Böcker utgivna av Mdpi AG

About forty years after its discovery, it is still common to read in the literature that quasicrystals (QCs) occupy an intermediate position between amorphous materials and periodic crystals. However, QCs exhibit high-quality diffraction patterns containing a collection of discrete Bragg reflections at variance with amorphous phases. Accordingly, these materials must be properly regarded as long-range ordered materials with a symmetry incompatible with translation invariance. This misleading conceptual status can probably arise from the use of notions borrowed from the amorphous solids framework (such us tunneling states, weak interference effects, variable range hopping, or spin glass) in order to explain certain physical properties observed in QCs. On the other hand, the absence of a general, full-fledged theory of quasiperiodic systems certainly makes it difficult to clearly distinguish the features related to short-range order atomic arrangements from those stemming from long-range order correlations. The contributions collected in this book aim at gaining a deeper understanding on the relationship between the underlying structural order and the resulting physical properties in several illustrative aperiodic systems, including the border line between QCs and related complex metallic alloys, hierarchical superlattices, electrical transmission lines, nucleic acid sequences, photonic quasicrystals, and optical devices based on aperiodic order designs.

The relationship between domestic dogs and humans represents a unique example of an interspecific relationship. For this and other reasons, there has been a substantial increase in research on dogs. This Special Issue entitled "Dog Behaviour, Physiology and Welfare" collects important information ranging from basic to applied ethology, dealing with canine endocrinology (prolactin, vasopressin, thyroid hormones), physiology (visual perception), welfare (in shelters and zoos), as well as the context of working dogs (service dogs, co-therapist dogs, herding dogs) and the dog-wolf comparison. All the papers are open access and can be read at https://www.mdpi.com/journal/animals/special_issues/Dog_Behavior

Research on intelligent agents and multi-agent systems has matured during the past decade, and many effective applications of this technology are currently being deployed. Although computational approaches for multi-agent systems have mainly emerged in the past few decades, scholars have been prolific with regard to the variety of methods proposed to solve this paradigm. Different communities have emerged with multi-agent systems as their main research topic. Multi-agent systems allow the development of distributed and intelligent applications in complex and dynamic environments. Systems of this kind play a crucial role in life, evidenced by the broad range of applied areas involved in their use, including manufacturing, management sciences, e-commerce, and biotechnology. There are many reasons for the interest of researchers in this new discipline. Firstly, computational systems have gradually shifted towards a distributed paradigm where heterogeneous entities with different goals can enter and leave the system dynamically and interact with each other. Secondly, new computational systems should be able to negotiate with one another, typically on the behalf of humans, in order to come to mutually acceptable agreements. As a consequence, autonomy, interaction, mobility, and openness are key concepts studied in the area. The purpose of this book is to document some of the advances made in this paradigm and attempt to show the current state of this technology by analyzing different aspects in addition its possible application in various domains. This review of the current state-of-the-art does not intend to make an exhaustive exploration of all the current existing works but, rather, to try to give an overview of the research in agent technology, showing the high level of activity of this area.

Every minute, 34 new patients are diagnosed with cancer globally. Although over the past 50 years treatments have improved and survival rates have increased dramatically for several types of cancers, many remain incurable. Several aggressive types of blood and solid cancers form when mutations occur in a critical cellular signaling pathway, the JAK-STAT pathway; (Janus Kinase-Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription). Currently, there are no clinically available drugs that target the oncogenic STAT3/5 proteins in particular or their Gain of Function hyperactive mutant products. Here, we summarize targeting approaches on STAT3/5, as the field moves towards clinical applications as well as we illuminate on upstream or downstream JAK-STAT pathway interference with kinase inhibitors, heat shock protein blockers or changing nuclear import/export processes. We cover the design paradigms and medicinal chemistry approaches to illuminate progress and challenges in understanding the pleiotropic role of STAT3 and STAT5 in oncogenesis, the microenvironment, the immune system in particular, all culminating in a complex interplay towards cancer progression.

