Birds of Costa Rica
The definitive photographic guide to the astounding avifauna of Costa Rica. Birdwatching in Costa Rica is one of the world's great nature experiences, with 850 species on its national list. A place of transition between South and Central American avifaunas, spectacular birds such as toucans, hummingbirds, trogons, macaws and tanagers are abundant throughout its extensive montane forests, with further riches to be found in the coastal lowlands and wetlands. The perfect companion for any wildlife-friendly visitor, Birds of Costa Rica provides photographic coverage of 350 species regularly seen in this small yet habitat-rich country. Concise text for each species includes information on identification, songs and calls, behaviour, distribution and habitat, with each photograph carefully selected to aid identification. A guide to the best birdwatching sites of Costa Rica is also included. Portable yet authoritative, this is the perfect guide for any visitor to this incredible part of Central America.
Stowaway
A NEW SCIENTIST NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR A cultural and social history of the rat, examining how one creature achieved total world domination and has inspired such love and loathing. Rats are creatures which inspire fear and fascination in equal measure. Their lives are more closely entwined with humans than any other animal, but they remain the most misunderstood of all species. No animal has sacrificed more in the pursuit of human health but also been so resolutely blamed for spreading plague and pestilence. No animal has been so determinedly targeted by humans, and still managed to survive and thrive in our midst. No animal is so often derided as being vicious and cunning, but possesses such a rich inner life. In Stowaway, Joe Shute, explores our complex and often contradictory relationship with the rat. He travels the world from sub-Saharan Africa to the Rocky Mountains and visits some of the most rodent-infested cities on earth to unpick the myths we tell ourselves about rats and investigate the unexplored secrets of their own extraordinary lives. He examines the way in which rats have shaped human history and meets cutting-edge researchers harnessing the power of rat intelligence to achieve incredible results. He explores the hidden world they inhabit beneath our feet as well as their role in natural ecosystems. And through his own pet rats, he discovers the close emotional bonds they form with humans when given the chance. Ultimately, this is a book which questions what the lives of rats reveal to us about our own, and whether there might be a better way to live alongside our ancient enemies in the modern age?
The Traveling Tree
With half a million copies sold in Japan - this international bestseller is now in English for the first time. Discover this literary classic from world-renown photographer Michio Hoshino. "Everyone is on a journey in their lives . . . And I believe that humankind too is on a journey in the flow of a larger time." In this enduring classic, Michio Hoshino shares his reflections on the natural world, and our place within it. Beautifully written, this book is a collection of Hoshino's writing published at the peak of his artistic prowess as a writer and photographer, only one year before his career was tragically cut short at the age of 43 by a fatal bear attack in the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Traveling Tree has gained increasing popularity in the more than 20 years since Hoshino's untimely death. His work has been featured in numerous Japanese television specials and documentaries and an exhibition of his photography has travelled to cities and communities across Japan. First published in Japanese, The Traveling Tree is a literary triumph, now available in English for the first time.
A First Felt Book: Rain and Shine
Settle down for interactive story time with A First Felt Book: Rain and Shine from Petit Collage. This sweet felt book all about seasons and weather is perfect for reading together with your little one. The brightly colored and softly textured touch-and-feel areas keeps children engaged throughout, and the rhythm of the rhyming text gently soothes them as you speak. The simple story also encourages a lifelong love of animals and the natural world. Made for ages 0+, this First Felt Book will become a family favorite to treasure. The pages of this book are printed using FSC paper and vegetable inks, and the touch-and-feel areas are made from 90% recycled felt. SWEET RHYMING STORY - Rain and Shine is a sweet felt book all about seasons and weather. The rhythm of the rhyming text gently soothes little ones, and the simple story encourages a lifelong love of animals and the natural world. TACTILE EXPERIENCE - The brightly colored and softly textured touch-and-feel areas keeps children engaged as you read. They also bring an awareness of change and differences between each page, which helps babies to associate the word shapes and pictures. PLAY & DEVELOPMENT - First Felt Books are designed to develop hand-eye coordination, sensory awareness, and fine and gross motor skills. The bright felt areas also encourage color recognition. THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED - The pages of this book are printed using FSC paper and vegetable inks, and the touch-and-feel areas are made from 90% recycled felt. PETIT COLLAGE - Combining great design with environmentally conscious manufacturing to create toys, puzzles, and games that encourage learning through play. From on-the-go fun to nursery show pieces, our products are playful, creative, and educational.
Editorial Board Members' Collection Series
Human activities have induced conspicuous global changes including, inter alia, climate change, land use change, nitrogen deposition, and biological invasions, which negatively impact biodiversity and ecosystem function in the Anthropocene. The decline in biodiversity and the deterioration of ecosystem functions and services may hamper the sustainable development of both the economy and society. Although numerous studies have been conducted over the past few decades, the biological and ecological mechanisms governing how global changes affect biodiversity and ecosystem functions are not fully understood. This reprint presents studies that advance our understanding of how global change drivers affect biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
Advances in Functional Polymers and Composites
Polymers and composites offer significant advantages such as cost-effectiveness, lightweight properties, design flexibility, and manufacturing adaptability. They are widely applied across aerospace, transportation, sustainable energy, construction, and other sectors. The production of polymer and composite components involves multiple steps, including structural design, preform shaping, curing and forming, machining and assembly, and inspection and analysis - each exerting a direct and significant influence on the final performance and reliability of the structure. With the growing use of these materials in high-end applications, composite components are increasingly developed at for large scale and integrated structures, with greater complexity and multifunctionality. These trends present new challenges in the design and manufacturing of advanced functional polymers and composites.This Reprint aims to showcase recent advances and cutting-edge research in this field, covering topics such as structural design, mechanics, molding processes, machining and assembly techniques, defect detection, and functional evaluation. Both original research articles and reviews are included, and through this collection, editors seek to promote the development of scientific theories and methodologies, and to support the broader application of advanced functional polymers and composites in high-performance equipment and interdisciplinary fields.
