering areas including maritime cyber security, additive manufacturing, e-navigation technologies, telecommunications, Artificial Intelligence, and autonomous maritime systems and robotics.
The contributions in this Reprint cover various aspects of application such as diagnosis, imaging, and assessing prognosis, collectively demonstrating the improvements in diagnostic accuracy and medical decision making that can be achieved by machine learning approaches
Digital and information technologies Computer security
Available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. What does it mean to live in a world where our most essential systems are digital—and vulnerable? This book takes readers beyond the technical aspects of cybersecurity to explore how the management of digital risk shapes politics, policy and everyday life. Drawing on case studies from corporate boardrooms to international affairs, it reveals the social and political logics driving the fast-growing cyber risk industry.
Despite the massive costs associated with data breaches, ransomware, viruses, and cyberattacks, most organizations remain thoroughly unprepared to safeguard consumer data. Over the past two decades, the insurance industry has begun offering cyber insurance to help organizations manage cybersecurity and privacy law compliance, while also offering risk management services as part of their insurance packages. These insurers have thus effectively evolved into de facto regulators—yet at the same time, they have failed to effectively curtail cybersecurity breaches.
Educational Leadership and Management in the Modern Era
Educational Leadership and Management in the Modern Era offers a global, future-oriented perspective on how leadership and management practices can transform educational institutions to meet the needs of the twenty-first century. The volume examines key themes such as social justice, equity, technological innovation, instructional leadership, and organizational change, emphasizing how effective leadership can foster inclusive learning environments, enhance institutional resilience, and promote innovation across educational settings.
This Reprint brings together a curated selection of peer-reviewed articles published within the Topical Collection on multimedia-based digital learning in the journal Digital. The collection addresses recent advances in the design, implementation, and evaluation of digital learning environments that leverage multimedia technologies to enhance learning effectiveness, accessibility, and engagement. The Reprint covers a broad range of topics, including e-learning and blended learning frameworks, multimedia educational content, learning analytics, educational software and games, digital platforms for distance education, and emerging technologies supporting data-driven and personalized learning experiences.
Healthy, Digital and Sustainable Buildings and Cities
The following Special Issue on Healthy, Digital, and Sustainable Buildings and Cities features 16 papers that collectively explore enhancing built and urban environments through a focus on health, technology, and sustainability. Topics include biophilic design, strategies to reduce indoor air pollution, and the Smart Readiness Indicator's application in educational buildings. The included studies also address thermal comfort in sports halls, trends in sustainability research, and project management methodologies for construction projects.
This Reprint of the Special Issue, titled "Cognitive Load Theory: Emerging Trends and Innovations" (Education Sciences, April 2025) explores the latest advancements in cognitive load theory (CLT), a pivotal framework for optimizing learning through cognitive psychology and instructional design. Featuring 15 articles from the 15th International Cognitive Load Theory Conference, it examines how CLT adapts to modern challenges like technology-enhanced learning, embodied cognition, and individual learner differences.
Critical Perspectives on EdTech in Higher Education
Higher education Artificial intelligence
This open access book provides critical perspectives on educational technology (EdTech) platforms and platformisation in higher education. It focuses on three analytical dimensions: higher education actors’ struggles with the tension between autonomy from and dependence on EdTech platforms, the effects of platform features and platformisation on human interactions in higher education, and future scenarios and alternatives to dominant commercial paths.
“Advancing Nonprofit Management: Innovations, Challenges and Best Practices” is a Reprint of a Special Issue in Administrative Sciences. It includes an introduction looking broadly at the field and eight articles examining specific innovations. Nonprofits operate in diverse environments, sometimes with clear boundaries and accountabilities and other times in ways that blur with other institutions’ goals, actions, and outcomes. Over the past decade, many nonprofits have implemented new practices, processes, and structures that raise questions about how management innovations emerge, diffuse, and shape performance.
Computational Analysis and Conformational Modeling for Protein Structure and Interaction
Protein structure and interactions underpin the molecular logic of life, driving essential processes such as signal transduction, molecular recognition, and catalysis. Insights into this domain are pivotal for elucidating biological mechanisms, advancing therapeutic discovery, and enabling the rational design of engineered proteins. Experimental approaches notably X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and cryo-EM together with recent AI-driven tools such as AlphaFold3, ESMFold, and RoseTTAFold All-Atom, have transformed protein structure determination.
This reprint focuses on data-driven software solutions and their impact on research and development at the academic, industry, business, and government levels to exploit the hidden knowledge and big data that can be offered to cities and citizens in the future. Data-driven software solutions are different from “traditional” software development projects, as the focus of the main development core is on managing the data (e.g., data store and data quality) and designing behavioral models with the aid of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques.
Advances in Diagnostic Analysis, Strategic Management, and Proactive Maintenance of Electrical Equipment
The reliability and safety of modern power systems depend heavily on the optimal performance of electrical equipment. As energy networks become increasingly complex due to the integration of renewable sources and smart grid technologies, the strategies that are used to manage these assets must evolve. This Reprint compiles cutting-edge research and practical case studies dedicated to the lifecycle management of critical power infrastructure. The collected works explore sophisticated diagnostic techniques, including non-invasive sensing, signal processing, and AI-driven fault detection.
Artificial Intelligence in Neurobiology and Neurologic Diseases
Medicine and Nursing Neurology and clinical neurophysiology
Millions of people are affected by neurological disorders. Patients with such conditions have a variety of limitations that impact not just their lives but also the lives of their caregivers. Early detection of the condition can be improved with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based techniques. AI is having a disruptive and transformative effect on clinical medicine. In the fields of neurology and neurobiology, there has been increasing interest regarding developing models and tools to address the complex patterns of connectivity in brain tissue.
Artificial Intelligence Applications and Innovation
Computer science Artificial Intelligence
The idea of an intelligent machine has fascinated humans for centuries. Intelligence can be defined as the capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, or the aptitude for grasping truths, relationships, facts, or meanings. Any of these perspectives requires the capacity to acquire data from the surrounding environment and possibly act over that environment. In short, the building of autonomous agents served with sensors and actuators, capable of learning and producing educated answers was long foreseen. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is impacting our day-to-day lives, our cities, and even our free time.
João M. F. Rodrigues, Pedro J. S. Cardoso, Marta Chinnici
Artificial Intelligence Applied to Medical Imaging and Computational Biology
Medical imaging and computational biology continuously pose new fundamental medical and biological questions that often give rise to novel challenges in Artificial Intelligence. These research fields present an increasing need for the application of cutting-edge computational approaches that generally involve machine learning or computational intelligence techniques, which can effectively perform bioimage and biosignal processing in different clinical areas.
Leonardo Rundo, Carmelo Militello, Andrea (Tangherloni
This reprint captures how functional connectivity research is revolutionizing brain science. The featured papers bridge fundamental discovery with tangible applications, uncovering the neural architecture of decision-making, social cognition, and clinical disorders. Integrating methods from electrophysiology to artificial intelligence, the contributions advance beyond correlation toward predictive modeling and mechanistic insight. This collection affirms that mapping brain networks is a foundational tool for progress in healthcare, neurotechnology, and our core understanding of the human mind.
Technologies in Cell Culture - A Journey From Basics to Advanced Applications is a comprehensive book that offers a broad overview of the subject, encompassing fundamental concepts, modern techniques, and their diverse applications across various fields. Comprising eleven chapters authored by leading international experts in their respective fields, this book adeptly navigates the complexities of cell culture. It provides valuable insights into bioprocessing, cancer biology, regenerative medicine, and more.