Mycotoxins represent a significant issue for the feed industry and the safety of the feed supply chain, with an impact on human health, animal health and production, economies, and international trade. The globalization of the trade in agricultural commodities and the lack of legislative harmonization have contributed significantly to the discussion about the awareness of mycotoxins entering the feed/food supply chain. The feed industry is a sustainable outlet for food processing industries, converting byproducts into high-quality animal feed. Mycotoxin occurrence in food byproducts from different technological processes is a worldwide topic of interest for the feed industry, aiming to increase the marketability and acceptance of these products as feed ingredients and include them safely in the feed supply chain. Since mycotoxin contamination cannot be completely prevented pre- or post-harvest, the modern feed industry needs new tools for monitoring and managing the risk of mycotoxins and strategies to prevent and reduce mycotoxins in compound feed manufacturing. The aim of this Special Issue book was to bring together a collection of valuable articles with innovative ideas for a sustainable and competitive feed industry.

Geo-spatial analysis has become an essential component of hydrological studies to process and examine geo-spatial data such as hydrological variables (e.g., precipitation and discharge) and basin characteristics (e.g., DEM and land use land cover). The advancement of the data acquisition technique helps accumulate geo-spatial data with more extensive spatial coverage than traditional in-situ observations. The development of geo-spatial analytic methods is beneficial for the processing and analysis of multi-source data in a more efficient and reliable way for a variety of research and practical issues in hydrology. This book is a collection of the articles of a published Special Issue Geo-Spatial Analysis in Hydrology in the journal ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information. The topics of the articles range from the improvement of geo-spatial analytic methods to the applications of geo-spatial analysis in emerging hydrological issues. The results of these articles show that traditional hydrological/hydraulic models coupled with geo-spatial techniques are a way to make streamflow simulations more efficient and reliable for flood-related decision making. Geo-spatial analysis based on more advanced methods and data is a reliable resolution to obtain high-resolution information for hydrological studies at fine spatial scale.

The introduction and widespread implementation of newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) for cystic fibrosis (CF) has offered earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for children with CF in many countries of the world. It represents a paradigm shift in the diagnostic pathway for these families. In contrast to a clinical diagnosis, infants are now referred for diagnostic testing after a positive NBS result. The introduction of NBS has enabled the provision of early appropriate treatment to prevent the manifestations of the disease. In the near future, early diagnosis will facilitate the prompt use of new CFTR modulator therapies that correct the basic underlying molecular defect. NBS for CF has been a global success but continues to raise questions with many varied approaches and the development of new technologies, in particular the ability to undertake extensive gene examination. Which is the best protocol to achieve high sensitivity and specificity, and how to evaluate and manage infants with inconclusive diagnosis are all subjects of ongoing discussion. It is also open to question: what is the best approach to informing and counselling the parents about a positive or inconclusive NBS result? These questions are not easy to answer and require a balanced solution that reflects the local health care system and may appropriately result in different answers around the globe. The articles in this book try to answer these questions and give an overview of the current state of knowledge in NBS for CF.

The global electric car fleet exceeded 7 million battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in 2019, and will continue to increase in the future, as electrification is an important means of decreasing the greenhouse gas emissions of the transportation sector. The energy storage system is a very central component of the electric vehicle. The storage system needs to be cost-competitive, light, efficient, safe, and reliable, and to occupy little space and last for a long time. It should also be produced and disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. This leaves many research challenges, and the purpose of this book is therefore to provide a platform for sharing the latest findings on energy storage systems for electric vehicles (electric cars, buses, aircraft, ships, etc.) Research in energy storage systems requires several sciences working together, and this book therefore include contributions from many different disciplines; this covers a wide range of topics, e.g. battery-management systems, state-of-charge and state-of-health estimation, thermal-battery-management systems, power electronics for energy storage devices, battery aging modelling, battery reuse and recycling, etc.

This book discusses the geological time that will follow the human-dominated epoch and ways to move there. In addition to an editorial, a total of five articles are published in this volume. The articles engage with a variety of social science disciplines-ranging from economics and sociology to philosophy and political science-and connect to natural science''s insights into the Anthropocene. The volume calls for going beyond anthropocentrism in sustainability theory and practice in order to exit the Anthropocene with applications and insights in the contexts of politics, energy, tourism, food and management. We hope that you will find this book interesting and helpful in contributing to sustainable change.

