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New scientific advances in different areas have allowed the design of more precise strategies for the prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders through nutrition. In this context emerges the term Precision Nutrition, a new approach that takes advantage of scientific knowledge about the interaction of internal and external environmental factors to develop dynamic and precise nutritional recommendations. Therefore, Precision Nutrition includes personalized advice based on genetics and well-documented gene–nutrient–phenotype interactions, as well as other factors such as individual metabolome, transcriptome, and microbiota profile; food behavior; and dietary, physical activity, and life-style habits; and the resulting interactomes. Precision Nutrition should be based at least on three sequential steps: conventional nutritional approaches (considering age, gender, and physiological states); the incorporation of nutritional and health status information (e.g., metabolites, physica

A collection of 18 scientific papers written in honor of Professor Karlheinz Schwarz's 80th birthday. The main topics include spectroscopy, excited states, DFT developments, results analysis, solid states, and surfaces. Related Books Radically Different—A Themed Issue in Honor of Professor Bernd Giese on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday Chemistry & Materials Science A Themed Issue in Honor of Professor Reinhard Schlickeiser on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday Physical Sciences From Quantum Paraelectric/Ferroelectric Perovskite Oxides to High Temperature Superconducting Copper Oxides -- In Honor of Professor K.A. Müller for His Lifework Computer Science & Mathematics Molecular Spectroscopy and Molecular Structure: Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Austin J. Barnes on Occasion of his 75th Birthday Physical Sciences Functional Molecular Materials Insights—a Themed Issue in Honour of Professor Manuel Almeida on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday Chemistry & Materials Science T

This Special Issue is intended as a platform for interactive material science articles with an emphasis on the preparation, functionalization chemistry, and characterization of nanocarbon compounds, as well as all aspects of physical properties of functionalized, conjugated, or hybrid nanocarbon materials, and their associated applications. Some recent advances in the field are here collected, providing new ideas for discussion of researchers working in this multidisciplinary scenario. Related Books Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 3.0 Chemistry & Materials Science Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 2.0 Chemistry & Materials Science Carbon Nanotube-Based Nanocomposites Chemistry & Materials Science Carbon-Based Materials Computer Science & Mathematics ... Fabrication of Carbon and Related Materials/Metal Hybrids and Composites Chemistry & Materials Science The recommendations have been generated using an AI system. About: About MDPI Books Advisory Board Legal Information: MDPI Privacy Policy

Medicinal plants or medicinal herbs have been identified and used since ancient times to improve the sensory characteristics of food. The main compounds found in plants correspond to four major biochemical classes: Polyphenols, terpenes, glycosides and alkaloids. Plants synthesize these compounds for a variety of purposes, including protection of the plant against fungi and bacteria, defense against insects and attraction of pollinators and dispersal agents to favor the dispersion of seeds and pollens. Related Books Medicinal, Aromatic, Spice Plants Biology & Life Sciences Morphology, Palynology and Phytochemicals of Medicinal Plants Biology & Life Sciences Natural Compounds in Plant-Based Food Biology & Life Sciences Plant Extracts Medicine & Pharmacology Plant Extracts as Functional Food Ingredients Biology & Life Sciences The recommendations have been generated using an AI system. About: About MDPI Books Advisory Board Legal Information: MDPI Privacy Policy Terms and Condition

The development and deployment of safe, effective, affordable, and accessible vaccines are essential for reducing transmission and disease severity. A central component of vaccine evaluation and immune protection against SARS-CoV-2 is the measurement of neutralizing antibodies, which serve as key indicators of antiviral immune activity. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for standardized, reliable, and reproducible in vitro potency assays to assess antiviral products throughout preclinical and clinical development. Neutralizing antibody assays are critical not only for evaluating vaccine efficacy but also for characterizing immune responses in COVID-19 patients, asymptomatic individuals, and vaccinated populations. However, current SARS-CoV-2 neutralization assays—including live virus, recombinant virus, pseudotyped virus, and competition-based assays—exhibit substantial methodological diversity. Differences in protocols, reagents, and result interpretation across laboratories have led to significant variability, limiting comparability between studies and vaccines and hindering the establishment of robust correlates of protection. This reprint provides a systematic and up-to-date overview of advances in SARS-CoV-2 neutralization assay development and vaccine evaluation. By summarizing methodological progress and remaining challenges, it aims to serve as a reference for researchers, clinicians, regulatory scientists, and public health professionals involved in COVID-19 research and response.

This reprint focuses on various types of surface topography descriptions. Since the detailed analysis of surface topography influences many material layer property evaluations, its proper study rely on both data collection and processing. Many errors occur not only when the measuring instrument is forwarding but also when the received data are processed. Therefore, the whole surface topography evaluation process depends on each of the actions provided. This reprint provides an insight on how to determine a proper description of a surface by examining its topography. The variety of studies regarding surface topography in each of the chapters included can provide advantages for resolving different problems of surface metrology.