Granular materials are ubiquitous, encompassing sand, dirt, medications, and industrial powders. Comprehending their behavior is essential for progress in engineering, industry, and scientific inquiry. Granularity of Materials – Modern Applications examines the physics, mechanics, and practical uses of granular materials, connecting foundational ideas with advanced technology. This book addresses the fundamental physics and behavior of granular materials.
Financial Technology (Fintech) and Sustainable Financing, 3rd Edition
This edited volume, sourced from the Journal of Risk and Financial Management, explores the critical intersection of modern finance, technological innovation (FinTech), and sustainable development. It features cutting-edge research on how FinTech is driving the transition toward a globally sustainable financial system. This book details the synergy between digital infrastructure and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) imperatives.
Artificial Intelligence and Blended Learning
Information technology Artificial Intelligence
This is a reprint of the Special Issue “Artificial Intelligence and Blended Learning: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions” in the Technology-Enhanced Education section of the Education Sciences journal. The call for papers was open from November 2024 through the end of December 2025. The issue comprises eight papers—six research articles and two systematic reviews—covering a broad range of topics, including AI adoption among college students, AI readiness of pre-service teachers, prediction of segment access frequency in lecture archives, frameworks for AI-driven metaverse technologies, evaluation of the accuracy of an educational AI model, and analyses of subject-specialized chatbots. The systematic reviews focus on cybersecurity curricula and on the use of ChatGPT in teaching and learning.
Artificial Intelligence Algorithms and Generative AI in Education
This Reprint explores the transformative influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI on education. It presents a collection of research studies examining how advanced algorithms, adaptive systems, and intelligent tutoring technologies are reshaping teaching, learning, and assessment. The contributions analyze both opportunities and challenges arising from AI integration, highlighting the potential of personalized and data-driven approaches to improve educational outcomes. Ethical considerations, innovative methodologies, and practical implementations are also discussed, offering a comprehensive perspective on how AI can support inclusive and engaging learning environments.
Antonio Sarasa Cabezuelo, María Estefanía Avilés Mariño
Recent Progress and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in Bioinformatics and New Medicine
This Reprint showcases cutting-edge research at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), bioinformatics, and new medicine. It highlights recent advances and persistent challenges in leveraging AI to address complex biological and clinical problems, such as multi-omics integration, cancer discovery, single-cell analysis, and network modeling. Contributions include innovative deep learning methods, data mining approaches, and computational tools designed to decode disease mechanisms, identify risk factors, and accelerate translational medicine.
Modeling the Relationship and Capabilities of Digital Marketing Inhibitors in Marketing - A Multidisciplinary Approach to Understanding the Complexities of Digital Marketing
This book will help you unlock the secrets of digital marketing while it explores the complex relationships between digital marketing inhibitors and discovers how to overcome obstacles to achieve marketing success. This book provides a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the capabilities and limitations of digital marketing, covering topics such as service innovation, marketing technology, artificial intelligence, and sustainable branding.
Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy of Antimicrobial Agents
In this Special Issue, our aim was to collect studies on clinical pharmacology and pharmacy of antimicrobial agents from both human and veterinary medicine as the complex problem of AMR requires actions taken within the One Health approach that involve both fields. Studies covered here are about new or optimized usage of already authorized antimicrobials, as well as discoveries about new agents, new combinations of drugs, and drug repositioning.
Engineering and Characterisation of Novel Nanomedicine Formulations
Over the last few decades, nanomedicine has become a hot topic in formulation science regarding selectively delivering drugs to target tissues. Nanomedicines can modify drug release and encapsulate poorly soluble drugs, allowing for a selective targeting and minimizing adverse effects. This is of key importance in antitumoral and anti-infectious therapies, in which undesired drug release can lead to severe damage to healthy tissues. Moreover, they protect drugs from degradation, allowing for the the delivery of RNA.
Raquel Fernández García, Francisco Bolás-Fernández, Ana Isabel Fraguas-Sánchez
Biopolymer-Based Nanosystem for Drug Delivery
Medicine and Nursing Manufacturing industries
This Special Issue of Pharmaceutics presents recent advances in the development and application of biopolymer-based nanosystems for drug delivery. The featured articles highlight innovative approaches to designing nanoscale carriers using natural and synthetic biopolymers, focusing on their ability to enhance bioavailability, control drug release, and achieve targeted delivery. Contributions explore a wide range of systems, including nanoparticles, micelles, hydrogels, and nanofibers, as well as their physicochemical characterization, biological performance, and potential clinical relevance.
Secondary Metabolites from Natural Products
Secondary metabolites remain an inexhaustible source of inspiration for the natural and applied sciences. Advances in extraction techniques, bioanalysis and structural characterization accelerate the discovery of compounds with potential pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial applications. This Special Issue of Molecules emphasizes the importance of integrating phytochemistry, microbiology, and biotechnology in order to fully utilize natural resources in innovations consistent with the principles of sustainable development.
Women's Special Issue Series : Analytical Methods
In this Special Issue, seven original research articles, two review articles, and one protocol show the impact of female researchers in the field of analytical science. Analytical methods are necessary in dentistry, medicine (both human and veterinary), archaeology, the pharmaceutical industry, food science and technology, and environmental sciences, and these are only a few examples. The multidisciplinary role of chemistry is reflected in all important advances from research groups in technological progress, proving that analytical chemistry is the key issue in scientific progress.
Victoria Samanidou, Verónica Pino, Natasa Kalogiouri
Recent Advances in Infrared Spectroscopy and Its Applications in Biotechnology
Infrared (IR) spectroscopy has become a powerful tool in biotechnology, enabling precise molecular characterization, disease detection, and biomolecular analysis. Recent Advances in Infrared Spectroscopy and Its Applications in Biotechnology explores the latest developments in this field, highlighting its expanding role in medical diagnostics, neuroscience, food science, and pharmaceutical research.
Integrating Climate Risks in Bank Risk Management and Capital Requirements
Diese Open-Access-Studie zeigt, wie europäische Banken derzeit Klimarisiken in ihr Risikomanagement integrieren. Als Rahmen für unsere Analyse wählen wir dabei den Baseler-Regulierungsansatz. Unsere Ergebnisse stellen sowohl den Status Quo hinsichtlich des Umgangs mit Klimarisiken im Bank-Risikomanagement dar, sie beschreiben aber vor allem auch die Herausforderungen in der Umsetzung der aktuellen (und geplanten) Regulierungsanforderungen und geben Hinweise auf einen Best Practice Ansatz.
Climate change is increasingly contested on financial terms. Different actors are advancing competing climate visions and interests by adopting financial positions. International institutions urge action by identifying financing gaps needed to meet climate targets. The finance sector claims it holds the key to unlocking money needed for climate investment. Activists expose greenwashing while using financial tactics to undermine fossil fuels. Vulnerable countries demand wealthy governments repay historical climate debts.This book offers an accessible and critical guide to the political economy and economic geography of climate finance.
This open access book brings together some of the most eminent scholars of international trade to celebrate the scholarly, diplomatic, and institution-building achievements of Thomas Cottier, Professor Emeritus of International Economic Law at the University of Bern and founder of the World Trade Institute. Over his half-century career, Thomas Cottier has promoted the development of international trade law by shaping our understanding of how multiple layers of law interact to form a global legal system.
