ALBERT

Description / Table of Contents: This edited book, Toxicity and Hazard of Agrochemicals, is intended to provide an overview of toxicology that examines the hazardous effects of common agrochemicals employed every day in our agricultural practices. Furthermore, it is hoped that the information in the present book will be of value to those directly engaged in the handling and use of agrochemicals and that this book will continue to meet the expectations and needs of all interested in the different aspects of human and environmental risk toxicities.

Description / Table of Contents: The propulsion system behaviour is a key aspect for the overall dynamics of a ship. However, despite its great importance, numerical methodologies for detailed investigations on marine propulsion dynamics are not yet widely covered in scientific literature. This book presents the main steps for the development of a multi-physic simulation platform, able to represent the motions of a twin screw ship in six degrees of freedom, taking into account the whole propulsion system and automation effects. A number of mathematical sub-models had been developed and calibrated by a set of experimental tests, in model and full scale. Finally, the sea trials campaign of a ship is used to validate and tune the developed simulator. The proposed simulation methodology can be used in the ship preliminary design phase, in order to plan and test the propulsion system and automation. Further applications can include the design optimization and crew training.

Description / Table of Contents: Chapter 1: Multi-Species Stand Classification: Definition and Perspectives by Ana Cristina Gonçalves --- Chapter 2: Effects of Experimental Sowing on Agroforestry Ecosystem Primary Production during Recovery from Agricultural Abandonment in a Semi-Arid Region of Central Western Spain by Jimmy-Edgar Alvarez-Diaz, María del Carmen Santa-Regina and Ignacio Santa-Regina --- Chapter 3: Methodological Considerations in the Study of Earthworms in Forest Ecosystems by Dylan Rhea-Fournier and Grizelle González --- Chapter 4: Characterizing Predictability of Fire Occurrence in Tropical Forests and Grasslands: The Case of Puerto Rico by Ana Carolina Monmany, William A. Gould, María José Andrade- Núñez, Grizelle González and Maya Quiñones --- Chapter 5: Remote Sensing and Forest Conservation: Challenges of Illegal Logging in Kursumlija Municipality (Serbia) by Miomir M. Jovanović and Miško M. Milanović --- Chapter 6: From Paper to Carbon Money: Financing Forest Conservation and Offset by Valny Giacomelli Sobrinho

Description / Table of Contents: Increasing innovations and applications make microfluidics a versatile choice for researchers in many disciplines. This book consists of multiple review chapters that aim to cover recent advances and new applications of microfluidics in biology, electronics, energy, and materials sciences. It provides comprehensive views of various aspects of microfluidics ranging from fundamentals of fabrication, flow control, and droplet manipulation to the most recent exploration in emerging areas such as material synthesis, imaging and novel spectroscopy, and marriage with electronics. The chapters have many illustrations showcasing exciting results. This book should be useful for those who are eager to learn more about microfluidics as well as researchers who want to pick up new concepts and developments in this fast-growing field.

Description / Table of Contents: Nishimura, T. Rust Formation Mechanism on Low Alloy Steels after Exposure Test in High Cl− and High SOx Environmen. Materials 2017, 10(2), 199; doi:10.3390/ma10020199. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/2/199 --- Chang, T.; Odnevall Wallinder, I.; de la Fuente, D.; Chico, B.; Morcillo, M.; Welter, J.; Leygraf, C. Analysis of Historic Copper Patinas. Influence of Inclusions on Patina Uniformity. Materials 2017, 10(3), 298; doi:10.3390/ma10030298. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/3/298 --- Na, O.; Cai, X.; Xi, Y. Corrosion Prediction with Parallel Finite Element Modeling for Coupled Hygro-Chemo Transport into Concrete under Chloride-Rich Environment. Materials 2017, 10(4), 350; doi:10.3390/ma10040350. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/4/350 --- Kreislova, K.; Knotkova, D. The Results of 45 Years of Atmospheric Corrosion Study in the Czech Republic. Materials 2017, 10(4), 394; doi:10.3390/ma10040394. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/4/394 --- Alcántara, J.; Fuente, D.; Chico, B.; Simancas, J.; Díaz, I.; Morcillo, M. Marine Atmospheric Corrosion of Carbon Steel: A Review. Materials 2017, 10(4), 406; doi:10.3390/ma10040406. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/4/406 --- Hosseinpour, S.; Johnson, M. Vibrational Spectroscopy in Studies of Atmospheric Corrosion. Materials 2017, 10(4), 413; doi:10.3390/ma10040413. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/4/413 --- Panchenko, Y.; Marshakov, A. Prediction of First-Year Corrosion Losses of Carbon Steel and Zinc in Continental Regions. Materials 2017, 10(4), 422; doi:10.3390/ma10040422. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/4/422 --- Chico, B.; de la Fuente, D.; Díaz, I.; Simancas, J.; Morcillo, M. Annual Atmospheric Corrosion of Carbon Steel Worldwide. An Integration of ISOCORRAG, ICP/UNECE and MICAT Databases. Materials 2017, 10(6), 601; doi:10.3390/ma10060601. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/6/601 --- Bouchar, M.; Dillmann, P.; Neff, D. New Insights in the Long-Term Atmospheric Corrosion Mechanisms of Low Alloy Steel Reinforcements of Cultural Heritage Buildings. Materials 2017, 10(6), 670; doi:10.3390/ma10060670. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/6/670 --- Tidblad, J.; Kreislová, K.; Faller, M.; de la Fuente, D.; Yates, T.; Verney-Carron, A.; Grøntoft, T.; Gordon, A.; Hans, U. ICP Materials Trends in Corrosion, Soiling and Air Pollution (1987–2014). Materials 2017, 10(8), 969; doi:10.3390/ma10080969. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/8/969 --- Cole, I. Recent Progress and Required Developments in Atmospheric Corrosion of Galvanised Steel and Zinc. Materials 2017, 10(11), 1288; doi:10.3390/ma10111288. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/11/1288