Bladder cancer is the second most common genitourinary malignancy, with 81,190 estimated new diagnoses in 2018, in the United States alone. Transurethral resection of the bladder and radical cystectomy with bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection constitute the standard treatment for non-muscle invasive or very high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, respectively. However, survival expectations have not shown to improve in the last 20 years, and new diagnostic and therapeutic tools are urgently needed to improve the outcomes of this potentially lethal disease.

Climate change is altering agricultural production and ecosystems around the world. Future projections indicate that additional change is expected in the coming decades, forcing individuals and communities to respond and adapt. Frequently, agriculture and ecosystems are seen as separate entities, resulting in entity-specific solutions in response to threats. Anthropogenic climate change simultaneously stresses both agriculture and ecosystems (AE) along with their interactions, and current research efforts examining climate change effects and possible adaptations fail to integrate agriculture and ecosystems. Research has quantified many AE impacts of climate change, and yet greater impacts are anticipated as climate change proceeds. Thus, an understanding of the implications for changing AE systems is crucial. AE function, health and productivity depend heavily on climatic characteristics. Failure to jointly consider these systems and the associated externalities may underestimate the impacts of climate change or cause adaptation implementation surprises such as the worsening of the adaptation status of some groups or ecosystems. This collection of papers draws on specific studies to explain why ecosystem and agriculture adaptation requires an integrated analytical approach. A synthesis of current literature is used, as well as examples from around the world to help explain concepts and current challenges. Researchers are encouraged to adopt integrated modeling as a means of avoiding implementation challenges and surprises when formulating and implementing adaptations. Failure to incorporate the overlapping effects of agriculture and ecosystems could lead to maladaptation and greater long-term damage under climate change. The papers in this volume address several aspects of these challenges.

Mycotoxins are a Public Health concern that in last year have reached the top 10 food and product hazard categories in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), with almost six hundred notifications. The toxicological effects of mycotoxins are evaluated through the extrapolation of results from in vivo and in vitro assays. Studies of mycotoxins'' effects at the cellular level precede those in organs and systems. All these studies are key steps for risk assessment and following legislation for mycotoxins. This Special Issue of Toxins comprises 10 original contributions and two reviews. The Issue reports new findings regarding toxic mechanisms, the use of innovative techniques to study the potential toxicity of mycotoxins not only individually but in combination, reflecting a real scenario according to current studies of mycotoxins.

This volume explores the intersections of religion, power, and resistance in a fast-changing world. The authors herein seek to disrupt the sociology of religion''s dominant paradigms, especially its overemphasis in Europe and the United States, as well as its preference for official religions as opposed to diverse worldviews in all of their manifestations from around the world: Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America. The papers in this volume explore ways of decentering the Global North and of decolonizing the sociology of religion''s core concepts. They explore strategies used by newer and popular forms of religion to challenge existing power structures. Moreover, they examine the intersectionalities that privilege some people''s religious lives and disprivilege others. They show how religion, spirituality, and non-religion are much more complex than the dominant paradigms have led us to believe. This volume seeks to generate robust discussion and critical reflection on new ideas for a divided world, thus contributing to the advancement of the discipline of religious sociology.

This book compiles four review articles and four research papers that highlight recent developments in the field of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) chemistry and biomedicine. The review articles encompass a variety of fields related to PNA, emphasizing the versatility of this DNA mimic. Two excellent reviews detail the use of PNA for molecular diagnostics of miRNAs and genetic point mutations (SNPs). Another review provides a comprehensive analysis of the various approaches for gene editing using chemically modified PNA molecules. Lastly, PNA molecules are elegantly described as effective (antisense) antimicrobial agents in the final review. The high binding affinity of PNA to complementary DNA and RNA is highlighted in three research articles. Two articles show how PNA molecules act as splice modulating and RNA masking molecules, separately. In another contribution, the high affinity and achiral characteristics of PNAs are used to developed a stable L-DNA-based catalytic hairpin assembly. Lastly, chemically-modified PNA molecules are shown to be superior probes for SNP detection. Altogether, these studies illustrate how PNA molecules may be useful for a variety of biomedical applications as either therapeutic or diagnostic agents.

