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Consumers are looking for healthier foods. Animal nutrition is one of the most important environmental factors in product quality, and significantly influences meat and milk and its dairy products. So emphasis is often placed on improving quality though animal feeding. A main target in improving meat and dairy nutritional characteristics is the enhancement of lipid quality, which can be achieved by increasing the content and composition of beneficial fatty acids. Factors such as forage: concentrate ratio, dietary fat supplements, etc. have an essential effect on animal dairy and meat quality. A few studies have shown that meat and dairy from ruminants in pasture is enriched in bioactive substances of natural origin. These animals are also able to utilize increasing amounts of by-products or "unconventional" animal feedstuffs, which can improve the healthful properties of products. Epidemiological studies that find inverse associations between eating red meat and health do not distinguish between meat from livestock fed high-grain diets and livestock foraging on phytochemically rich mixtures of plants. Despite their alleged benefits, research has not elucidated linkages among plant diversity or alternative feedstuffs with potential functional properties in ruminant diets and human health. In addition, dietary manipulations favoring polyunsaturated FA incorporation in dairy and meat lipids increase the risk of lipoperoxidation, which can be efficiently prevented by use of dietary antioxidants. This book collected articles addressing optimal dietary composition for ruminant production to improve the quality of meat and dairy.

This book introduces and provides solutions to a variety of problems faced by society, companies and individuals in a quickly changing and technology-dependent world. The wide acceptance of artificial intelligence, the upcoming fourth industrial revolution and newly designed 6G technologies are seen as the main enablers and game changers in this environment. The book considers these issues not only from a technological viewpoint but also on how society, labor and the economy are affected, leading to a circular economy that affects the way people design, function and deploy complex systems.

Nutrition is a key element that has the potential to reduce bone loss and fracture risk. While nutrition has become one of many variables that can impact bone health, there is a need to formulate and maintain nutritional approaches and techniques for the prevention and treatment of bone health-associated disorders that may affect women's health. This book, compiling articles published during 2021-2022, belongs to the Topical Collection " Nutrition and Women Bone Health". The application of the knowledge presented here may subsequently provide further support for preventive approaches based on population-based interventions.Key major topics related to the relationship between different nutrients and women's bone health are discussed using high-quality research methodologies, including randomized clinical trials and observational studies, all of which are led by notable nutritional and clinical researchers.The Guest Editor intends for this book to contribute to expanding the body of knowledge on bone health and nutrition in women as well as highlight the pivotal role that this interaction plays in human health throughout populations. The findings represent a beginning point for future research, which should progressively be focused on experimental investigations with diverse populations and demographic groups in order to further understand the link between nutrition and bone health in women.

This book focuses on the contemporary challenges faced by rural areas across the globe. These include common efforts to address food production and security; engaging with climate change and the fundamental transformations in everyday practices that this requires; the exodus of young people from rural areas; an ageing farming population; and the growth of rural poverty. The common goal throughout is one of exploring ways in which environmental, economic and social goals need to be addressed in a cohesive way while being cognizant of the diversity of people, environments, economies and traditions that exist across rural space.

In recent years, fractional calculus has led to tremendous progress in various areas of science and mathematics. New definitions of fractional derivatives and integrals have been uncovered, extending their classical definitions in various ways. Moreover, rigorous analysis of the functional properties of these new definitions has been an active area of research in mathematical analysis. Systems considering differential equations with fractional-order operators have been investigated thoroughly from analytical and numerical points of view, and potential applications have been proposed for use in sciences and in technology. The purpose of this Special Issue is to serve as a specialized forum for the dissemination of recent progress in the theory of fractional calculus and its potential applications.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is being increasingly used in neuroscience and clinics. Modern advances include but are not limited to the combination of TMS with precise neuronavigation as well as the integration of TMS into a multimodal environment, e.g., by guiding the TMS application using complementary techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), or magnetoencephalography (MEG). Furthermore, the impact of stimulation can be identified and characterized by such multimodal approaches, helping to shed light on the basic neurophysiology and TMS effects in the human brain. Against this background, the aim of this Special Issue was to explore advancements in the field of TMS considering both investigations in healthy subjects as well as patients.

This book focuses on a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives concerning the theory and application of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine, medically oriented human biology, and healthcare. The list of topics includes the application of AI in biomedicine and clinical medicine, machine learning-based decision support, robotic surgery, data analytics and mining, laboratory information systems, and usage of AI in medical education. Special attention is given to the practical aspect of a study. Hence, the inclusion of a clinical assessment of the usefulness and potential impact of the submitted work is strongly highlighted.