Krista Nadakavukaren Schefer, Rodrigo Polanco, Pierre Sauvé
International Handbook on Clinical Tax Education
While tax clinics have existed in the US since the 1970s, they are now being established throughout the world, with recent clinical developments in Australia, the UK and Ireland in particular. Of interest to higher education professionals, the tax profession and policymakers, this practical handbook explores the benefits that a clinical tax education can have and equips readers with the tools needed to start a clinical tax project. It investigates the ways in which tax clinics can both educate and remedy tax positions for local communities.
Cryptography - Computer Science Network security
Cryptography has crept into everything, from Web browsers and e-mail programs to cell phones, bank cards, and cars. Shortly, we will see many new exciting applications for cryptography such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for anti-counterfeiting. As a consequence of the pervasiveness of crypto algorithms, an increasing number of people must understand how they work and how they can be applied in practice. This book addresses this issue by providing a comprehensive introduction to modern applied cryptography that is equally suited for students and practitioners in industry.
Sudhakar Radhakrishnan, Carlos M. Travieso-González
Epidemiology and Medical statistics Medical administration Medical research
Providing a comparison between context in Europe and the US, this volume investigates the digital transformation of health systems, comparing strategies for digital development while identifying both key innovations and future challenges. The book covers a wide spectrum of topics, from explaining the nature of individual innovations to an analysis of demand-side and supply-side barriers, including funding issues and technological access. It also explores where digitalization is already playing an important role, for example, in clinical trials and disease modeling.
Marzenna Anna Weresa, Christina Ciecierski, Lidia ilus
Given the ongoing interest in dietary fibers, this book, New Insights in Dietary Fibers, aims to provide the most comprehensive presentation of current information in the literature, thereby improving existing knowledge. The chapters in this book have been divided into four sections.
Bridging Governance, Public Support, Innovation, and Transparency
Corporate governance, Business innovation, Business
Sustainable development can be achieved by organisations in a supportive environment that includes a culture of transparency, accountability and shared values. This short, open access contributed volume presents an overview of sustainable development practices through a comprehensive analysis of various initiatives, frameworks, and challenges faced by both governments and businesses in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Public international law Environmental Science
This book offers a range of scholarly approaches to environmental violence, including law, social and environmental science, engineering, as well as from the arts and humanities. Presenting various cultural perspectives from around the world, it is indispensable reading for researchers and policymakers in environmental policy and peacebuilding.
Richard A. Marcantonio, John Paul Lederach, Agustín Fuentes
This book debates the high impact modern societies have on the way we raise children. Although problems such as family dysfunction, work–family imbalance, and migration due to war, violence, and poverty are not new, their consequences for children’s well-being and mental health are aggravated by the lack of effective social support networks affecting many children and families living in contemporaneous urban areas. The proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” is as valid now as it was in the early history of less complex communities.
Recent Perspectives on Preschool Education and Care
The preschool period is a period in which children investigate and try to get to know their environment, are willing to communicate with their environment and begin to acquire the value judgments of the society they live in and the behaviors and habits appropriate to the cultural structure of that society. In this period when the foundations of personality are laid, the child needs conscious guidance in home, school, and social life. By providing appropriate educational opportunities in the early years, the development of children’s self-care, mind, language, social, emotional, and motor skills can be supported.
This book examines critical challenges in male reproductive health through five focused chapters addressing environmental threats, cellular protection, and clinical interventions. From microplastic contamination and antioxidant therapies to congenital urological conditions, reproductive aging, and post-surgical outcomes following testicular sperm extraction, each chapter provides evidence-based approaches for contemporary clinical practice.
This edited volume is a collection of reviewed and relevant research chapters that provide a comprehensive overview of recent developments in maternal and child health. Written by experts, the book presents the latest research in the field and opens new possible research paths for further novel developments.
Shaping Inclusive Workplaces for Persons with Disabilities
Personnel Management Human resources management
Despite the increase in research about workplace inclusion, the current literature is dominated by a negative focus on the barriers managers face as they attempt to hire people from disadvantaged groups, including people with disabilities. This open access book offers a positive and practical guide to workplace inclusion that focuses on the opportunities and strategies for managers to succeed and to develop and capitalize on the strengths and resources of individuals.
Technostress and Organizational Sustainability
Personnel Management Human esources management Sociology
This in-depth book explores the growing challenge of technostress, a unique form of work-related stress caused by increasing dependence on technology and its impact on individuals, organizations, and society. By examining the sources, consequences, and management of technostress, the book bridges the gap between technology and organizational sustainability. It offers practical strategies for addressing discomfort, promoting well-being, and building healthier, more productive work environments in the digital age. Readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of the negative effects of technostress on health, emotions, and organizational performance.
Vincenzo Auriemma, Caterina Galdiero, et.al
The Changing Landscape of Workplace and Workforce
This book represents a collaborative effort by a multinational group of scholars aiming to contribute to the evolving discourse on the nature of work and the workplace in the 21st century. Its chapters offer a blend of literature reviews, theoretical insights, and empirical findings drawn from diverse national contexts. Employing a range of research methods including case studies, interviews, surveys, and literature reviews, the book provides a comprehensive exploration of the changing landscape of the workplace and workforce.
Human Sustainability and Cognitive Overload at Work
This innovative book considers the cost of cognitive overload and psychological distress on human sustainability, and suggests ways to prevent employees from becoming a psychologically depleted workforce. Employee attentional processing capacity is maxed out, and psychological distress is at an all-time high. Alexander D. Stajkovic and Kayla S. Stajkovic explain how human cognitive ‘broadband’ is at the hunter-gatherer level and changes at an evolutionary snail’s pace. Yet the amount of information necessary to make a living now is incomparable to then, and the current relationship between workers and organizations is unsustainable.
Alexander D Stajkovic, Kayla S. Stajkovic
The sol-gel method is a powerful and versatile wet chemical process for synthesizing advanced materials, particularly oxide-based nanostructures. Its ability to produce materials in various forms, such as powders, thin films, fibers, and aerogels, makes it a valuable tool in fields ranging from electronics and energy to medicine and environmental science. This book provides a comprehensive overview of sol-gel technology, highlighting its cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and precise control over material properties. Special attention is given to developing sustainable sol-gel processes in response to increasing environmental concerns.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Glaucoma is challenging to treat and poses a significant socioeconomic burden on society. New techniques and methods for both diagnosis and treatment are sorely needed. Glaucoma - Recent Advances and New Perspectives provides a comprehensive overview of glaucoma with chapters on topics ranging from diagnostic techniques to genetic testing and biomarkers.
Human Teeth - The Intersection of Science, Disease, and Clinical Practice is a dynamic exploration of oral health across clinical, technological, and public health domains. This expertly edited volume provides a comprehensive look at the evolution of dental care, from early prevention to global disease patterns, complex treatment challenges, and emerging technologies in restorative dentistry. With clear insights and a multidisciplinary lens, the book highlights how oral health connects to broader issues such as systemic disease, healthcare equity, digital innovation, and lifelong well-being.
Manal A. Ablal, Adejumoke Adeola Adeyemi
Dermatology - The Latest Research on Common Skin Diseases provides a comprehensive and scholarly review of common skin diseases, incorporating the latest scientific advances. This volume offers important updates on the underlying pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and evolving treatment strategies related to these disorders. It also addresses atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, alopecia areata, systemic scleroderma, and hidradenitis suppurativa, diseases that, despite their prevalence, remain diagnostically and therapeutically challenging.