Israelite religions have always fascinated scholars. Initial studies used the Bible as their main source of information and attempted to read it critically in order to learn about the religion of ancient Israel. With the advent of modern research in the Near East, more and more information on other Ancient Near Eastern religions was accumulated and initially used to illuminate Israelite religious practices as described in the Bible, but gradually led to challenging some of the accepted truisms. The new information was collected mainly through archaeological excavations, and archaeology had gradually become a major player in the study of ancient Israelite religion(s) and religious practices. The massive amount of information on the various subthemes related to Israelite religions, the shifting trends in scholarship, the multiplicity of approaches, and the interdisciplinary nature of the field means that no single scholar can master all the data today. Indeed, there is currently no comprehensive and updated book that covers all or even most aspects pertaining to Israelite religion(s). This volume is a partial attempt to fill some of this lacuna. The volume includes a number of broad, summarizing studies, presenting readers with the up-to-date state of the research on a number of important issues, from Solomon''s temple to broader studies of the loci of cultic activity in ancient Israel through to analysis of the difference between the "official" and "popular" expression of religion, the place of women in Israelite cult(s), similarities and differences between the religious practices in Israel and Judah and those of other Iron Age religions, and the religion of some of Israel''s neighbors to the role of zooarchaeology in the study of religion, ancient Israelite festivals, and more.

The relationship of oral disease to overall disease is certainly not a new concept. For centuries, the role of oral infection and inflammation in contributing to diseases elsewhere in the body has been studied and reported. During the last few decades, a series of intriguing reports from many countries have increased the current interest in the role of oral health and disease in contributing to general health and systemic conditions. Is it possible that oral and periodontal disease is a risk factor for cardiovascular and other systemic diseases? Since this question was first posed, a phenomenal body of work has been directed at understanding how oral periodontal disease might affect distant sites and organs and, thus, have an effect on overall health. Recent studies of the human microbiome using DNA sequencing technologies have revealed new insights into the possible mechanisms that help to explain how oral infections can occur in distinct sites such as atheromas, the colon, and reproductive tissues.

Rapid urbanization and industrialization have progressively caused severe impacts on the mountainous, river, coastal environments, and have increased the risks for people living in these areas. Human activities have changed the ecosystems, and, hence, it is important to determine ways to predict these consequences to enable the preservation and restoration of these key areas. Furthermore, extreme events attributed to climate change are becoming more frequent, aggravating the entire scenario and introducing ulterior uncertainties for the accurate and efficient management of these areas to protect the environment, as well as the health and safety of people. Climate change is altering the rain and extreme heat, as well as inducing other weather mutations. All these lead to more frequent natural disasters such as flood events, erosions, and contamination and spreading of pollutants. Therefore, efforts need to be devoted to investigating the underlying causes, and to identifying feasible mitigation and adaptation strategies to reduce the negative impacts on both the environment and citizens. In support of this aim, the selected papers in this book covered a wide range of issues that are mainly relevant to the following: i) the numerical and experimental characterization of complex flow conditions under specific circumstances induced by the natural hazards; ii) the effect of climate change on the hydrological processes in the mountainous, river and coastal environments, iii) the protection of ecosystems and the restoration of areas damaged by the effects of the climate change and human activities.

The present special issue will lead you to discover the association between cerebrovascular events, cognitive impairment and atrial fibrillation, through update reviews and original articles exploring the pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning this association and describing the latest results in term of stroke prevention in AF. An interesting scientific journey that reflects the recent advances in pharmacological treatments and interventional procedures involving both mind and heart.