This book address important issues regarding the modelling and simulation tools and techniques that are applied in high-voltage engineering in modern power systems. The presented conceptual, constructive, empirical, experimental, and theoretical results are obtained in the area of high-voltage engineering. Special attention is given to protection methods against direct lightning strikes, partial discharge tests, discharges' influence on different structures, cable screening, and induced voltages, among others.

In recent years, microwave sensing and imaging have acquired an ever-growing importance in several applicative fields, such as non-destructive evaluations in industry and civil engineering, subsurface prospection, security, and biomedical imaging. Indeed, microwave techniques allow, in principle, for information to be obtained directly regarding the physical parameters of the inspected targets (dielectric properties, shape, etc.) by using safe electromagnetic radiations and cost-effective systems. Consequently, a great deal of research activity has recently been devoted to the development of efficient/reliable measurement systems, which are effective data processing algorithms that can be used to solve the underlying electromagnetic inverse scattering problem, and efficient forward solvers to model electromagnetic interactions. Within this framework, this Special Issue aims to provide some insights into recent microwave sensing and imaging systems and techniques.

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), as open-field crops, play an important role in multifunctional and sustainable agriculture as a result of their low energy requirements for cultivation and their many avenues of use, from the production of nutraceuticals, phytonutrients, and phytotherapy to land valorization. This Special Issue of Agriculture, "Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Agricultural Research when Considering Multifunctionality and Sustainability Criteria", aims to illustrate the role of MAPs in agriculture in low-impact farming practices, and the benefits they can generate in terms of functional products. This Special Issue covers all research aspects related to MAPs, including a number of scientific macro-areas, such as agronomy, chemistry and pharmacy, ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology, food and nutrition, and ecology. Key topics in this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:Sustainable agricultural practices of MAPs; Breeding and germplasm preservation of MAPs; The biodiversity of MAPs; The conservation of cultivated and wild MAPs; Ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology; Phytotherapy, phytochemistry, and phytopharmacology; Essential oils and secondary metabolites; Functional foods and MAPs; MAPs and degraded and marginal land recovery; The global marketing of MAPs; The legislation of MAPs.

With the increasing global usage of water and the continuous addition of contaminants to water sources, new challenges have arisen that are associated with the abatement of organic pollutants, particularly those that are refractory to conventional water and wastewater treatment technologies. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) present a competitive alternative to promote the oxidation of organic contaminants by strong oxidative radicals generated from oxygen, ozone, wet peroxide, and UV radiation. The use of catalysts not only improves efficiency but may present remarkable cost advantages for practical applications of AOPs in the abatement of several pollutants. In this Special Issue of Catalysts, we invite authors to submit original research papers focused on the synthesis and characterization of novel heterogeneous catalysts and their uses in advanced oxidation processes for the removal of organic pollutants from aqueous solutions.

Consumers are increasingly demanding more sources of plant-based nutrition, and the food industry is responding by developing novel foods with grain-based ingredients. These products include dairy, egg and meat alternatives. Notably, in order for the production of these foods to be viable, the sustainability of the supply chain must improve and the product price must be lowered. Therefore, upcycling of grains by-products has been considered. However, the functionality and acceptability of functional foods made with upcycled ingredients from legumes and grains must be tested to ensure consumer compliance. This Special Issue of Foods aims to present the latest research on the physicochemical and sensory evaluation of plant-based alternatives to dairy, eggs and meat made with grains. Product categories include beverages, fermented beverages, dressings, bakery items and plant-based meats. Ingredients considered include, but are not limited to, protein concentrates and isolates, fibres, starches and enzymes. Particular emphasis will be given to potential applications of upcycled ingredients such as legume water (Aquafaba, Liluva), by-products of the starch industry (protein, fibre) and protein isolation (starches). Physicochemical evaluation encompasses determination of the functionality of ingredients (foaming, emulsifying and thickening), texture analysis, rheology (viscosity, pasting properties), thermal properties (thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry), water mobility (nuclear magnetic resonance) and image analysis. Sensory evaluation includes both trained panels and consumer preference.

Connected intelligent sensing reshapes our society by empowering people with increasing new ways of mutual interactions. As integration technologies keep their scaling roadmap, the horizon of sensory applications is rapidly widening, thanks to myriad light-weight low-power or, in same cases even self-powered, smart devices with high-connectivity capabilities. CMOS integrated circuits technology is the best candidate to supply the required smartness and to pioneer these emerging sensory systems. As a result, new challenges are arising around the design of these integrated circuits and systems for sensory applications in terms of low-power edge computing, power management strategies, low-range wireless communications, integration with sensing devices. In this Special Issue recent advances in application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) and systems for smart sensory applications in the following five emerging topics: (I) dedicated short-range communications transceivers; (II) digital smart sensors, (III) implantable neural interfaces, (IV) Power Management Strategies in wireless sensor nodes and (V) neuromorphic hardware.