Recent Advances in Photocatalytic Treatment of Pollutants in Water
The pervasive contamination of water resources by persistent and emerging pollutants-including pharmaceuticals, industrial dyes, pesticides, and heavy metals-represents one of the most critical global environmental and public health challenges. Conventional water treatment methods often prove inadequate, inefficient, or costly for achieving the complete mineralization of these complex, non-biodegradable contaminants. With pollutants posing significant environmental threats, developing environmentally benign, efficient, and cost-effective treatment technologies is paramount. Photocatalysis stands at the forefront of this shift, offering a "green chemistry" pathway for water purification. In this Reprint, we focus on cutting-edge research on the application of photocatalysis for water treatment.
Advanced Studies on High-Performance Metal-Ion Capacitors
This Special Issue, "Advanced Studies on High-Performance Metal-Ion Capacitors: Technologies, Systems and Applications", highlights recent progress in hybrid electrochemical energy storage systems that integrate the merits of both batteries and supercapacitors. This Special Issue brings together research articles and reviews that address the challenges involved in the construction of metal-ion capacitors from multiple perspectives, including electrode structure engineering, heteroatom doping, electrolyte design and innovative cell configurations. This Reprint provides a comprehensive overview of emerging technologies and future directions for metal-ion capacitors, offering valuable insights for designing next-generation high-performance and sustainable electrochemical energy storage systems.
Advances in Hybrid Supercapacitors
Hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs) are an emerging class of energy storage devices that combine the high power density of supercapacitors with the high energy density of batteries, offering a unique set of advantages that make them ideal for a wide range of applications. By pairing a faradaic electrode-where charges are stored through reversible redox, intercalation, or conversion reactions-with a non-faradaic or pseudocapacitive electrode that relies on surface ion adsorption, HSCs can provide higher energy density while still maintaining a high level of power output in short bursts, making them well-suited for applications that require rapid charging and discharging, such as in electric vehicles during acceleration, regenerative braking, or start-stop events; cordless power tools that must drive screws or drill masonry without voltage sag; grid-tied buffers that smooth short-term fluctuations from renewables; and even wearable or IoT devices that harvest intermittent energy and must transmit data bursts. This preprint features eleven research and review papers that focus on the recent advances in the field of hybrid supercapacitors, covering topics such as carbon-based and transition metal oxides electrode materials, electrolytes and additives, Zn-ion hybrid capacitors, hybrid energy storage systems, and control algorithms for supercapacitors. Research from over 40 authors from China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Romania, the Republic of Korea, Greece, and other countries and regions contributed to this preprint.
Fruit Tree Physiology and Molecular Biology
Fruit tree physiology and molecular biology, a key branch of agricultural science, is key to maintaining the sustainability of the global fruit industry amid worsening conditions due to climate change and the growing demand for high-quality, diverse fruits. Critical physiological changes in fruit trees-flower bud differentiation, fruit/seed development, sugar-acid/color formation, rootstock impacts on tree/fruit quality, and stress responses-guide production, and analyzing their molecular mechanisms remains a focus of research, as this drives practical guidance.​ This Reprint "Fruit Tree Physiology and Molecular Biology" presents the latest work by global researchers in this field, focusing on four core areas: extreme environment adaptation, efficient resource use, precise quality improvement, and variety innovation. It covers apples, pears, grapes, etc., integrating multi-omics, CRISPR/Cas9, and cultivation techniques to explore stress resistance, nutrient regulation, and germplasm innovation mechanisms, solving industry issues (low efficiency, poor resilience, etc.).​ Our motivation for compiling this Reprint lies in addressing challenges (nutrient imbalance, pear ring rot, lab-field gaps, etc.) and consolidating progress (key genes, YOLOv10 models, etc.), and gaps (molecular-physiological links) are bridged via theory-practice research. The targets of this Special Issue Reprint include researchers (new mechanisms), agronomists (field optimization), and students (trends). It aims to inspire collaboration, accelerate technological translation, and advance a climate-resilient, high-quality industry for food security.
Advances in Remediation of Contaminated Sites
This Reprint compiles 24 cutting-edge studies on contaminated site remediation, covering four core areas: pollution characterization and risk assessment, environmental fate of pollutants, remediation technology, and review articles with bibliometric analysis. It explores diverse scenarios including industrial zones, mining areas, agricultural lands, drinking water sources, and tailings ponds. Key advances include rapid pollution detection via multi-source spectral fusion and machine learning, revelation of plant-microbe adaptive mechanisms in polluted environments, development of high-performance materials (e.g., modified biochar, nanoflower-like oxides), and intelligent optimization of remediation strategies. The collection reflects interdisciplinary integration and practical application, addressing challenges like compound pollution and technology scaling. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and policymakers, advancing sustainable management of contaminated sites worldwide.
Blooming Hearts - Coloring Book
Blooming Hearts is a floral coloring book featuring heart-shaped flower illustrations drawn in clean black-and-white line art.Designed for artistic coloring and creative use, this book appeals to adults and teens interested in floral design and line art illustration.
Island of Silver
Island of Silver is a story about wonder. It is set on the magical island of Guernsey, an idyllic world of gleaming cliffs and enchanted woods, of aquamarine seas and angel bright skies.It is also a story about war, the tragedy of a dying land as the First World War rips open the heart of Europe.And it begins and ends with a little girl.Lorley lives a golden life in Guernsey with her Papa, Mamma, and four brothers. Blessed with a wondrous imagination, she sees the magic of Guernsey all around her, where she dreams of mermaids in the waves and angels in the white mist of the sky, a young girl who sees heaven in the wildflowers.But beyond this tiny island in the sea, the First World War has begun, and soon the killing fields of Europe bleed into Guernsey. Lorley's Papa must leave his family to fight in the trenches of France.So begins the great yearning of Lorley's family. Her Mamma cannot truly believe in the war, and longs for her husband's return. Lorley's brothers, Reginald and Herbert, too young to fight, yearn for the glory of battle. And her youngest brothers, Lloyd and Randolph, adventurous, lion-hearted boys, yearn for their Papa, their hero, to return to them.Lorley's world becomes one of great longing also. Believing she must strive to not be afraid, and to not be sad, as her Papa tells her before he leaves, Lorley waits for her Papa to come home.It is then that the magical Mme. de la Rue enters her life, a radiant witch with shimmering silver hair from the mysterious South Shore of the island. She is a gifted healer and dreamspeaker, and becomes a spiritual beacon for Lorley. The little girl's imagination spirals to new heights as Mme. de la Rue becomes part of Lorley's family through the dark days of the war, through the great longing.Lorley and her family endure heart wrenching loss that changes their lives irrevocably. Never, though, does Lorley lose sight of the magic and the wonder in her island.
