Due to increasing concern about the use of pesticides and its potential side effects, this book considers the development and application of alternative, environmental-friendly, plant protection methods for the control of weeds, disease, and pests (predators, parasitoids, competitors, plant-plant interactions, microelements, biopesticides). Some of the main advantages of the measures presented …
Discrete optimization is an important area of Applied Mathematics with a broad spectrum of applications in many fields. This book results from a Special Issue in the journal Mathematics entitled 'Advances and Novel Approaches in Discrete Optimization'. It contains 17 articles covering a broad spectrum of subjects which have been selected from 43 submitted papers after a thorough refereeing proc…
The most important class of polymers is block copolymers (BCPs) since they can be prepared through different methods and exhibit various properties combined with chemically different segments. The importance of block copolymers can be supported by the multitude of related manuscripts published daily, their use in practical applications in almost all areas, and novel discoveries based on BCPs in…
This reprint reports advances in the topic of Deep Eutectic Solvents regarding their use as green alternatives in different chemical applications. Studies on the extraction/preconcentration processes of pharmacologically relevant molecules, structural spectroscopic studies, and application in gas purification studies are reported. Two relevant reviews are also published in the context of carbon…
The relationship between individuality and aggregation is an important topic in Complex Systems Science, as both aspects are facets of emergence. This problem has generally been addressed by adopting a classical individual- versus population-level approach, in which boundaries emerge in segregated communities. More specifically, boundaries delimiting and interconnecting aggregates are at play. …
In the face of mounting challenges such as food insecurity and environmental degradation, the significance of sustainable agriculture has become increasingly apparent as a beacon for our collective future. Central to this transformative movement is the profound importance of soil health, which serves as the bedrock for both crop productivity and ecological resilience. The Special Issue "Advance…
This book is a collection of a group of peer-reviewed scientific papers dealing with both the evaluation and the solution of the complex but pressing problem of water source pollution. In the case of both fresh and marine water, the environmental and health protection aspects are closely linked. Monitoring activities supply continuous information on the contamination levels in inland surface, g…
The present reprint contains 33 articles accepted and published in the Special Issue entitled "Advancement of Mathematical Methods in Feature Representation Learning for Artificial Intelligence, Data Mining and Robotics, 2022" in the MDPI journal, Mathematics, which covers a wide range of topics connected to the theory and applications of feature representation learning for image processing, ar…
Although methods to assess or self-monitor intake may be considered similar, the intended function of each is quite distinct. For the assessment of dietary intake, methods aim to measure food and nutrient intake and/or to derive dietary patterns for determining diet-disease relationships, population surveillance or the effectiveness of interventions. In comparison, dietary self-monitoring prima…
At present, the textile sector is involved in many diversified fields for the development and sustainability of novel products and polymer-based composites, with several challenges present when it comes to producing innovative, novel, and durable materials. The fabrication of textiles and polymer-based composites as advanced and multifunctional materials in applied industries is a core fundamen…