Continuous improvement of approaches for dam design engineering and groundwater resource characterization is needed to respond to new environmental challenges brought upon by climate changes and population growth. The book is divided into two sections. The first section deals with dam designs’ technical, socio-economic, and sustainability aspects. The second section covers technical aspects of groundwater resource characterization. We believe the book will be a valuable resource for hydrology, civil engineering, and groundwater professionals.
The rapid pace of advancements in technology and science continually reshapes the field of neonatology, making it increasingly challenging for healthcare professionals to stay abreast of the latest developments. Neonatal Care - Integrating Research with Clinical Practice is a guide designed to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and its practical application in neonatal care settings. Evidence-based nutritional strategies, research-informed clinical protocols for sepsis and neonatal endocrine disorders, and innovative tools powered by artificial intelligence in this book aim to improve patient outcomes and enhance the quality of neonatal care.
Neuropediatrics is a branch of health care that involves the diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems in children and adolescents. In history, as the medical care opportunities for severe neural injuries were minimal, children with brain damage were usually rejected and many of them died early from infections, inappropriate treatment, and neglect.
Best and Safe Practices in Different Contexts of Neonatal Care
The field of neonatal care has been a long-standing concern within the broader field of child health, given the crucial role the neonatal stage plays in the development of individuals. While many of the most effective practices in neonatal care have been widely disseminated across maternal and childcare units globally, cultural and social differences, as well as the availability of resources, necessitate the adaptation of these practices to the specific contexts of each place. This book discusses a range of crucial topics related to neonatal care over two sections.
Algae - Science and Applications provides a comprehensive overview of algae's versatility and promising applications in various fields. The book covers commercial and industrial uses, from biofuels and biodegradable products to valuable nutritional supplements. Readers will discover the critical role of algae in aquaculture, where seaweeds enhance environmental sustainability and productivity. It also presents solutions for mitigating climate change by growing microalgae in advanced photobioreactors designed to capture and convert carbon dioxide.
Child development - Psycology Child Psycology Developmental Psycology
Child abuse and neglect is a scourge in our global community. In the United States alone, the nation loses an average of five children a day to child abuse and neglect. The impact of child abuse and neglect is significant. It can affect esteem, health and development, learning outcomes, and more importantly, closeness between a child and their parent. This book highlights the issues associated with child abuse and neglect and captures the nuances of its effect on child development and psychosocial well-being. The authors are from the international community and speak to the dynamics of child abuse and neglect across nations.
Talking about non-recent child sexual abuse
This book addresses the issue of non-recent child sex abuse and its long-term impact on adult survivors from a broadly psychodynamic perspective. Non-recent CSA is not a subject that can or should be confined to the clinical arena. It has legal, welfare and profound social implications, with its impact broadening out from the survivor to the family to the community and into wider society.
In an era marked by rapid social, cultural, and technological change, the field of psychometrics is evolving to meet new challenges and possibilities. Contemporary Psychometrics - New Developments and Applications offers a timely and rigorous exploration of emerging perspectives, methods, and applications in psychological assessment. This volume brings together international scholars whose contributions reflect the diversity and complexity of modern psychometric inquiry. From innovative theoretical frameworks to culturally sensitive approaches, the chapters address key questions facing researchers and practitioners today.
María Cristina Richaud, Belen Mesurado, Viviana Noemí Lemos
Parenting is a dynamic and multifaceted process shaped by history, psychology, and societal expectations. This book provides researchers with a comprehensive exploration of parenting styles, their evolution, and their impact on child development. It investigates the challenges parents face, the role of education in fostering communication skills, and the self-help mechanisms of foster parents. Additionally, it examines how race and systemic factors influence school choice for black families.
María Cristina Richaud, Jael Vargas-Rubilar, Viviana Noemí Lemos
Diabetic Foot Ulcers - Pathogenesis, Innovative Treatments, and AI Applications is a groundbreaking compilation that offers a comprehensive examination of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) from multiple perspectives. With contributions from leading experts in the field, this book explores the epidemiology, risk factors, and underlying pathophysiology of DFUs, providing valuable insights into the complexities of this debilitating complication of diabetes. Innovative treatments for DFUs are explored in depth, including the latest advancements in wound care, bioengineered skin substitutes, growth factors, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Muhammad E. H. Chowdhury, Susu M. Zughaier, et.al
The Edited Volume, Diabetic Foot - Advanced Methods of Management , is a collection of peer-reviewed research chapters that offers a comprehensive overview of recent developments in endocrinology. The book comprises single chapters authored by various researchers and edited by experts active in this research area. All chapters are complete but united under a common research study topic. This publication aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research efforts by international authors in endocrinology, opening new avenues for further development.
Currently, there are many complicated health disorders with different etiologies and pathogeneses, including cancers, obesity, periodontitis, cardiovascular disease, liver, skin and renal disorders. It is now known that the causes and pathogenesis of many complex chronic diseases are usually polyfactorial: genetic, environmental, constitutive factors, or a combination of these. Recently, poly-target molecules containing enzymes capable of catalyzing several reactions have been efficiently used in the treatment of several metabolic disorders, and infectious and inflammatory diseases.
Glucose and Insulin Homeostasis provides a thorough overview of the latest research efforts in endocrinology and opens new possible research paths for further novel developments. Chapters address such topics as hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients and those with type 1 diabetes, use of metformin in high-risk patients, the importance of continuous glucose monitoring, lifestyle interventions for managing insulin resistance, and much more.
Yogic practice brings many health benefits at both physical and mental levels. Yoga has many therapeutic aspects and the research on yoga therapy is increasing day by day. It encompasses yoga therapy for lifestyle-related disorders like hypertension, diabetes, cancer, stress, anxiety, depression, and more. Yoga - Exploring the Health Benefits and Diverse Dimensions explores different dimensions of yoga, such as traditional knowledge, health impacts, and other aspects promoting mental, emotional, and physical health backed by scientific research.
Etiology, Prevention and Management of Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a disorder affecting cardiac muscle cells and negatively impacting the ability of the heart to perform its functions. The prevalence of cardiomyopathy varies according to the type of cardiomyopathy, but inherited hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is very common because it affects about 1 in 500 people globally. Cardiomyopathy can affect any person irrespective of age, gender, or ethnicity. The severity of the symptoms of cardiomyopathy depends largely on the stage and gravity of the disease.
Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) surgery is a fascinating field of medicine and surgery due to the complexity of the physiology and anatomy of the organ systems involved in multiple disease processes. Medical and surgical consultants are often involved in the case of patients with UGI disorders in a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment that contributes to improved patient care. This book, entitled Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery - Contemporary Techniques and Training , illustrates some of the most common diseases and challenges that clinicians and specialists must diagnose and treat to help their patients after extensive training and with the collective experience that arises from a team approach.
This book aims to be an accessible and practical resource for all medical and paramedical staff within a bariatric center. However, it is also intended for general surgeons who are not specialists in bariatrics. In this volume, leading experts in the field discuss patient selection, preoperative management, various bariatric procedures (both surgical and endoscopic), emerging technologies, anesthetic considerations, and complication management. The reader will appreciate both the surgical intricacies of bariatric techniques and the author's dedicated focus throughout the book.