Innovate Energy
America's next energy revolution won't be won by politicians. It will be built by innovators.For decades, nuclear microreactors powered the world's harshest outposts-Antarctica, Panama, and beyond-delivering clean, reliable energy where diesel was costly, risky, and hard to sustain. Then, in the 1970s, politics and fear shut the door.Today, as America faces an energy crunch, microreactors stand ready. Perfectly sized and portable, they provide energy without forcing industries to set up operations close to power supplies or fly diesel. Microreactors mean energy on your terms-not the grid's.In Innovate Energy, author, entrepreneur, and industrial leader Mike Wandler tells the untold story of microreactors' ability to restore resilience, security, and prosperity. Drawing on family legacy, lessons from heavy industry, and insights from mentors and pioneers, WandlerBusts myths to alleviate fear around the dangers of nuclear energy.Reveals truths about the ways microreactors can provide affordable, more secure energy solutions.Lays out a playbook for leaders who refuse to settle for scarcity.Other proven clean sources will play their role, but nuclear microreactors hold the key to unlocking America's next wave of energy abundance. This is not just a book about technology-it's a call to action for builders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers who believe America's best days are still ahead.Are you ready to see what happens when truth, grit, and American leadership take charge of energy's future? Let Innovate Energy show you how today!
Sustainability in Energy and Buildings
This Reprint focuses on the urgent challenge of achieving sustainability in the building sector, one of the world's largest consumers of energy and contributors to CO₂ emissions. It brings together recent research and innovative approaches aimed at reducing energy demand and environmental impact throughout a building's life cycle. The contributions explore advancements in sustainable construction materials, the design and optimization of passive and active building envelopes, and the integration of efficient HVAC systems with smart control technologies. Renewable energy applications for buildings-such as photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, small wind turbines, and low-temperature geothermal solutions-are also examined. Furthermore, life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC) methodologies are presented as essential tools for evaluating and guiding sustainable design and operation. Collectively, this Reprint offers a comprehensive overview of emerging strategies and technologies shaping a more energy-efficient and environmentally responsible built environment.
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. Furthermore, aquaculture is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly ways to generate high-quality protein. In addition, in recent years, fish have emerged as an intriguing model system in biomedical research, owing to their strong resemblance to mammals in terms of several fundamental systems. Morphological studies give us context for understanding the spatial organization and link between physiological and biochemical data, as well as the molecular machinery that is rapidly being explained using molecular approaches focused on the genome, transcriptome, and proteome. As a result, new morphological and physiological studies of fish would improve our comprehension of these species, with extraordinary and exciting implications for both basic and applied studies. Many authors contributed to the Special Issue with ten original pieces and four reviews. The themes covered ranged from descriptive morphology to morphometry, stress markers to toxic compounds, wild to aquaculture or model species, and involved various organs and apparatus. Morphometrical and morphological research were the most numerous contributions in this Special Issue.
Management of Forest Pests and Diseases
Forests are complex ecosystems sustained by interactions among countless organisms. Insects and microorganisms play essential roles in nutrient cycling and energy flow, yet many also act as pests and pathogens, threatening forest health and stability. This paradox-the presence of organisms that support ecological balance but can also disrupt it-is intensified by two global forces: the introduction of alien species and climate change. Global trade and travel facilitate biological invasions, while rising temperatures and shifting climates expand the range and reproduction of many pests and pathogens, contributing to recent outbreaks. Effective surveillance and monitoring are crucial for sustainable forest management. Early detection, rapid response, and long-term planning will help to mitigate their impacts, guide targeted control strategies, and advance scientific understanding.In this Special Issue, we compile interdisciplinary research addressing the interactions between pests, pathogens, climate, and human activity. By informing policy and management, we aim to support healthier, more resilient forests and foster collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
Grand Challenges in the Diagnosis and Management of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases
This Special Issue of Diagnostics, titled "Grand Challenges in the Diagnosis and Management of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases", offers a comprehensive collection of original research and reviews spanning major advances in both heart and brain health. The topics covered range from acute and chronic cardiovascular syndromes to cerebrovascular emergencies. Original investigations examine coronary imaging in Kawasaki disease, the neurological impact of intra-aortic balloon pump and ECMO support, and the prognostic role of inflammatory markers such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in large vessel occlusion stroke. The novel approaches highlighted in this collection include the use of machine learning models for stroke prediction in atrial fibrillation, the application of atherogenic indices to population-level risk stratification, and the functional characterization of SOX4 as a genetic determinant of familial atrial fibrillation. Complementing these are state-of-the-art reviews on atrial cardiomyopathy, acute heart failure and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies, and frameworks for early detection of pre-heart failure. Collectively, the Reprint underscores the role of imaging, genetics, biomarkers, and artificial intelligence in shaping the next generation of diagnostics and therapeutics. Guest edited by Prof. Dr. Sonu M. M. Bhaskar, this Special Issue provides a multidisciplinary perspective for clinicians, researchers, and policy leaders committed to reducing the global burden of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease.