This book comprises research articles contributed to the Special Issue on "ERP and EEG Markers of Brain Visual Attentional Processing" of the Brain Sciences journal by a panel of authoritative international cognitive neuroscientists and electrophysiologists. All articles present state-of-the-art knowledge on the relationships between visuospatial attentional processing and the brain in humans as investigated by means of EEG and ERPs from the perspective of cognitive neuroscience. All the articles compare overt behavioral data obtained in universally renowned visual selective attention protocols with the electrophysiological data obtained in these same protocols aimed at investigating different facets of visuospatial attentional processing. The research presented is interdisciplinary, ranging across visual selective processing mechanisms in health, the effects of psychological attentional dysfunctions and brain damage, and functional imaging of the human brain. The Preface of the book provides an overall theoretical introduction to the field and to the contents of each of the remaining articles. In this introductory Editorial, a framework is presented in which to consider EEG and ERPs as research tools able to contribute to both cognitive and brain sciences, putting together new knowledge about humans as integrated sociobiological individuals. This book may provide a useful starting point and reference for researchers and students of cognitive neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, or cognitive science who have an interest in mind and brain visual attentional processing.

This book on ''Cooperative Learning in Higher Education'' addresses the development of both reflective teaching and learning in higher education to promote sustainable education in several disciplines where reflection is at the core of sustainable development. The book explores reflection within higher education and/or within instructional approaches to higher education, not only via in-house and external individuals, collective initiatives and activities that focus on reflection and the generation of knowledge, but also on the transformative outputs of learning communities. We place an emphasis on reflective practices and communities, as well as linking reflective learning and the development of professional identity through reflection. The book also addresses the connections between theoretical and applied research on reflective practices and knowledge generation in all areas, as well as professional practice and identity through theoretical definitions, situated and grounded practice, and transformative knowledge.

This Special Issue of Nutrients on "Nutraceutical, Nutrition Supplements, and Human Health" provides readers with contemporary knowledge on the role of functional foods, dietary supplements, and nutraceuticals in improving overall health and preventing chronic diseases. Various renowned international scientists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals have contributed to this compendium of excellent laboratory and clinical studies. The manuscripts provide evidence-based knowledge of nutritional compounds/functional food to improve many health conditions, including metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, muscle metabolism, obesity, neurological disorders, infectious diseases, aging, and cancer. All contributions were thoroughly peer-reviewed by a distinguished panel of scientists, and only highly ranked manuscripts were included to ensure the quality of contents. This book is an excellent resource for academic personnel and students in nutrition research, dietitians, physicians, and consumers.

Functional polymers show unique physical and chemical properties, which can manifest as dynamic responses to external stimuli such as radiation, temperature, chemical reaction, external force, and magnetic and electric fields. Recent advances in the fabrication techniques have enabled different types of polymer systems to be utilized in a wide range of potential applications in smart structures and systems, including structural health monitoring, antiΓÇÉvibration, and actuators. The progress in these integrated smart structures requires the implementation of finite element modelling using a multiphysics approach in various computational platforms. This book presents finite element methods applied in modeling of the smart structures and materials with particular emphasis on hydrogels, metamaterials, 3D-printed and anti-vibration constructs, and fibers.

Advances in immunosuppression and kidney transplant techniques have led to significant improvements in the short-term survival of the renal allograft. Long-term graft survival, however, has relatively lagged behind and has now become one of the main problems in kidney transplantation. In this Special Issue, we discuss the recent research developments in kidney transplants that may affect long-term allografts, as well as the survival of the patient. The latest developments in living kidney donation are also explored.

This book, Green Concrete for a Better Sustainable Environment, aims to cover recent advances in the development of green concrete solutions and discuss the best ways to leverage opportunities in this domain. Concrete can be described as green concrete if it has one of the following features; it uses waste material as at least one of its components, its production process does not lead to environmental destruction, or it has high performance and life cycle sustainability. At present, natural resources are running out. Cement and concrete made from industrial and construction waste can be regarded as valuable resources for civil infrastructure construction. Green concrete will not only contribute to a circular economy, but can also help to reduce the amount of embodied energy and CO2 emissions associated with cement manufacturing and aggregate quarrying. Using green concrete can also mitigate the environmental threats associated with industrial waste materials. This book covers the theoretical, experimental, applied and modelling research studies on the materials, products and structures related to sustainable cement-based composites.