This Special Issue of Life, collected and presented data on state-of-the-art innovations in this field. The study by Słowińska et al. focused on the clinical, dermoscopic and histological characteristics of patients with melanoma. Kolahdooz et al. investigated how niosomal curcumin suppresses the IL17–IL23 immunopathogenic axis in the skin lesions of patients with psoriasis. Giuglea et al. analyzed the properties of basal cell carcinoma. Mihulecea et al. concentrated their research on the many roles of dermoscopy in melanoma detection. Fulga et al. studied pharyngeal–esophageal malignancies in patients with dermatologic paraneoplastic syndrome. The original article by Kluger evaluated annular erythemas and purpuras in dermatology. Mihulecea et al. demonstrated and assessed the key factors in melanomagenesis. Nicolescu explored and inspected the psoriasis management challenges regarding difficult-to-treat areas in relation to therapeutic decision and effectiveness. Focused on atopic d

Electrospinning can be used to prepare nanofibrous membranes from diverse polymers. The large surface-to-volume ratio makes them suitable for diverse fields of applications, from filters to catalysts to tissue engineering.Here, we search for the latest developments dealing with nanofiber mats for biomedicine. From wound healing to slow release, and from tissue engineering to stem cell differentiation, nanofibrous membranes can be found in a broad range of biomedical applications. For these utilizations, their chemical as well as physical properties are important, such as hydrophobicity, fiber morphology, membrane porosity, mechanical strength, etc. This Special Issue focuses on nanofibrous membranes for biomedical applications, measuring and optimizing the correlated membrane properties. It covers the full range from basic research on new materials and producing novel electrospun structure to drug release to cell growth on nanofiber mats. Related Books Electrospun Nanofibers for Bio

The rising shortage of water resources in crop-producing regions worldwide and the need for irrigation optimisation call for sustainable water savings. The allocation of irrigation water will be an ever-increasing source of pressure because of vast agricultural demands under changing climatic conditions. Consequently, irrigation has to be closely linked with water-use efficiency with the aim of boosting productivity and improving food quality, singularly in those regions where problems of water shortages or collection and delivery are widespread. The present Special Issue (SI) showcases 19 original contributions, addressing water-use efficiency in the context of sustainable irrigation management to meet water scarcity conditions. These papers cover a wide range of subjects including (i) interaction mineral nutrition and irrigation in horticultural crops, (ii) sustainable irrigation in woody fruit crops, (iii) medicinal plants, (iv) industrial crops, and (v) other topics devoted to re

The development of civilization entails the need to find new technological solutions leading to products with new properties. Allies in these efforts are microorganisms that have developed skills to synthesize products with properties of interest to the industry, environmental remediation or water treatment. The evolution of the omics approaches brought new tools to explore the microbial diversity and microorganisms’ potential. These new methodological approaches are readily used in both industrial and environmental microbiology. This Special Issue collects research papers as well as review articles addressing recent advances on applied and environmental microbiology. The review articles critically discuss the importance of biopolymers, specifically xanthan gum, to improve soil properties and the importance that microorganisms of poorly explored environments, such as caves, may have in the production of new bioactive compounds. The microbiological aspects of wastewater treatment and

The food processing industries produce millions of tons of losses and waste during processing, which are becoming a grave economic, environmental, and nutritional problem. Fruit, vegetable, and food industrial solid waste include leaves, peels, pomace, skins, rinds pulp, stems, seeds, twigs, and spoiled fruits and vegetables, among other waste released in food production, which can be formed during cleaning, processing, cooking, and/or packaging. These wastes are characterized by being an important source of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, dietary fibers, polysaccharides, vitamins, carotenoids, pigments, and oils, among others. These bioactive compounds are closely associated with beneficial effects on human health. These by-products can be exploited in different industries: in food industries for the development of functional ingredients and/or new foods or natural additives; in pharmaceutical industries for medicinal, healthcare, or cosmetic products; in agricultura

Road pavements are essential to transportation infrastructure, supporting mobility, safety, and sustainability. Increasing traffic loads and climate-related stresses require pavement solutions with higher performance, durability, and resilience, supported by innovative materials and advanced design and monitoring approaches. This reprint presents a collection of peer-reviewed contributions from the Special Issue “Advances in Road Pavements” published in the journal Buildings (MDPI). The volume provides an overview of recent scientific and technological advances in road pavement engineering, combining theoretical developments with practical applications. The chapters cover topics such as pavement design and performance evaluation, innovative materials and construction methods, surface characteristics and ride quality, safety-related aspects, numerical modeling, monitoring technologies, and sustainable strategies for pavement construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation. The contributions include experimental studies, numerical analyses, and real-world case studies reflecting current challenges, particularly in urban mobility and infrastructure management. By integrating multidisciplinary perspectives, the reprint offers insights into improving pavement performance, extending service life, and reducing life-cycle costs and environmental impacts. This volume is intended for researchers, graduate students, practicing engineers, infrastructure managers, and policymakers seeking an up-to-date reference on road pavement engineering.