Description / Table of Contents: This eBook is the third in a series of books on the critical earthquake response of elastic or elastic-plastic structures under near-fault or long-duration ground motions, and includes four original research papers which were published in the specialty section Earthquake Engineering in ‘Frontiers in Built Environment’. Several extensions of the first eBook and the second eBook are included here. The first article is on the earthquake resilience of residential houses after repeated ground motions with high intensity. The 2016 Kumamoto earthquake brought a significant impact on the earthquake resilience of residential houses under repeated ground motions with high intensity in a few days. The necessary strength upgrade withstanding two repeated high-intensity ground motions was found to be 1.5. The second article is concerned with the smart enhancement of earthquake resilience of building structures under both near-fault and long-duration ground motions. A hybrid system of base-isolation and building connection control was proposed and its earthquake resilience to near-fault and long-duration ground motions was evaluated by a double impulse and a multiple impulse. It was demonstrated that the base-isolation is effective for near-fault ground motions and the building connection system using passive dampers is effective for long-duration ground motions. The third article is related to the robustness evaluation of elastic-plastic base-isolated high-rise buildings under resonant near-fault ground motions. The robustness function was introduced to evaluate quantitatively the robustness of elastic-plastic base-isolated high-rise buildings. The fourth article is an extension of the previously proposed energy balance approach to a bilinear elastic-plastic single-degree-of-freedom system under a long-duration sinusoidal ground motion. A historical difficulty in nonlinear vibration posed by Caughey (1960) and Iwan (1961) has been overcome in a smart manner after half a century. The approach presented in this eBook, together with the previous eBooks, is an epoch-making accomplishment to open the door for simpler and deeper understanding of structural reliability and resilience of built environments in the elastic-plastic and nonlinear range.

Description / Table of Contents: The Role of Respiration in Estimation of Net Carbon Cycle: Coupling Soil Carbon Dynamics and Canopy Turnover in a Novel Version of 3D-CMCC Forest Ecosystem Model / Forests 2017, 8(6), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8060220 --- Climate Impacts on Soil Carbon Processes along an Elevation Gradient in the Tropical Luquillo Experimental Forest / Forests 2017, 8(3), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030090 --- Partitioning Forest‐Floor Respiration into Source Based Emissions in a Boreal Forested Bog: Responses to Experimental Drought / Forests 2017, 8(3), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030075 --- Elevated CO2 and Tree Species Affect Microbial Activity and Associated Aggregate Stability in Soil Amended with Litter / Forests 2017, 8(3), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030070 --- Effect of Soil Moisture on the Response of Soil Respiration to Open-Field Experimental Warming and Precipitation Manipulation / Forests 2017, 8(3), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030056 --- Temporal Variability of Soil Respiration in Experimental Tree Plantations in Lowland Costa Rica / Forests 2017, 8(2), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8020040 --- Spatial Upscaling of Soil Respiration under a Complex Canopy Structure in an Old‐Growth Deciduous Forest, Central Japan / Forests 2017, 8(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8020036 --- Heterotrophic Soil Respiration Affected by Compound Fertilizer Types in Red Pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) Stands of Korea / Forests 2016, 7(12), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/f7120309 --- Optimization Forest Thinning Measures for Carbon Budget in a Mixed Pine-Oak Stand of the Qingling Mountains, China: A Case Study / Forests 2016, 7(11), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/f7110272 --- Mitigating the Stress of Drought on Soil Respiration by Selective Thinning: Contrasting Effects of Drought on Soil Respiration of Two Oak Species in a Mediterranean Forest / Forests 2016, 7(11), 263; https://doi.org/10.3390/f7110263 --- Seasonal Variation in Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Three Age-Stages of Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) Stands in an Alluvial Island, Eastern China / Forests 2016, 7(11), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/f7110256 --- Erratum: Spatial Upscaling of Soil Respiration under a Complex Canopy Structure in an Old-Growth Deciduous Forest, Central Japan; Forests 2017, 8, 36 / Forests 2017, 8(3), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030071