This book offers a comprehensive overview of emerging advancements in the management of periodontal and peri-implant diseases, providing crucial insights for clinicians and researchers alike. It explores the potential of probiotics in restoring oral microbiome balance and investigates the future applications of epigenetics and stem cell therapies in periodontal regeneration. The book highlights innovative technologies, such as three-dimensional printing and diode laser therapies, poised to enhance diagnostic precision and therapeutic outcomes.
Advances in the Psychology of Well-Being
Advances in the Psychology of Well-Being explores the cutting edge of psychological science in a world increasingly in need of hope, resilience, and meaning. This academic volume brings together leading research on how to measure well-being more effectively, examines populations where happiness and flourishing are especially vital, and redefines what it means to live a psychologically healthy life. Moving beyond a deficit-based model, this work calls for a future in which psychology prioritizes human potential, joy, and fulfillment over pathology alone.
A Critical Reconstruction of Evidence-based Practice in Psychology
Psychotherapy Psychology Philosophy of mind
Evidence-based practice in psychology is the dominant regulatory principle in clinical psychology, defining psychological knowledge and its application. This book provides a critical analysis and a reconstruction of the policy statement focusing on epistemology and ethics. The book shows the ideological and historical background for the development of evidence-based practice in psychology.
The book Psychology of Narcissism - Theory, Research Trends, Interpersonal Relations, and Digital Impact presents a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration of narcissism, discussing its conceptual evolution, theoretical models, and evidence-based implications across psychology, social science, and digital culture. This volume provides an overview of current trends in narcissism research, along with a historical overview of narcissism research and a reflection on the most prominent narcissism models.
Personal Goals, Implicit Motives, and Self-Regulated Learning
This Festschrift celebrates the contributions of Joachim C. Brunstein to motivation studies, personality psychology, and the science of self- and co-regulated learning in the classroom. In six chapters, colleagues and former students explore some of the ways in which Brunstein’s work has fostered a better understanding of human goal striving, implicit motivational needs, how subjective well-being is shaped by the interplay between personal goals and implicit motives, and collaborative and self-regulated learning at school.
Artificial Intelligence and International Arbitration Law
Commercial law Civil procedure Communications law
The book asks whether the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI) in international arbitration represents a revolution or an evolution of the international dispute resolution landscape. Critically engaging with the transformative impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), this book focuses on the integration of AI and GenAI into international commercial arbitration. Set against the backdrop of rapid technological advancement, it explores how arbitral tribunals and stakeholders are cautiously yet progressively adopting these innovations in a manner that respects and preserves the foundational principles of arbitration.
Anthropology Public international law Constitutional and administrative law
This book provides a global perspective on the accommodation of diversity within constitutional traditions, considering the most innovative approaches and legal instruments of the Global North and Global South. This field of study, traditionally dominated by a Global North approach based on majority-minority and rights-based discourse, is undergoing significant development.
Heritage – Between and Beyond Nature, Culture and Agency
In an era of climate emergency and political upheaval, heritage demands radical rethinking. This volume confronts the Enlightenment-rooted dualisms that fragment heritage into opposing categories. By embracing posthumanist concepts like naturecultures and agency, this volume explores entangled human and nonhuman pasts, from the contested Białowieża Forest to ancient sensory environments. Through case studies spanning archaeology, museum studies, and literary analysis, contributors unravel heritage as a dynamic, more-than-human meshwork.
Joanna Godlewicz-Adamiec, Monika Stobiecka
Simple Solutions to Complex Catastrophes
Crime and criminology International relations
This open access book sets out simple solutions to managing complex catastrophes. It focusses on four kinds of crises – climate change, crime-war cascades, epidemics and financial crises. These catastrophes are conceived as complex and prone to cascade effects. This book is optimistic in explaining that there are identifiable simple institutions that international society can strengthen and some simple principles that can help humankind to control the expanding gamut of complex catastrophes that confront the planet including simple, stable institutions and regulatory bodies.
Crime and criminology Social and cultural anthropology Law
This book draws on Rohingya oral histories and narratives about Myanmar’s genocide and ID schemes to critique prevailing international approaches to legal identities and statelessness. By centring the narratives of survivors of state crimes, collected in the aftermath of the 2017 genocidal violence, this book examines the multiple uses of state-issued ID cards and registration documents in producing statelessness and facilitating genocide. In doing so, it challenges some of the international solutions put forward to resolve statelessness.
Global Perspectives in Forensic Psychiatry
Criminal or forensic psychology Psychotherapy Crime and criminology
Global Perspectives in Forensic Psychiatry: International Approaches to Practice, Policies, and the Law is an essential guide to understanding the international landscape of forensic mental health systems. This book presents global perspectives in forensic psychiatry and research, highlighting how national contexts and legal frameworks shape mental health care systems across multiple continents. Contributors from over 25 countries describe national approaches to the assessment, treatment, and management of justice-involved individuals with mental disorders.
Gary Chaimowitz, Mini Mamak, Heather Moulden, Drew Kingston
Business, Human Rights and Natural Resource Governance
Natural resources law Human rights, Comparative law
This open access book examines the role played by international, regional and national legal frameworks in holding corporations operating in the natural resource sector accountable for human rights violations in the Global South. Influential scholars from across the world address pressing issues concerning the integration of business and human rights standards for better governance of natural resources. They focus particularly on extractive and multinational companies in the Global South and their role in the transition to net zero societies.
Ricardo Pereira, Annalisa Savaresi, Lee McConnell
Decoding Marine Genetic Resource Governance Under the BBNJ Agreement
Public international law Environment Environmental management
This open access book provides practical guidance for understanding the new treaty adopted in June 2023 that will change the way biodiversity is governed in about two thirds of the oceans known as areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). The Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction is an achievement for global cooperation in conservation, sustainability and equity. The treaty provisions in Part II on Marine Genetic Resource (MGR) governance were the most contentious element of negotiations, resulting in significant innovation and compromise.
Social law and Medical law Politics and government Sociology
In this book, leading law academics along with lawyers, activists and others demonstrate what legislation could look like if its concern was to create justice for women. Each chapter contains a short piece of legislation – proposed in order to address a contemporary legal problem from a feminist perspective. These range across criminal law (sexual offences, Indigenous women’s experiences of criminal law, laws in relation to forced marriage, modern slavery, childcare and sentencing), civil law (aged care and housing rights, regulating the gig economy; surrogacy, gender equity in the construction industry) and constitutional law (human rights legislation, reimagining parliaments where laws are made for the benefit of women).
Becky Batagol, Kate Seear, Heli Askola, Jamie Walvisch
Pandemics, Public Health, and the Regulation of Borders
This book examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has engendered a new and challenging environment in which borders drawn around people, places, and social structures have hardened and new ones have emerged. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, borders closed or became unwelcoming at the international, national, sub-national, and local levels. Debate persists as to whether those countries and territories that tightly managed their borders, like New Zealand, Australia, or Hong Kong, got it ‘right’ compared to those that did not.
Colleen M. Flood, Y.Y. Brandon Chen, et.al
Pandemic Power offers a bold and thought-provoking exploration of how the global response to the Covid pandemic has reshaped our understanding of science, freedom, and democracy. This meticulously researched book examines the political, social, and intellectual shifts that have accompanied lockdowns, censorship, and the instrumentalization of fear, delivering a searing critique of the policies and narratives that defined the Covid era. From past public health scandals to the rise of “digital authoritarianism,” Blaive investigates the dangers of unchecked authority, the troubling role of the media, and the ethical failures of policymakers and public health leaders.