Machine Learning and Deep Learning for Healthcare Data Processing and Analyzing
This Special Issue presents recent progress in applying machine learning and deep learning techniques to healthcare data analysis and clinical decision support. Modern healthcare systems generate extensive and diverse data sources, including physiological signals, medical imaging, electronic health records, wearable sensor outputs, and multimodal patient monitoring streams. Deriving reliable clinical insights from these data demands approaches that are robust, interpretable, and efficient for real-time or resource-constrained environments. The contributions in this collection demonstrate innovative models and practical methodologies for addressing key challenges such as the detection of Parkinson's disease, prediction of Alzheimer's disease progression, forecasting clinical outcomes in microsurgical clipping of cerebral aneurysms, prediction of lumbar disc herniation, and the development of medical image-based decision support systems. Overall, the Special Issue highlights methods that improve diagnostic accuracy, streamline data processing workflows, and support integration into clinical and point-of-care practice.
Functional Biomaterial for Bone Regeneration
It is generally recognized that the success of bone regeneration depends not only on the choice of a particular surgical technique and the clinical experience of the therapist but also on the knowledge, correct selection, and use of various biomaterials. Therefore, the science of biomaterials is one of the fastest growing disciplines in dentistry, and a more thorough knowledge of the properties of existing biomaterials and the development of new biomaterials are certainly areas that require special research attention. We believe that the topic of this Special Issue is of great importance to professionals working in the field of tissue engineering, dental implantology, and regenerative dentistry.
Lithium-Ion Batteries
This Reprint, titled "Lithium-Ion Batteries: Design, Preparation, Reaction Mechanisms of Electrode Materials, and Battery Life Evaluation," collates cutting-edge research focused on overcoming the performance limitations of current energy storage systems. This collection addresses critical challenges in the field, from the development of next-generation silicon and composite anodes to the engineering of high-capacity cathodes and stable interfacial architectures. A significant emphasis is placed on elucidating the complex reaction mechanisms and degradation pathways that govern cell performance and longevity. Advanced preparation techniques and innovative electrode design strategies are explored to enhance ionic conductivity, mechanical stability, and cycling durability. Furthermore, this Reprint highlights the application of sophisticated in situ and operando characterization methods, alongside robust modeling frameworks, for precise state-of-health monitoring and accurate battery life prediction. By integrating fundamental material insights with practical engineering solutions, this compilation serves as a vital resource for developing more efficient, reliable, and commercially viable lithium-ion batteries for the future of electrified transportation and grid storage.
Application of Remote Sensing and GIS for Promoting Sustainable Geoenvironment
With the Earth's growing population, the environment faces a wide array of new challenges. Detailed knowledge, as well as continuous monitoring and evaluation of the environment, is crucial to promote a sustainable geological environment. In recent decades, Remote Sensing (RS) has made it possible to gather huge quantities of geographical information and data. Additionally, a Geographical Information System (GIS) serves as an outstanding and effective tool in the spatial analysis of various natural phenomena. The integration of RS with GIS further enhances the process of collating and updating multiple information, thereby offering a cost-effective way for environmental monitoring, evaluation, and change detection. These geospatial technologies are particularly helpful for both basic and applied geology, mapping, characterizing natural resources, assessing contaminated environment risk, estimating natural hazards, identifying community susceptibility to hazards, and land use planning. Therefore, RS and GIS have become necessary tools in addressing the geoenvironment.This Special Issue aims to present research on the application of RS and GIS in addressing geoenvironmental phenomena, underscoring how and why monitoring and evaluating changes in the environment are rather important to encourage the geological environment's sustainability and ensure a good quality of human life.
Antibacterial Treatment in Periodontal and Endodontic Therapy, 2nd Edition
The fundamental element of systematic periodontal or endodontic therapy is the removal of bacterial biofilms from the outer and inner surfaces of the teeth. In some cases, the use of an antibiotic that is effective against the individual germ spectrum may be justified in order to control disease processes and prevent the spread of inflammatory processes to other areas of the body. However, the possible side effects on the whole organism or even the development of resistance must be considered. Alternative approaches, such as antimicrobial photochemical, photodynamic, and photothermal methods, use laser energy to induce a toxic effect on microorganisms. In the context of the treatment of periodontitis of different stages and severity, as well as endodontic therapy measures, such methods show promising results, especially in adjuvant application to conventional approaches, and could therefore be a useful complement to existing periodontal and endodontic antimicrobial treatment measures. This Special Issue focuses on actual studies on the use of antimicrobial therapy approaches in periodontal and endodontic therapy.
Role of Food Digestion and Digestive System in the Nutritional, Functional and Health Properties of Food Bioactives
Understanding the complex process of food digestion is an area of intense research due to its direct liaison with nutrition and health. Over the last few years, consumers have been paying more attention to how nutritional factors and the consumption of certain foods may impact human well-being, as food components may display either beneficial or adverse effects in the digestive system, and therefore, in human health. Hence, our gastrointestinal tract is exposed to a large variety of food components once they are processed, released, and eventually transported across the intestinal barrier. Food compounds are thus metabolized and subjected to different changes in the digestive system, and scientists working on functional foods aim to uncover this challenge to better determine the health implications of food bioactives. While the simulation of the physiological conditions of the digestion process is a crucial step, there is growing evidence regarding the health impact of the modulation of digestive functions through dietary substances. Therefore, the goal of this Special Issue was to gather the latest research on the three-way interplay between the digestive system, the food matrix and composition during digestion, and the nutritional and functional properties of food bioactives, highlighting investigations applying model systems of food gastrointestinal digestion, absorption, bioavailability, and gut microbiota, but also novel studies and future scientific trends about the nutritional and biological functions of digested food products and their bioactive molecules in health and disease.
Soft Nomological Physical Science
This book mounts a decisive assault on a "holy element" of physical science: the construct of laws. Yet this is not a purely negative critique; it is driven by a constructive purpose, or telos. The investigation reveals a surprising result: evidence from the last few decades of scientific development shows that "soft-law" science has gained significant ground. This trend validates the author's central hypothesis-that traditional law-based science has inherent limits. The author begins by outlining a relevant history of physical science before exposing previously untold "dark points" within nomological, or law-based, science. These critiques reveal new openings for discovery. Finally, the principles of soft-law science are established. The book then explores creative ways to exploit these principles, reinventing known theories of physics within this revitalised paradigm-and does so to a profoundly fruitful extent.