Advances in immunosuppression and kidney transplant techniques have led to significant improvements in the short-term survival of the renal allograft. Long-term graft survival, however, has relatively lagged behind and has now become one of the main problems in kidney transplantation. In this Special Issue, we discuss the recent research developments in kidney transplants that may affect long-term allografts, as well as the survival of the patient. The latest developments in living kidney donation are also explored.

Although the role of salicylic acid (SA) in plant physiological processes has been widely studied for a long time, many open questions remain several fields. The importance of SA synthesis is illustrated by the four review papers published in this Special Issue that represent a wide range of approaches, indicating that a growing body of evidence needs to be summarized in a thought-provoking manner. The investigations presented in the six original studies extend upon the understanding of the involvement of SA in anthracnose infection and light-dependent cold acclimation, highlighting the use of SA mutant Arabidopsis plants. The studies also focused on the application of novel SA analogs or SA in combination with Rhizobacteria inoculation. We hope that the four reviews and six studies provide a deeper understanding of the role of SA and its complex tasks, as well as a new direction for research to address gaps and open questions, including both at the metabolite and gene expression levels, in the use of agriculturally important crop or mutant model plants, and in both basic research and practical applications.

The influenza virus poses a threat to human health and is responsible for global epidemics every year. In addition to seasonal infections, influenza can cause occasional pandemics of great consequence when novel viruses are introduced into humans. Despite the implementation of comprehensive vaccination programs, influenza viruses continue to pose an important and unpredictable global public health threat. They are one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality each year and have a significant economic impact. In recent years, research has been conducted to find alternative approaches to influenza vaccine development, including the generation of universal vaccines. Notably, significant progress in the field of influenza infection, transmission, and immunity have contributed to our understanding of influenza biology, and to expanding the technological approaches for the generation of more efficient strategies against influenza infections. Moreover, highly remarkable developments have been made in the implementation of new methodologies to evaluate the efficiency of vaccines and improve them for use on domestic animals such as poultry, horses, dogs or pigs. This enables us to decrease the exposure of humans to potentially pandemic viruses. The articles in this Special Issue will address the importance of influenza to human health and the advances in influenza research that have led to the development of better therapeutics and vaccination strategies.

This book is a collection of papers covering various aspects of the optimal control of power and energy production from renewable resources (wind, PV, biomass, hydrogen, etc.). In particular, attention is focused both on the optimal control of new technologies and on their integration in buildings, microgrids, and energy markets. The examples presented in this book are among the most promising technologies for satisfying an increasing share of thermal and electrical demands with renewable sources: from solar cooling plants to offshore wind generation; hybrid plants, combining traditional and renewable sources, are also considered, as well as traditional and innovative storage systems. Innovative solutions for transportation systems are also explored for both railway infrastructures and advanced light rail vehicles. The optimization and control of new solutions for the power network are addressed in detail: specifically, special attention is paid to microgrids as new paradigms for distribution networks, but also in other applications (e.g., shipboards). Finally, optimization and simulation models within SCADA and energy management systems are considered. This book is intended for engineers, researchers, and practitioners that work in the field of energy, smart grid, renewable resources, and their optimization and control.

Coatings offer the unique opportunity to create architectures that combine the functionality of two or more materials, conferring unique properties to objects with an extremely large palette of solutions. For this flexibility, thick and thin films have terrific impacts on the most relevant societal challenges. Computers, food packaging, airplanes, and cars, to mention a few familiar objects from everyday life, rely heavily on coatings. To celebrate the key role that coatings have in society, and in science and technology, this book collects a selection of relevant reviews and original research articles published in "Coatings" in 2017 and 2018. Papers have been selected based on their broad impact and balancing between the two major aspects of coatings science and technology: deposition and characterization.

This book focuses on the intelligent processing of images and optical information acquired by various imaging methods. Intelligent image and optical information processing have paved the way for the recent epoch of new intelligence and information era. Certainly, information acquired by various imaging techniques is of tremendous value; thus, an intelligent analysis of them is necessary to make the best use of it. A broad range of research fields is included in this book. Many studies focus on object classification and detection. Registration, segmentation, and fusion are performed between a series of images. Many valuable and up-to-most recent technologies are provided to solve the real problems in selected papers.