Children’s Voices, Family Disputes and Child-Inclusive Mediation
Recent legislative changes in England and Wales have eroded children’s ability to exercise their article 12 UNCRC rights to information, consultation and representation when parents separate. However, children’s voices may be heard through child-inclusive mediation (CIM). Considered from a children’s rights perspective, this book provides a critical socio-legal account of CIM practice. It draws on in-depth interviews with relationship professionals, mediators, parents and children, to consider the experiences, risks and benefits of CIM. It investigates obstacles to greater uptake of CIM and its role in improving children’s wellbeing and agency.
Available open access under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. How families are formed, lived and understood has shifted dramatically—yet legal frameworks often still reflect outdated norms. This collection brings together a diverse team of international contributors to explore what a family is through a variety of disciplinary perspectives, including law, psychology, economics, family science and history, inviting transdisciplinary reflections on family regulation.
Financial Crime and the Office of the European Public Prosecutor
Law and society, Criminal justice law, Criminal law
This book examines the realities of the functioning of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) along with the actual cooperation with other stakeholders in the EU and in the Member States. The protection of financial interests of the European Union is a Treaty obligation bearing equally on the Member States and the Union itself. In order to increase the effectiveness of the investigations and prosecutions in those areas falling under the PIF Directive, using enhanced cooperation provisions, 22 Member States established the office of The European Public Prosecutor, which came into operation in 2021.
Sociology, Criminal justice law, Anthropology
Recent discussions on big data surveillance and artificial intelligence in governance have opened up an opportunity to think about the role of technology in the production of the knowledge states use to govern. The contributions in this volume examine the socio-technical assemblages that underpin the surveillance carried out by criminal justice institutions – particularly the digital tools that form the engine room of modern state bureaucracies.
Maya Avis, Daniel Marciniak, Maria Sapignoli
Environmental management Agricultural science Environment law
This book compiles, discusses, and explains the key concepts in land politics in an easy-to-navigate A–Z format. This book takes a broad view on land, across the rural and urban corridor, and advocates for a holistic view of the politics of land, as an aggregation of land and global social life, that is, the politics of food, climate, labour, citizenship, and geopolitics. The authors have curated a wide-ranging list of 67 key terms most commonly used in the field, with each entry mapping out an important concept or idea and illustrating how it relates more broadly across this growing discipline.
.Saturnino M. Borras Jr Jennifer C. Franco
Vortex dynamics plays a crucial role in various natural and industrial fluid systems, influencing processes such as turbulence, mixing, aerodynamics, and even quantum phenomena. Understanding and controlling vortex structures is essential for optimizing performance in fields ranging from aerospace engineering to environmental science and energy systems. Vortex Dynamics – Theoretical, Experimental, and Numerical Approaches presents a comprehensive exploration of vortex behavior from multiple perspectives. This book brings together cutting-edge research on vortex structures, their stability, and their applications, offering valuable insights into one of the most fascinating aspects of fluid mechanics.
Dynamic Model-based Analysis of Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Gas Diffusion Electrodes
In this work, the first simulation model of oxygen depolarized cathodes (ODC), which are silver catalyst-based gas diffusion electrodes, is presented that considers the phase equilibrium of the gas-liquid interface and structure-related inhomogeneities in electrolyte distribution. By means of the model it has been identified that mass transport of water and ions in the liquid phase is a crucial factor for electrode performance and how it is influenced by the electrode structure.
Emotions and Affective Decisions in Hospitality Equity Investment
Hospitality Industry, Events management industry,
This innovative title is the first interdisciplinary volume to examine private equity investment in hospitality businesses through the lens of the socio-cultural concepts of affect and emotion. In particular, this book explores the social and relational nature of hospitality investing, uncovering how connections between bodies engaged in investment become both the site and source of affective and emotional impingements.
Technological developement, Finance, Business
In the contemporary business landscape, the imperative for innovative approaches to business model innovation (BMI) is more pronounced than ever, especially given the pressing grand challenges, technological disruptions, digital transformation, and pressing environmental and social concerns of our era. The prevailing discourse in business model and BMI scholarship predominantly revolves around established frameworks and methodologies, thereby not fully capturing the burgeoning opportunities and transformative forces redefining BMI's future trajectory.
The Entrepreneurship of Sustainable High-Growth Firms
Business strategy Small businesses Business and Management
This book develops a comprehensive theoretical and empirical framework explaining how entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) influence firms’ sustainable high growth (SHG). Its core objective is to conceptualize SHG as a key outcome of entrepreneurial ecosystems and to empirically verify whether, and through which mechanisms, ecosystems foster sustainable firm expansion. The theoretical part is based on a narrative literature review covering entrepreneurial ecosystems, firm growth, and growth determinants.
Research methods, Development studies, Sociology
Academic research in higher education must innovate to remain relevant, accurate, and accessible. This volume examines various methodological trainings conducted under the University Grants Commission-STRIDE (Scheme for Trans-disciplinary Research for India’s Developing Economy), India, showcasing transdisciplinary research approaches across diverse contexts. These approaches underscore the importance of innovation, complex problem-solving and knowledge integration.
Algebra, Calculus , Mathematical physics
This volume offers a fresh and modern introduction to one of abstract algebra’s key topics. Guiding readers through the transition between structure theory and representation theory, this textbook explores how algebraic objects like groups and rings act as symmetries of other structures. Using the accessible yet powerful language of category theory, the book reimagines standard approaches to topics such as modules and algebras in a way that unlocks modern treatments of more advanced topics such as quiver representations and even representations of Hopf algebras and categories.
Philosophy, Mathematical theory, Mathematical logic
This open access book investigates the role played by identity of proofs in proof-theoretic semantics. It develops a conception of proof-theoretic semantics as primarily concerned with the relationship between proofs (understood as abstract entities) and derivations (the linguistic representations of proofs). It demonstrates that identity of proof is a key both to clarify some —still not wholly understood— notions at the core of proof-theoretic semantics, such as harmony; and to broaden the range of the phenomena which can be analyzed using the tools of this semantic paradigm, so as to include for instance paradoxes.
Positive Education. The axiom of contemporary upbringing and education
The integration of positive psychology into the educational process marks a significant shift in the approach of educators, emphasizing the development of students' best qualities. This approach focuses on fostering mental health in students of all ages by highlighting positive aspects of human life. Positive psychology, which has notably developed in the 21st century, encourages exploring the connections between its principles and education. Key themes include well-being, happiness, empathy, and optimism, which should be incorporated into teaching practices.
International Perspectives on Migration, Bullying, and School
Educational Educational strategies Educational psychology
This edited volume consolidates research from 32 countries in order to address the implications of the recent global wave of migration on educational opportunity and assess links between migration and bullying in Europe and further afield. Using data gathered from the European Commission-funded TRIBES project (Transnational Collaboration on Bullying, Migration, and Integration at School Level), chapters cover first-hand accounts, policy document analysis, and lived experience through comparative themes such as school climate, governmental policy, diversity and inclusion, technology, student voice, and school design to demonstrate how bullying can be understood as a threat to developing inclusive and diverse schools and societies globally.