Bold Women, Sustainable Futures
What do we do now? How do we move forward in a world moving backward?Around the world, women bear the brunt of the climate crisis-yet remain the least likely to hold positions of power or decision-making in shaping its solutions.As women face the compounding pressures of the climate emergency, global rollbacks on DEI and ESG policies, and the revival of cultural misogyny, Bold Women, Sustainable Futures: Leadership Lessons in an Age of Resistance offers a powerful and timely exploration of the progress, potential, and power of women in sustainability leadership to drive inclusive and systemic change.Amid the growing backlash against climate action, gender equity, human rights, and DEI, women in leadership positions find themselves facing new and unprecedented challenges-from burnout and backlash to exclusion-while still struggling to navigate systems never designed for them in the first place.Years of research show that sustainability and sustainable development are best supported by leadership rooted in collective progress, justice, and inclusion-values women often bring to the table. But how do we continue to support and encourage women to lead in the face of such persistent and mounting opposition?Bold Women, Sustainable Futures addresses this dilemma, serving as both a guide and a call to action-for women stepping into leadership roles, as a tribute to those who have come before, and as an invitation to the next generation of sustainability leaders.It begins by profiling nine women leading across climate science, governance, business, media, advocacy, and the arts-including Helle Bank Jorgensen, Roberta Boscolo, Honourable Rosa Galvez, Tensie Whelan, Dr. Shawna Pandya, Sylvia Yu Friedman, Dr. Dianne Saxe, Dr. Deborah Rosati, and the author herself-weaving in her own deeply personal reflections on leadership, identity, and transformation as a woman of colour navigating voice and visibility throughout her journey so far.The second half takes a hard look at the global backlash against DEI and ESG, revealing the historical cycles of gendered progress and regression while offering strategies, solutions, and concrete steps for meeting this moment head-on.A powerful, fiery fulcrum chapter, "The Turning Point," brings together diverse reflections from extraordinary women around the world across sustainability, business, and justice movements, offering wisdom and guidance on leading with courage when the systems we thought were shifting begin to turn back. The book ends with practical tips and strategies for navigating the current backlash, aimed at existing female leaders, emerging and aspiring leaders, students, and allies.Beautifully written, evidence-based, and told through women's real-life experiences, Bold Women, Sustainable Futures serves as a mirror revealing how far we still have to go-exposing the systemic barriers women face in leadership-and counters them with actionable strategies, inspiring stories, and a message of hope.This book is a playbook for navigating uncharted territory, rewriting the rules of power, and leading with courage toward a sustainable future-especially when the world pushes back.
Bold Women, Sustainable Futures
What do we do now? How do we move forward in a world moving backward?Around the world, women bear the brunt of the climate crisis-yet remain the least likely to hold positions of power or decision-making in shaping its solutions.As women face the compounding pressures of the climate emergency, global rollbacks on DEI and ESG policies, and the revival of cultural misogyny, Bold Women, Sustainable Futures: Leadership Lessons in an Age of Resistance offers a powerful and timely exploration of the progress, potential, and power of women in sustainability leadership to drive inclusive and systemic change.Amid the growing backlash against climate action, gender equity, human rights, and DEI, women in leadership positions find themselves facing new and unprecedented challenges-from burnout and backlash to exclusion-while still struggling to navigate systems never designed for them in the first place.Years of research show that sustainability and sustainable development are best supported by leadership rooted in collective progress, justice, and inclusion-values women often bring to the table. But how do we continue to support and encourage women to lead in the face of such persistent and mounting opposition?Bold Women, Sustainable Futures addresses this dilemma, serving as both a guide and a call to action-for women stepping into leadership roles, as a tribute to those who have come before, and as an invitation to the next generation of sustainability leaders.It begins by profiling nine women leading across climate science, governance, business, media, advocacy, and the arts-including Helle Bank Jorgensen, Roberta Boscolo, Honourable Rosa Galvez, Tensie Whelan, Dr. Shawna Pandya, Sylvia Yu Friedman, Dr. Dianne Saxe, Dr. Deborah Rosati, and the author herself-weaving in her own deeply personal reflections on leadership, identity, and transformation as a woman of colour navigating voice and visibility throughout her journey so far.The second half takes a hard look at the global backlash against DEI and ESG, revealing the historical cycles of gendered progress and regression while offering strategies, solutions, and concrete steps for meeting this moment head-on.A powerful, fiery fulcrum chapter, "The Turning Point," brings together diverse reflections from extraordinary women around the world across sustainability, business, and justice movements, offering wisdom and guidance on leading with courage when the systems we thought were shifting begin to turn back. The book ends with practical tips and strategies for navigating the current backlash, aimed at existing female leaders, emerging and aspiring leaders, students, and allies.Beautifully written, evidence-based, and told through women's real-life experiences, Bold Women, Sustainable Futures serves as a mirror revealing how far we still have to go-exposing the systemic barriers women face in leadership-and counters them with actionable strategies, inspiring stories, and a message of hope.This book is a playbook for navigating uncharted territory, rewriting the rules of power, and leading with courage toward a sustainable future-especially when the world pushes back.
Functional Foods and Gut Microbiome
Functional Foods and Gut Microbiome covers the concept of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics along with their potential as functional foods for improved gut microbiome and health. A significant part of the population is consuming various probiotics in form of traditional fermented food or commercial supplements. The use of probiotics along with prebiotics and synbiotics has increased in recent times due to increase in public awareness on functional foods. Recent advances in management of disorders and diseases with functional foods are discussed. This book is useful tool for graduate students, PhD scholars as core subject and information source. Researchers, academicians and dieticians, biochemists, microbiologists, biotechnologists and other life science disciplines will find it useful for their concept, update and recent information.