Since first receiving approval in 1986, antibody-based therapeutics have been the most successful modality for the treatment of various diseases. This Special Issue of IJMS, "Recent Advances in Antibody Therapeutics", presents leading-edge articles and reviews for discovery, development, and clinical applications of therapeutic antibodies, covering antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), GPCR-targeting antibodies, a functional antibody screening, bioassay of bispecific antibodies, antibody applications for cardiovascular diseases, antibody delivery to CNS, etc. The excellent studies in this Special Issue would valuable insight for scientists and clinicians in the field of therapeutic antibodies

Galectins are a family of soluble beta-galactoside-binding proteins with diverse glycan-dependent and glycan-independent functions outside and inside the cell. There are sixteen recognized mammalian galectin genes, and their expression profiles are very different between cell types, tissues, and species. This Special Issue covers recent progress in the field of the cell biology of galectins, relevant concepts of galectin regulatory mechanisms, and biomedical aspects of these unique multifunctional proteins.

Beat Studies represent a vibrant field of intellectual inquiry, and this collection examines Beat culture as deeply infused with ecological themes. Allen Ginsberg invented the term "Flower Power" and Beat texts uncover the sources of our current existential climate predicament. This is the first edited collection to place the Beat Generation in conversation with the environment. A diverse number of contributors from Asia, Europe, and North America addresses essential environmental subjects and the deep ecological vision of the Beats.

This reprint of "Metal Nanoparticles as Catalysts for Green Applications" collects recent works of researchers on metal nanoparticles as catalysts for green applications. All works deal with designing chemical products and processes that generate and use less (or preferably no) hazardous substances by applying the principles of green chemistry. Despite the interdisciplinary nature of the different applications involved, ranging from pure chemistry to material science, from chemical engineering to physical chemistry, in this reprint there are common characteristics connecting the areas together, and they can be described by two words: sustainability and catalysis.

Particle accelerators and radiation based on radio-frequency (RF) cavities have significantly contributed to the advancement of science and technology in the most recent century. However, the rising costs and scales for building cutting-edge accelerators act as barriers to accessing these particle and radiation sources. Since the introduction of chirped pulse amplification technology in the 1990s, short-pulse, high-power lasers have enabled the realization of laser-driven accelerations and radiation sources. Laser-driven accelerators and radiation sources could be a viable alternative to providing compact and cost-effective particle and photon sources. An accelerating field in a plasma, driven by intense laser pulses, is typically several orders of magnitude greater than that of RF accelerators, while controlling the plasma media and intense laser pulses is highly demanding. Therefore, numerous efforts have been directed toward developing laser-driven high-quality particle beams and radiation sources with the goal of paving the way for these novel sources to be used in a variety of applications. This Special Issue covers the latest developments in laser-based ion and electron accelerators; laser-plasma radiation sources; advanced targetry and diagnostic systems for laser-driven particle accelerators; particle beam transport solutions for multidisciplinary applications; ionizing radiation dose map determination; and new approaches to laser-plasma nuclear fusion using high-intensity, short laser pulses.

This book was established after closing the Special Issue "Decline of Mediterranean Fruit Crops and Forests Associated with Fungal Trunk Pathogens" edited by Dr. Carlos Agustí-Brisach as Guest Editor and Mr. Everett Zhu as Manager Editor. This book represents a collection of papers related to the etiology, epidemiology, and control of fungal trunk diseases in several Mediterranean woody crops such as almond, citrus, grapevine or pistachio, among others. This volume was intended to generate knowledge on the etiology and epidemiology of tree decline syndromes to build a strong foundation for developing effective management approaches to reduce the yield losses caused by these diseases. In addition, a broad collection of techniques to conduct studies on etiology and epidemiology as well as to determine the effect of biotic and abiotic factors enhancing the progression of trunk diseases in woody crops are shown in this book.

Exploring quality of vision is one of the most important issues in modern ophthalmology, and research into ophthalmic optics and visual function is essential for making progress in this field. The present Special Issue aims to enlighten readers about the broad range of clinical research in the field of ophthalmic optics and visual function, mainly related to the anterior segment and myopia control. Submissions of original research articles were welcomed that highlight innovative findings with the potential to enhance the clinical capabilities of diagnosing and monitoring ophthalmic conditions and treatments especially of the anterior segment. Review articles of high interest were also considered for publication.

Electrical and electro-optical biosensing technologies are critical to the development of innovative POCT devices, which can be used by both professional and untrained personnel for the provision of necessary health information within a short time for medical decisions to be determined, being especially important in an era of global pandemics. This Special Issue includes a few pioneering works concerning biosensors utilizing electrochemical impedance, localized surface plasmon resonance, and the bioelectricity of sensing materials in which the amount of analyte is pertinent to the signal response. The presented results demonstrate the potential of these label-free biosensing approaches in the detection of disease-related small-molecule metabolites, proteins, and whole-cell entities.