Hildegunn Fandrem, James O’Higgins Norman
Health Anxiety and the Quest for Safety critically examines how psychological and sociocultural processes influence anxiety and safety-seeking behaviour concerning perceived health risks in globalised information societies. It provides insights into how people respond to uncertainty and perceived threats to their body and health in the 'age of anxiety'. In examining the history of health anxiety, the author explores fluctuations in concepts, highlighting the power dynamics, uncertainties, and biased social and scientific attitudes in the background.
This book examines Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in different countries with a focus on recent developments and emerging trends. STEM education has become a gateway for socio-economic and technological development of nation-states. In light of this, many countries have prioritized STEM education and made it an integral part of their education at all levels. Moreover, many approaches have been used to develop STEM education and teach students to compete with the fast-developing world.
Muhammad Azeem Ashraf, Samson Maekele Tsegay
Assessment for Inclusion in Higher Education
Higher education, Educational strategies and policy
Bringing together international authors to examine how diversity and inclusion impact assessment in higher education, this book provides educators with the knowledge and understanding required to transform practices so that they are more equitable and inclusive of diverse learners. Assessment drives learning and determines who succeeds. Assessment for Inclusion in Higher Education is written to ensure that no student is unfairly or unnecessarily disadvantaged by the design or delivery of assessment.
Rola Ajjawi, Joanna Tai, David Boud, Trina Jorre de St Jorre
Deep-Learning-Assisted Statistical Methods with Examples in R
Information technology Deep learning Artificial intelligence
This book explores how deep learning enhances statistical methods for hypothesis testing, point estimation, optimization, interpretation, and other aspects. It uniquely demonstrates leveraging deep learning to improve traditional statistical approaches, showcasing their superior performance in practical applications. Each topic includes essential background, clear method explanations, and detailed R code demonstrations through case studies. This allows readers to directly apply these methods to their own challenges and easily adapt the underlying principles to related problems. This book delves into statistical inference, introducing advanced strategies for hypothesis testing and point estimation.
Education, Educational Research, Information Technology
In this Optimizing AI in Higher Education: SUNY FACT² Guide, Second Edition, you will find updated information to reflect the changing landscape of generative AI technology. We offer practical suggestions for how to help educators and students achieve AI literacy and find the right methods of using or eschewing generative AI in their pedagogy.
Communication Studies, Media studies, Research methods
Most digital content, whether it be thousands of news articles or millions of social media posts, is too large for the naked eye alone. Often, the advent of immense datasets requires a more productive approach to labeling media beyond a team of researchers. This book offers practical guidance and Python code to traverse the vast expanses of data—significantly enhancing productivity without compromising scholarly integrity. We’ll survey a wide array of computer-based classification approaches, focusing on easy-to-understand methodological explanations and best practices to ensure that your data is being labeled accurately and precisely.
Drying Science and Technology provides a thorough and current investigation of the complex area of drying processes. This book is a collaborative effort that brings together prominent professionals to give a comprehensive grasp of drying science’s concepts, methodology, and applications. The book opens by underlining the importance of drying operations in a variety of sectors, including food preservation and materials processing. This opening portion provides the framework for a varied investigation that will appeal to a wide range of readers.
Clay materials have exceptional promise for addressing key challenges in environmental protection, sustainable building, and chemical innovation because they stand at the fascinating intersection of physical chemistry and earth sciences. From basic mineralogical characterisation using X-ray diffraction and purifying methods to state-of-the-art applications in electrochemical sensing, catalytic processes, and geopolymer technology, this edited volume offers a thorough examination of clay research. Readers will learn how clay minerals, such as smectite, kaolinite, illite, and bentonite, possess layered structures, ion-exchange properties, and surface chemistry that enable revolutionary applications across various fields.
The book Insecticides in Pest Control – Impact, Challenges and Strategies has been prepared to explore insecticides of different chemical nature, delineating their characteristic features, use in agriculture and public health, benefits, and drawbacks. The impact of insecticides on target insect pests with the goal of maintaining their populations below threshold limits through sustainable approaches has been deliberated upon. The book comprises 17 chapters grouped into four sections, each of which covers a significant aspect of pest control using diverse insecticides.
This comprehensive volume presents cutting-edge strategies for managing traumatic dental injuries, offering clinicians a robust diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making framework. Drawing on contemporary research and clinical expertise, Dental Trauma - Expert Strategies addresses the complex challenges practitioners face, from initial emergency management to long-term rehabilitation. The book systematically explores critical aspects, including advanced diagnostic approaches, periodontal considerations, and innovative treatment modalities like socket-oriented tooth repositioning.
As a parent, guardian, or healthcare provider, ensuring the oral health of children is a vital aspect of overall health and well-being. Pediatric Dentistry - A Comprehensive Guide is an insightful book that covers critical concepts and clinical studies in pediatric dentistry to provide a comprehensive understanding of oral health in children. Chapters address such topics as the “dental home” concept, which involves early dental visits and establishing a dental home for children to prevent oral health issues, stomatognathic dysfunction, the role of the community in promoting good oral health in children, the effects of malnutrition on pediatric oral health, and the role of metals in pediatric oral health.
This book presents fluoride as a key preventive and therapeutic agent in dentistry. It is a controversial issue, although very robust scientific evidence supports that the appropriate use of fluoride can help strengthen enamel and reduce the risk of dental caries with a minimal risk of dental fluorosis. With its ability to promote remineralization and protect against cavities, fluoride plays a vital role in maintaining long-term oral health, reducing the prevalence of cavities in communities and reducing the burden of caries in an individual. It can be safely delivered through various methods, such as toothpaste, mouth rinses, professional varnishes, or water fluoridation, making it accessible and effective for populations worldwide.
Fábio Correia Sampaio, Andressa Feitosa Bezerra de Oliveira
This comprehensive book provides a holistic examination of oral health, highlighting its crucial role in overall well-being. Bridging clinical practice with contemporary research, the book highlights the essential connections between oral care and systemic health, demonstrating how oral conditions can influence general health. Readers will find valuable insights into preventive dentistry, including effective strategies for caries control, the use of fluoride, and patient education, alongside advances in restorative techniques that enhance clinical outcomes.
Data mining Algorithms and data structures
Algorithms have risen to become one, if not the central technology for producing, circulating, and evaluating knowledge in multiple societal arenas. In this book, scholars from the social sciences, humanities, and computer science argue that this shift has, and will continue to have, profound implications for how knowledge is produced and what and whose knowledge is valued and deemed valid. To attend to this fundamental change, the authors propose the concept of algorithmic regimes and demonstrate how they transform the epistemological, methodological, and political foundations of knowledge production, sensemaking, and decision-making in contemporary societies.
Tracing the Sources and Fate of Contaminants in Agroecosystems
The objective of this open access book is to present protocols, methodologies, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) used for the identification of sources, transport, and fate of agro-contaminants and illustrate them with several case studies of successful applications. The Soil and Water Management & Crop Nutrition (SWMCN) Subprogramme of the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, through a Coordinated Research Project (CRP) in partnership with national and international research institutes, developed and evaluated a set of analytical techniques (the toolbox).