Physics I for Dummies
Discover the power of physics! Physics I For Dummies, 4th Edition explains the basic principles of physics simply and clearly. This useful guide includes easy-to-follow explanations of motion, energy, the states of matter, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, relativity, and beyond. It breaks down complex concepts into manageable chunks and uses relatable examples to you readers understand how physics applies to everyday situations. You'll get a handle on physics in no time! Inside: Work through everything in an intro physics class, explained in plain English Understand physics formulas and how to use them Learn the basics of motion, force, work, heat, and more--and pass your test! Make learning easier with examples that connect physics to the world Perfect for anyone looking for a course supplement or for those simply curious about physics and the way it intersects with our everyday life, Physics I For Dummies takes the work out of learning physics.
The Quiet Language of Animals
The Quiet Language of Animals explores the subtle ways animals move through our awareness - in the natural world, in memory, imagination and moments of quiet reflection.Rather than offering fixed meanings or rigid interpretations, this book approaches animals as companions for reflection. Each animal invites consideration of qualities such as resilience, patience, courage, gentleness and change, allowing meaning to emerge through personal connection rather than definition.Accompanied by black-and-white illustrations and gentle mantras, the reflections may be read in any order, revisited over time or opened intuitively. This book is intended as a calm, contemplative companion - one that invites attentiveness, curiosity and deeper listening to both the natural world and inner experience.
Neo-Pre-Platonic Naturalism
A Rigorous First-Principles Derivation of Mind, Meaning, and Morality.The Problem: The Fragmented Age We live in an era of intellectual silos. Science describes a purposeless mechanical universe, while philosophy struggles to ground objective values in a relativistic world. The result is the "Is-Ought" problem: a fatal disconnect between the facts of reality and the meaning of our lives.The Solution: A Return to the Source Neo-Pre-Platonic Naturalism (NPN) offers a comprehensive reconstruction of philosophical inquiry. It does not merely argue for a solution; it derives one. By reclaiming the lost precision of the Greek lexicon and applying the rigor of modern systems engineering, this treatise heals philosophy's oldest divide.It demonstrates, through strict axiomatic logic, how a physical cosmos (Arche) lawfully gives rise to a conscious navigator (Nous) through the mechanics of evolutionary time. This "Diachronic Turn" replaces the static snapshots of modern analytic philosophy with a dynamic, process-based understanding of reality.The System: What This Treatise Delivers This is not a collection of essays; it is a unified, "air-tight" system. Over 350 pages, the work systematically reconstructs the foundations of: Metaphysics: Introduces the General Zero Principle (GZP) to resolve foundational paradoxes in logic and mathematics.Epistemology: Grounds knowledge not in abstract theory, but in Somatic Logos-the embodied capacity to detect truth.Ethics: Finally resolves the Is-Ought distinction by defining Horme (striving) as the bridge between biological fact and moral obligation.Synthesis: Harmonizes the logical rigor of Western Naturalism with the experiential depths of Taoism and Buddhism.The Format Written for the serious student and the independent thinker, this volume is typeset in a custom, high-readability format designed for deep study. It includes specific appendices for cross-referencing Eastern traditions and modern scientific data.The Invitation Neo-Pre-Platonic Naturalism is more than a book; it is a toolkit for navigation. For those tired of the noise and seeking the signal, this work provides the logical ground to stand on-and the tools to build from.
The Role of Vascular Dysfunction in Neuronal Degeneration and Cognitive Impairment
The present Special Issue is dedicated to the role of vascular dysfunction in neurodegeneration and the resultant cognitive impairment. It identifies some mechanisms involved in processes that predominantly originate in the vasculature and lead to neurodegeneration with resultant cognitive decline.
Artificial Intelligence-Based State-of-Health Estimation of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries have a wide range of applications, but one of their biggest problems is their limited lifetime, which is due to performance degradation during usage. It is, therefore, essential to determine the battery's state of health (SOH) so that the battery management system can control the battery, enabling it to run in the best state, and thus prolonging its lifetime. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies possess immense potential in inferring battery SOH, and can extract aging information (i.e., SOH features) from measurements and relate them to battery performance parameters, avoiding a complex battery modeling process. Therefore, this Special Issue showcase manuscripts showing efficient SOH estimation methods using AI which exhibit good performance, such as high accuracy, high robustness against the changes in working conditions, good generalization, etc.
Advanced Optical-Fiber-Related Technologies
Optical fiber technologies are revolutionizing the world of communications, lasers, sensors, and quantum systems. Newly developed fiber amplifiers allow for the direct transmission of high-speed signals over transcontinental distances without the need for electronic regeneration. Great possibilities for controlling the properties of light have made fiber lasers and amplifiers the optical sources of choice for a large range of scientific and industrial applications. Optical fiber sensors can provide nearly every physical parameter measurement, including strain, torsion, temperature, vibration, and heat, with high precision. They have found applications in structural health monitoring, robotics, biomedical applications, and space research. Recently, optical fibers have found applications in waveguide quantum electrodynamics. This Special Issue "Advanced Optical-Fiber-Related Technologies" provides an overview of the recent achievements in optical fiber technologies.
Designing Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Agriculture and Water Sustainability
The design and application of hydrogels in different fields have increased in prevalence considerably over recent years. This is due to the great versatility, excellent properties, and unique solutions that these materials provide. Currently, faced with the challenge of obtaining new, more environmentally friendly materials with applications that minimize the impacts of climate change, the design of hydrogels and hydrogel-derived materials has become a focus of studies aiming to address the current sustainability needs regarding agriculture and water use as part of the global economy and as necessary resources on our planet.In this Special Issue, entitled "Designing Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Derived Materials for Agriculture and Water Sustainability", we collect some manuscripts in the field of advancing the design of hydrogel-derived materials for improving the sustainability of agriculture and water use, such as hydrogels designed for the elimination of emerging organic contaminants, contaminants of an organic origin such as antibiotics, endocrine disruptors, dyes, analgesics, and pesticides, among others, and contaminants of an inorganic origin such as heavy metals and oxyanions in both the soil and water matrix.