Navigation is one of the main challenges in robotics. Different technologies and strategies are involved, such as sensing, positioning, mapping, approaching, tracking, formation, control, communication, human interfaces, and learning. The aim of this Special Issue is to contribute to the state-of-the-art and current applications of robot navigation. Typical areas of interest include the following: development of robotics and sensors designed to be utilized within any radiological environment; perception, stand-alone, and cooperative approaches; SLAM; map-based, landmark-based, and beacon-based navigations (2D and 3D); data fusion for mobile robot navigation; wireless sensor networks for mobile robot navigation; network control systems; robot formation and tracking; adaptive robot navigation and control; biologically inspired robot navigation; path planning; applications of mobile robot navigation; genetic algorithms for mobile robot navigation; and tracking algorithms.

This Special Issue focuses on the modeling and analysis of network science, including that of key node identification, community detection, personalized recommendation systems, image processing, object detection, and the optimization method of artificial intelligence technology. Related Books Computation in Complex Networks Computer Science & Mathematics ... Artificial Intelligence in Modeling and Simulation Public Health & Healthcare ... Advanced Artificial Intelligence Models and Its Applications Computer Science & Mathematics Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Applications Biology & Life Sciences ... Future Intelligent Systems and Networks 2019 Business & Economics The recommendations have been generated using an AI system. About: About MDPI Books Advisory Board Legal Information: MDPI Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Terms of Use Accessibility Sales: Order and Delivery Indexing and Distribution Further Information: Book Series Reprints Book/Chapter Processing Charg

Catholic education faces many challenges, mainly due to secularisation. This applies to both content and methods, as well as teacher training. In response to these challenges, the publication titled "Catholic Education" has been prepared. This topic is understood very broadly and includes all dimensions of education provided within the Catholic Church, in Catholic schools and Catholic communities around the world. The main aim of this reprint is to specify and answer new challenges for Catholic education and Catholic religious education that arise from secularisation and other reasons. This reprint contains 17 chapters authored by researchers from various countries and different traditions. Drawing from their diverse experiences, they not only address the issues within their own environments but also analyse global problems. Papers presenting Catholic education and Catholic religious education in historical, contemporary, and future perspectives are also present. Related Books Engag

Comprehensive understanding of surface water and groundwater interaction is essential for effective water resources management. Groundwater and surface water are closely connected components that constantly interact with each other within the Earth’s hydrologic cycle. Many studies utilized observations to explain the surface water and groundwater interactions by carefully analyzing the behavior of surface water features (streams, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, and estuaries) and the related aquifer environments. However, unlike visible surface water, groundwater, an invisible water resource, is not easy to measure or quantify directly. Nevertheless, demand for groundwater that is highly resilient to climate change is growing rapidly. Furthermore, groundwater is the prime source for drinking water supply and irrigation, and hence critical to global food security. Groundwater needs to be managed wisely, protected, and especially sustainably used. However, this task has become a challenge

Control and automation systems are at the heart of our every day lives. This book is a collection of novel ideas and findings in these fields, published as part of the Special Issue on Control and Automation. The core focus of this issue was original ideas and potential contributions for both theory and practice. It received a total number of 21 submissions, out of which 7 were accepted. These published manuscripts tackle some novel approaches in control, including fractional order control systems, with applications in robotics, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, vibratory systems, and wastewater treatment plants. This Special Issue has gathered a selection of novel research results regarding control systems in several distinct research areas. We hope that these papers will evoke new ideas, concepts, and further developments in the field. Related Books Feasible, Robust and Reliable Automation and Control for Autonomous Systems Engineering Recent Developments in Automat

The recovery of solid wastes for the preparation of innovative composite materials not only represents an economic advantage, but also offers an ecological opportunity for the utilization of by-products which would otherwise be landfilled. Specifically, the reuse and recycling of waste lead to important savings of raw materials and energy, since these by-products, generally deriv from agricultural or industrial activities, are abundant in nature. Moreover, a reduction of the environmental and related sanitary impacts can be also achieved. For this reason, a recycling operation is fundamental for the improvement of the environmental sustainability, because these secondary raw materials become a resource that can be easily reused without the modification of the peculiar characteristics, in order to obtain new and performing composites, with a low specific weight, high durability, and long life cycle. Related Books Recycled Materials for Concrete and Other Composites Chemistry & Material