Joseph Adu-Gyamfi, Grzegorz Skrzypek, et.al
Contemporary Issues in Equity, Democracy, and Public Education
Educational strategies, Educational psychology, Education
Contemporary Issues in Equity, Democracy, and Public Education explores how inequity manifests in public education and social institutions, and how this inequity impacts the health and wellbeing of citizens, including marginalized people. Demonstrating how inequity thereby threatens democracy, this book also poses suggestions for improving equity in U.S. education. Taking a multidisciplinary approach to historical and contemporary sources of inequity that operate in social institutions and public policy, this carefully curated volume shows how disparities in education levels, income, housing, and health have consequences that reverberate through individuals’ lives, and thereby undermine a democratic way of life.
Felicity Crawford, Fadie T. Coleman, Elsa Wiehe
Equality relies on inclusiveness. This is especially true in education. This book raises awareness of inclusiveness in learning and teaching environments. It discusses ways to achieve inclusiveness in education for those with intellectual and learning disabilities. The chapters examine inclusive learning and teaching strategies and approaches, as well as the roles of teachers in creating inclusive educational environments.
This book on human gut microbiota presents original ideas and the results of new research conducted in experimental and clinical scientific laboratories worldwide. The research results obtained convincingly demonstrate the great importance of the problem under study, not only in terms of new data on the fundamental mechanisms of the human body's interaction with the microcosm inhabiting it, but more importantly, in terms of identifying genuine opportunities to manage these mechanisms and subsequently implement them in clinical practice, which will contribute to improving the survival rates of patients with various diseases and pathological conditions, including critically ill patients at the highest risk.
Fermentation technology is of great importance due to its ability to generate scientific advances in many disciplines. Specifically, it is used in the production of food, medicine, and chemicals in a sustainable and efficient manner. This science allows for innovation in the medical sector, as it is used in the production of vaccines, antibiotics, and other essential medicines. In the field of food, it allows for the development of new food products, improves the bioavailability of nutrients, and increases the shelf life of food.
Finance and the finance industry Management, Risk assessment
Investing is simple in theory, yet difficult in practice. Investors give up returns and often unknowingly increase risk by falling for one or more of the investment myths. This open access book explores why countless investors keep falling into the same traps, warns against the alluring though deceptive voices of the investment world, and unravels ten specific myths that often lead investors astray. To avoid these pitfalls, a scientifically-based and disciplined approach to investing is presented, one which is centered around only three sub-portfolios.
Ethics and moral philosophy Islam Medical research
This open access book offers unique insights into the key ethical issues faced by practitioners and discussed by ethicists in the field of genomics and incidental findings, with a focus on the Islamic moral tradition. Embark on an enlightening exploration of key ethical challenges in genomics and incidental findings, uniquely tailored to the context of the Muslim Arab world. Following the regional scientific leap in genomic infrastructure, this study provides a timely response to the need for a solid evidence base that pairs scientific research with cutting-edge research in Islamic ethics.
Recovering Environmental and Economic Traditions in the Islamic World
Recovering Environmental and Economic Traditions in the Islamic World is an interdisciplinary volume that interrogates varied approaches to environmental and economic thought in classical Islam and in a few contemporary case studies. The contributions in this volume critique the dominant economic system and its perspective on the environment as a commodity across the boundaries of multiple intellectual traditions and academic fields. The book analyses both historical trajectories and modern schools of thought while simultaneously exploring ethical applications to environmental and economic discourses as a tool of critique.
Advances in Analytical and Coordination Chemistry
This comprehensive work explores recent analytical and coordination chemistry advancements, highlighting how cutting-edge research drives innovation across diverse industries. The book covers topics such as the versatile chemistry of Schiff bases and chelating agents, advanced chromatographic techniques, microfluidics, and crystallization processes, among others. The text emphasizes the potential of Schiff bases and their metal complexes in practical applications, including materials science, sustainable energy (e.g., solar cells), and industrial processes such as petroleum field operations.
Mozaniel Santana de Oliveira, Berta Barta Hollo, et.al
This edited volume presents a modern and accessible overview of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, highlighting its fundamental principles, recent technological advancements, and wide-ranging applications across chemistry and biomolecular science. Designed for researchers, educators, and advanced students, this book explores key techniques used for elucidating molecular structure, dynamics, and interactions. With emphasis on both high-field and benchtop NMR instrumentation, readers will gain insights into emerging analytical strategies, data interpretation methods, and the integration of NMR with computational and AI-based tools.
Color, which contributes so much to the beauty of nature, is vital to the attraction and acceptability of most products used by modern society. As early as the 25th century BC, people used a limited range of natural colorants from both animal (e.g., cochineal) and vegetable (e.g., indigo, curcumin, alizarin, Tyrian purple) sources to color their surroundings and clothing. Dyes are substances that, once applied to a substrate, selectively reflect or transmit incident daylight. Most natural dyes are found in the roots, barks, leaves, bracts, flowers, skins, and shells of plants.
Relevant Applications of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography in Food, Environmental, Clinical and Biological Fields
The growing demand for high-throughput separations in food, environmental, clinical, and bioanalytical research has increased the need for methods capable of efficiently analyzing complex matrices with both qualitative and quantitative precision. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a well-established separation technique widely employed in many fields.
Conviviality in Contexts of Religious Plurality
Development studies Education Economic theory
How do religious individuals, communities, and political institutions navigate diversity and how do they foster social cohesion? This volume focuses on convivial practices in religiously diverse settings and includes theoretical, empirical, and practice-oriented approaches. Through an interdisciplinary lens the contributors examine conceptual reflections, boundary work, rituals, multilingualism, and spatial dynamics. This volume represents an important milestone in conviviality research and provides valuable insights for further research in the fields of theology, religious studies, and sociology.
Andrea Bieler, Claudia Hoffmann, Lisa Ketges
Crisis management is a hot topic that occupies a dominant space in the minds of individuals. Where and when the problem arises, this book serves as an essential guide to the multifaceted aspects of crisis management. It provides readers with a theoretical and practical guide towards navigating the conflicts of today's world. This book investigates various crises, from natural disasters to human-made threats, and raises the importance of managing these risks and gaining resilience. It offers insight into principles, strategies, and challenges and highlights real-world cases, empirical research, and emerging trends. Highlighting the necessity for crisis management and immediate recovery, this book provides a global perspective, including Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
This coursebook offers an expansive exploration of bioethics, an interdisciplinary field examining ethical, social, and legal dilemmas in medicine, life sciences, and beyond. It challenges conventional boundaries, embracing Van Rensselaer Potter’s vision of bioethics as a global, holistic ethics of life—integrating human health, environmental considerations, and transdisciplinary insights. Through engaging discussions, thought experiments, and case studies, the book empowers students to critically reflect on ethical questions without dictating rigid answers.
Compost Collective, Daan Kenis, Mayli Mertens, et. al
Public administration' Business and Management, Ethics and moral philosophy
This volume examines one of the defining tensions of our era: how to harness the transformative power of artificial intelligence while preserving responsibility, sovereignty, and human judgement.Bringing together scholars and practitioners, this volume moves beyond hype and alarmism to explore AI across three interconnected levels: global systems, organisational governance, and personal ethics.
Advances in Neurosurgical Procedures – Unveiling New Horizons is a collection of chapters providing an overview of recent developments in neurosurgery. The book covers advancements in surgical techniques, including robotics, augmented reality, and advanced imaging, and their impact on surgical precision and patient outcomes. It also explores neurostimulation, deep brain stimulation, and personalized approaches to treatment. The volume highlights the shift towards minimally invasive techniques, such as keyhole surgery and nanorobotics, and covers key topics like neuro-oncology, cerebrovascular surgery, and spinal procedures.