Diet, Nutrition and Lifestyle in Aging and Age-Related Diseases
Aging entails the alteration of a plethora of mechanisms at the cell and organ level that ultimately contribute to the functional decline of an organism. As a consequence, older individuals undergo a complex condition named frailty, which includes alterations to their physical and psychological abilities. Frailty is characterized by weakness, lower physical activity, worsening of psychological conditions, and low-grade chronic inflammation, which can be fatal in adverse health circumstances. Frailty has been demonstrated to be a tunable condition, and its onset and development is correlated to several factors such as socioeconomic background, nutritional conditions, and physical exercise.The present Issue delves into age-related diseases and frailty and reports on strategies that promote healthy aging and elucidate how factors connected to one's lifestyle, including physical exercise, environmental and economic conditions, and other factors, can modulate the quality of aging.
New Insights in GNSS Remote Sensing for Ionosphere Monitoring and Modeling
This Remote Sensing Special Issue, "New Insights in GNSS Remote Sensing for Ionosphere Monitoring and Modeling", presents cutting-edge research on using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals to probe the Earth's ionosphere. The collection advances techniques for detecting space weather perturbations, from typhoons to solar activity, using advanced algorithms and multi-sensor data fusion. It also features improved modeling approaches for ionospheric electron content and its spatiotemporal variations, which are critical for enhancing GNSS positioning accuracy and reliability. Furthermore, several contributions demonstrate how precise ionospheric correction enables other GNSS remote sensing applications, such as monitoring precipitable water vapor for meteorological studies. Collectively, these ten papers provide valuable tools and insights for scientists in geodesy, space weather, and satellite communication, highlighting GNSS's vital role in understanding our near-Earth space environment.
Clinical Management of Patients with Heart Failure
One of the world-wide leading causes for increased morbidity and mortality is heart failure, which also leads to increased costs for the healthcare systems. It usually evolves with repeated episodes of decompensation, representing one of the most frequent reasons for hospitalization in the cardiology or internal medicine units but also aggravating the course of other pathologies. Even in its more stable form, chronic heart failure may affect patients' wellbeing and quality of life, impacting their level of activity and reducing their ability to practice self-care, as well as generating socio-economic consequences for patients and their families. This Special Issue focuses on original articles, reviews, meta-analyses and case reports carrying out groundbreaking research regarding the clinical management of heart failure.
Climate Change and Hydrological Processes, 2nd Edition
The articles in this reprint highlight the complex interactions between climate change, human activities, and hydrological processes across diverse regions. They showcase advances in modeling, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence for assessing river dynamics, flood and drought risks, and ecosystem responses. Together, these studies reveal both the progress achieved in understanding hydrological change and the persistent challenges in forecasting, managing, and mitigating its impacts. Overall, the issue underscores the need for integrated, data-driven, and adaptive approaches to enhance water security under a changing climate.
Chiral Symmetry in Physics
This Special Issue explores the far-reaching implications of chiral symmetry in modern theoretical physics. It presents seven contributions-five research articles and two reviews-spanning topics from QCD and hadron spectroscopy to nuclear matter and chiral gauge theories. Roberts' work on emergent mass in QCD, Mei?ner's discovery of two-pole structures, and Rho's insights into chiral-scale symmetry illustrate how symmetry principles govern nuclear and particle phenomena. Blaschke et al. address a model for interpreting lattice QCD thermodynamics of hadron-quark-gluon transitions. Fejős studies the axial anomaly's finite-temperature dependence on both the chiral condensate and mesonic fluctuations. The mini-review by Ma and Rho connects condensed matter analogies with the structure of baryonic matter in compact stars. The final article, by St繹ckinger's group, presents a comprehensive and pedagogical treatment of renormalization in chiral gauge theories using dimensional regularization, offering valuable guidance especially for researchers entering the field. Together, these works highlight both conceptual advances and methodological developments, underscoring the unifying role of chiral symmetry across energy scales and physical systems.
Driving Water Reuse by New Technologies, Land Use and Infrastructure Planning, and Legislation Policies
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have set targets for climate protection until 2030. Increasing periods of drought in many countries have shown that water supplies are reaching their limits. Reusing treated wastewater, available in predictable quantities daily, is an important approach, along with the storage of rainwater. To achieve the SDGs, new technologies, planning strategies, and legislative policies must be developed or improved to drive the use of recycled wastewater. Municipalities, industry, and agriculture can reduce water stress by reusing treated wastewater for purposes such as street cleaning, refilling cooling water, and crop irrigation.Most countries have regulations for discharging treated wastewater, but advanced regulations for reused water according to the "fit-for-purpose" principle are sometimes lacking. Advanced treatment steps and their implementation are essential for wastewater treatment so that treated water meets the "fit-for-purpose" standard.Holistic water management concepts improve the situation around scarce water locally and regionally. Only a few countries have implemented holistic integrated water management strategies including wastewater reuse, which is why further research is needed. Only in this way will it be possible to achieve SDG 6 in the near future.
Earth Observation by GNSS and GIS Techniques
This Reprint highlights recent advances in the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) for Earth observation and geospatial research. Over the past decades, these technologies have evolved significantly, becoming essential tools for positioning, navigation, and environmental monitoring. The Special Issue brings together eight high-quality research articles that span diverse themes, including vegetation monitoring, rockfall modeling, coastal and wetland mapping, geoid computation, landform erosion, open-ocean and inland water monitoring, and deformation assessment.By integrating remote sensing data (satellite imagery, UAV photogrammetry, SAR), GNSS measurements, and advanced GIS-based processing, the featured studies highlight new methodological approaches for monitoring natural hazards, tracking environmental changes, and improving our understanding of the Earth's processes. Overall, this Reprint emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of modern geospatial research and the critical role played by GIS and GNSS in advancing our understanding of our planet's dynamic systems.