This book is a reprint of the Special Issue entitled "The Artificial Intelligence in Digital Pathology and Digital Radiology: Where Are We?". Artificial intelligence is extending into the world of both digital radiology and digital pathology, and involves many scholars in the areas of biomedicine, technology, and bioethics. There is a particular need for scholars to focus on both the innovations in this field and the problems hampering integration into a robust and effective process in stable health care models in the health domain. Many professionals involved in these fields of digital health were encouraged to contribute with their experiences. This book contains contributions from various experts across different fields. Aspects of the integration in the health domain have been faced. Particular space was dedicated to overviewing the challenges, opportunities, and problems in both radiology and pathology. Clinal deepens are available in cardiology, the hystopathology of breast cancer, and colonoscopy. Dedicated studies were based on surveys which investigated students and insiders, opinions, attitudes, and self-perception on the integration of artificial intelligence in this field.

Considering their constant evolution and transformation, in this Special Issue, several authors provide contributions bringing light to different aspects related to food supply chains, based on several conceptual frameworks, agri-food areas and contexts, as well as multiple levels of analysis. In this book, the promotion of win-win investments in Brazil's Agribusiness is discussed, as well as how family farmers can thrive in commodity markets in long agribusiness supply chains. The Logic of Collective Action for Rural Warehouse Condominiums, which is a new configuration in the agribusiness supply chain, is also addressed. In this book, the Brazilian Jabuticaba Supply Chain is analyzed through a multi-methodological approach. The role of logistics in food-waste reduction for wholesalers and small retailers of fruits and vegetables is also presented. The issue of transparency in global agribusiness in the Brazilian soybean supply chain is discussed based on companies' accountability. Finally, the transformation of the food supply chain through technology and future research directions are highlighted in this Special Issue. This book aims to assist students, researchers and practitioners interested in the evolution and transformations of food supply chains.

Additive manufacturing (AM) methods have grown and evolved rapidly in recent years. AM for polymers is particularly exciting and has great potential in transformative and translational research in many fields, such as biomedicine, aerospace, and even electronics. The current methods for polymer AM include material extrusion, material jetting, vat polymerization, and powder bed fusion. In this Special Issue, state-of-the-art reviews and current research results, which focus on the process-structure-properties relationships in polymer additive manufacturing, are reported. These include, but are not limited to, assessing the effect of process parameters, post-processing, and characterization techniques.

This Special Issue book contains selected papers from works presented at the 9th EASN (European Aeronautics Science Network) International Conference on Innovation in Aviation & Space, which was held in Athens, Greece from the 3rd until the 6th of September, 2019. About 450 participants contributed to a high-level scientific gathering, providing some of the latest research results on the topic, as well as some of the latest relevant technological advancements. Eight interesting articles, which cover a wide range of topics including characterization, analysis and design, as well as numerical simulation, are contained in this Special Issue.

This Special Issue (SI) on "Land Degradation Assessment with Earth Observation" comprises 17 original research papers with a focus on land degradation in arid, semiarid and dry-subhumid areas (i.e., desertification) in addition to temperate rangelands, grasslands, woodlands and the humid tropics. The studies cover different spatial, spectral and temporal scales and employ a wealth of different optical and radar sensors. Some studies incorporate time-series analysis techniques that assess the general trend of vegetation or the timing and duration of the reduction in biological productivity caused by land degradation. As anticipated from the latest trend in Earth Observation (EO) literature, some studies utilize the cloud-computing infrastructure of Google Earth Engine to cope with the unprecedented volume of data involved in current methodological approaches. This SI clearly demonstrates the ever-increasing relevance of EO technologies when it comes to assessing and monitoring land degradation. With the recently published IPCC Reports informing us of the severe impacts and risks to terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and the ecosystem services they provide, the EO scientific community has a clear obligation to increase its efforts to address any remaining gaps-some of which have been identified in this SI-and produce highly accurate and relevant land-degradation assessment and monitoring tools.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Multiple Roles for Landscape Ecology in Future Farming Systems" that was published in Land. This book aims to inspire landscape ecologists to explore theories and practical tools that can assist in the planning, design, modification, and development of new farming landscapes with the best environmental, economic, and social outcomes in mind. It is also hoped that it will contribute toward developing land systems and land management practices for specific landscapes that meet the goals of increased nutritious food production in the face of market and climatic variability whilst reducing environmental impacts and enhancing natural capital and assisting to drive and support the transformative changes in the socioeconomic and environmental systems of rural areas required for future food production.