The Recent Research in Restorative Dental Materials Reprint presents a comprehensive collection of high-quality research focused on the latest advances in materials science applied to restorative dentistry. This curated body of work highlights the transformative developments in dental materials that have emerged in recent years, including innovations in composite resins, glass–ionomer cements, hybrid ceramics, zirconia, and other restorative substrates. Contributors explore how modern material compositions and advanced manufacturing techniques influence mechanical performance, clinical outcomes, and long-term durability in the oral environment. The Reprint also encompasses studies on cutting-edge application methods, such as digital workflows incorporating CAD/CAM systems, minimally invasive restorative approaches, novel polymerization protocols, and the role of environmental and biological factors affecting material longevity. In vitro and in vivo research, clinical investigations, communications, and reviews are represented, offering a multidisciplinary perspective on current challenges and opportunities in restorative dental materials. This Reprint is an essential resource for researchers, clinicians, and material scientists dedicated to advancing the science and practice of restorative dentistry.

In view of the relevant contributions that polymers and polymeric materials may make in the conservation of the aquatic environment—namely, through their use in wastewater treatment—a Special Issue (SI) entitled “Polymeric Materials for Wastewater Treatment Applications” aimed to publish original research and review papers within this field. Scientific contributions related to any aspect of the utilization of polymers and polymeric materials—whether synthetic or natural—in the treatment or purification of wastewater were welcomed. Given the large spectrum of materials, types of pollution, and treatment processes, this was a widely inclusive SI, which succeeded in gathering very relevant scientific contributions. Dr. Marta Otero and Dr. Ricardo N. Coimbra, as Guest Editors of this SI, acknowledge all contributors and peer-reviewers that allowed for such a success and are happy to share a compilation of the published papers in this book.

Water is an indispensable resource for human life and activity, and it is significantly affected by climate change and anthropogenic activities. In the past few decades, the frequency and intensity of drought have increased in extended zones of the planet, with an obvious negative impact on the environment, human life, and the economy. In this context, the Special Issue “Assessing Hydrological Drought in a Climate Change: Methods and Measures” addresses the following main topics: Designing new drought indices to better quantify drought effects; Analyzing drought events from both qualitative and quantitative viewpoints; Detecting drought events and their correlations with climate change; Estimating the drought frequency and intensity of drought episodes; Modeling and forecasting time series related to drought events. Related Books Climate Change and Hydrological Processes Environmental & Earth Sciences The Drought Risk Analysis, Forecasting, and Assessment under Climate Change Enviro

The great economic and strategic importance of catalysis makes it a rapidly evolving field. Catalysis is fundamental in areas such as sustainable development, energy production, environmental protection, food production, and water purification. In the face of the significant challenges of the present day, acquiring fundamental knowledge about the structure and phenomena on the surface of catalysts and the relationships between the composition, synthesis method, properties, and performance of catalysts in industrial processes is essential. Research is still needed to improve existing catalysts or design new systems which may efficiently and selectively conduct a given reaction toward the desired product. This Special Issue was devoted to designing and characterizing heterogeneous catalytic systems for industrial chemical processes. The reprint collects 10 research articles providing insight into important aspects of modern catalyst design. The papers cover recent advances and comprehe

Each year, natural hazards such as earthquakes, cyclones, flooding, landslides, wildfires, avalanches, volcanic eruption, extreme temperatures, storm surges, drought, etc., result in widespread loss of life, livelihood, and critical infrastructure globally. With the unprecedented growth of the human population, largescale development activities, and changes to the natural environment, the frequency and intensity of extreme natural events and consequent impacts are expected to increase in the future.Technological interventions provide essential provisions for the prevention and mitigation of natural hazards. The data obtained through remote sensing systems with varied spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions particularly provide prospects for furthering knowledge on spatiotemporal patterns and forecasting of natural hazards. The collection of data using earth observation systems has been valuable for alleviating the adverse effects of natural hazards, especially with their near rea

Today, new technologies bring with them an everchanging panorama, forcing us to constantly update our knowledge. For this reason, quality education is necessary in all areas of knowledge and at all educational levels. The quality of our educational systems and the questions raised by reviewing whether our educational institutions offer quality education or not are some of the main reasons why quality education is a topic that, in recent years, has captured the interest of governments, researchers and lecturers, among others. This issue brings together different socioeducational actors with their concerns for and commitments to higher education, in order to achieve the aim of providing people with the competencies necessary to adapt to a changing and competitive world, in which the individual needs to engage in lifelong learning and where education must align with sustainable development goals, such as democracy, justice and equality. All of this provides us with a scenario for reflec