Control and Optimization Technologies in Renewable Energy and Integrated Energy Systems
With increasing penetration of renewable energy resources, there has been growing concern over their impacts on the stability, reliability, and resiliency of the grid, especially during extreme events. Consequently, there is a growing need to develop novel control and optimization techniques to address these issues. This could involve leveraging the flexibility and the controllability of several renewable energy resources, as well as developing hybrid power sources, such as solar PVs, energy storage, hydro power plants, nuclear power plants, and fuel cells, among others. This Special Issue aims to inform the community about recent advancements in these and other areas. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: Power electronics controls for renewable energy systems;Integrated energy system optimal dispatch;Optimal power flow in smart grids;Hydrogen generation in integrated energy systems;Thermal energy systems;Grid integration of electric vehicles;Inverter-based resource controls and optimization;Hybrid energy storage systems;Machine learning applications in smart grids.
Alpine South
Alpine South includes photos showcasing the breathtaking beauty of Southern Appalachia. L.L. Gaddy's photographs of plant communities in high elevations are paired with information about the geological spread of the area and the multitude of lifeforms it hosts. The book depicts the nature of Appalachia up close and from a distance, alternating from photos of broad landscapes to closeups of the fruits and flowers within. Much like the beautiful mountain range, this book has many hidden treasures to uncover.
Ultimate secrets of reality
What if the reality we perceive is just a fraction of the true reality, limited by the cosmic horizon of our universe?In 1908, Hermann Minkowski introduced a paradigm shift in our understanding of reality, transitioning from a single-space universe to one with an infinite number of spaces, from particles to universes.His discovery was so transformative that it remained misunderstood by scientists for 117 years-until now!Inspired by Minkowski's work, the book reveals ultimate secrets of reality, starting with the cosmos. The new concept of reality with infinite spaces is validated by uncovering the ultimate secrets of four fundamental pillars: mathematics, physics, cosmology, and geology.We envision the omnispace as a dynamic, multilayered structure of universes, similar to a set of Matryoshka dolls. The largest, outermost doll separates at the middle to reveal a smaller, similar doll inside.This nested configuration implies that our universe, other universes, and even elementary particles-which are independent spaces-are equivalent spacetime frameworks governed by the same physical laws.One ultimate secret of mathematics explains Bombelli's "wild thought" of imaginary and complex numbers, showing their physical reality as gateways to orthogonal spaces-now called "quantum spaces" by physicists-where elementary particles exist. This secret bridges quantum mechanics and classical physics. The development of Multispace Algebra is a new tool for connecting different spaces, an unimaginable concept in the single-space universe until now.The ultimate secrets of physics explain terms as orthogonal and quasi-orthogonal spaces and the wave-particle duality, rewriting Maxwell's equations and the speed of light in this expanded context.The ultimate secrets of cosmology bring a new understanding of reality with the Theory of Decaying Universes that explains its intricate structure. Supported by cosmic-scale validations from observations of the Milky Way's warp, polar ring galaxies, and nebulae like Orion and Carina, the book expands our perspective on other universes.The ultimate secrets of geology revive Samuel Warren Carey's Expanding Earth Model by presenting cosmological mechanisms for planetary processes. The book offers new evidence of planetary growth, earthquakes as indicators of expansion, and Earth's historical phases.One ultimate secret of humanity reveals that souls are as real as particles, each in their own tangible spaces.This book is essential for anyone seeking to discover the ultimate secrets of existence, from the submicroscopic to the cosmic, and confronts the profound mysteries that define our reality.
Primacohedron
Where number theory becomes spacetime.Across mathematics and physics, few ideas have been as tantalizing-and as elusive-as the possibility that the deep structure of the universe is secretly arithmetic. The Primacohedron gives shape to this intuition: an adelic, spectral, and geometric framework in which the prime numbers act not as abstract multiplicative atoms, but as the fundamental oscillators of time, curvature, and information.Drawing from p-adic string theory, p-adic geometry, perfectoids, random-matrix universality, quantum chaos, geometric algebra, and cohomological machinery, this book weaves a unified picture of emergent spacetime built from prime-indexed resonance modes. The resulting framework provides new conceptual bridges between the Riemann zeta function, spectral geometry, holography, black-hole microstructure, cosmology, and the arithmetic landscape of the abc conjecture.Unlike traditional approaches in theoretical physics, The Primacohedron posits that spacetime is not an assumed geometric arena, but a learned, self-organizing, adelically coherent spectral object. Entanglement, curvature, complexity, and thermodynamics arise not as external postulates, but as consequences of arithmetic consistency conditions linking all primes. Along the way, the book develops algorithmic learning flows (Corridor Zero/One), tensor-network interpretations, motivic extensions, and a full cohomological superstructure.
The Oceans and Deserts Stock Exchange
If you asked one million people if they want to be better caretakers of the Earth, almost everyone would say yes.But how can we do that ... and how can we overcome the idea that the contributions of individuals toward achieving that goal don't matter?James Michael Matthew, the founder and chair of JM Prophecies Corp., tackles those questions and more. He answers questions such as: What would a business plan and economic model that would allow billions of people to live in harmony with the planet look like?How can we nurture the planet while also safeguarding our spiritual health?What is our collective purpose as human beings?The author contends that we have a special purpose to take care of the planet and are not simply wandering mammals destined to consume resources until nothing is left.We must protect and continue the work of billions of years of natural evolution. We must be the caretakers of biodiversity, oceans, rivers, and the atmosphere. If we do not accept this responsibility, then we're already doomed.
The Oceans and Deserts Stock Exchange
If you asked one million people if they want to be better caretakers of the Earth, almost everyone would say yes.But how can we do that ... and how can we overcome the idea that the contributions of individuals toward achieving that goal don't matter?James Michael Matthew, the founder and chair of JM Prophecies Corp., tackles those questions and more. He answers questions such as: What would a business plan and economic model that would allow billions of people to live in harmony with the planet look like?How can we nurture the planet while also safeguarding our spiritual health?What is our collective purpose as human beings?The author contends that we have a special purpose to take care of the planet and are not simply wandering mammals destined to consume resources until nothing is left.We must protect and continue the work of billions of years of natural evolution. We must be the caretakers of biodiversity, oceans, rivers, and the atmosphere. If we do not accept this responsibility, then we're already doomed.