Description / Table of Contents: 1. Organic Fertilizers and Nutrient Recycling from Diluted Waste Streams / by Bente Foereid --- 2. Olive-Pressed Solid Residues as a Medium for Growing Mushrooms and Increasing Soil Fertility / by Hani Mohamed Awad Abdelzaher, Haifa Abdulaziz S. Alhaithloul and Shaima Mohamed Nabil Moustafa --- 3. Composing of Municipal Solid Waste and Its Use as Fertilizer / by Muhammad Khalid Iqbal --- 4. Relationship of Agronomic Practices to Soil Nitrogen Dynamics / by Congming Zou, Robert C Pearce, John H Grove, Yan Li, Xiaodong Hu, Jie Chen, Junying Li and Yan Jin --- 5. Fostering Fertilizer Use and Welfare Distribution in Tanzania: Implications for Policy and Practice / by Lutengano Mwinuka

Description / Table of Contents: Chapter 1: Numerical Analysis of Three-Dimensional MHD Nanofluid Flow over a Stretching Sheet with Convective Boundary Conditions through a Porous Medium by Stanford Shateyi --- Chapter 2: Cattanneo-Christov Heat Flux Model Study for Water-Based CNT Suspended Nanofluid Past a Stretching Surface by Noreen Sher Akbar, C. M. Khalique and Zafar Hayat Khan --- Chapter 3: Thermophysical Properties of Metal Oxides Nanofluids by Zafar Said and Rahman Saidur --- Chapter 4: Measuring Nanofluid Thermal Diffusivity and Thermal Effusivity: The Reliability of the Photopyroelectric Technique by Monir Noroozi and Azmi Zakaria --- Chapter 5: Problems Faced While Simulating Nanofluids by Adil Loya --- Chapter 6: Enhancing Heat Transfer in Internal Combustion Engine by Applying Nanofluids by Wenzheng Cui, Zhaojie Shen, Jianguo Yang and Shaohua Wu --- Chapter 7: Heat Transfer of Ferrofluids by Seval Genc --- Chapter 8: Nanofluid with Colloidal Magnetic Fe3O4 Nanoparticles and Its Applications in Electrical Engineering by Lucian Pîslaru-Dănescu, Gabriela Telipan, Floriana D. Stoian, Sorin Holotescu and Oana Maria Marinică --- Chapter 9: Magnetic Nanofluids: Mechanism of Heat Generation and Transport and Their Biomedical Application by Prem P. Vaishnava and Ronald J. Tackett --- Chapter 10: Energy Transfer in Mixed Convection MHD Flow of Nanofluid Containing Different Shapes of Nanoparticles in a Channel Filled with Saturated Porous Medium by Aaiza Gul, Ilyas Khan and Sharidan Shafie

Description / Table of Contents: Land degradation which is caused by multiple forces-extreme weather conditions and anthropogenic activities that pollute or degrade the quality of soils and land utility-negatively affects food production, livelihoods, and the provision of other ecosystem goods and services. Land degradation can also lead to climate change and affect human health. The problem is more pronounced in least developing countries due to overdependence of natural resources for survival. Sustainable ways to reduce land degradation and desertification demand research and advocacy of sustainable land management practices. This book is organized into two sections. The first section covers three major aspects, viz., an understanding of patterns of land degradation and desertification for developing mitigation strategies, land-atmosphere interaction from response of land cover to climate change effects of Karst rocky desertification, and the effect of unprecedented human activity into land degradation and desertification processes using natural and human-induced landscape research. The last section dwells on the relationship between soil degradation and crop production and an examination on how land degradation impacts the quality of soil in communal rangelands. Environmentalists, land-use planners, ecologists, pedologists, researchers, and graduate students will find this book to be an essential resource.

Description / Table of Contents: Chapter 1: High-Performance Computing: Dos and Don’ts by Guillaume Houzeaux, Ricard Borrell, Yvan Fournier, Marta Garcia- Gasulla, Jens Henrik Göbbert, Elie Hachem, Vishal Mehta, Youssef Mesri, Herbert Owen and Mariano Vázquez --- Chapter 2: Multilevel Variable-Block Schur-Complement-Based Preconditioning for the Implicit Solution of the Reynolds- Averaged Navier-Stokes Equations Using Unstructured Grids by Bruno Carpentieri and Aldo Bonfiglioli --- Chapter 3: Free-Surface Flow Simulations with Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Method using High-Performance Computing by Corrado Altomare, Giacomo Viccione, Bonaventura Tagliafierro, Vittorio Bovolin, José Manuel Domínguez and Alejandro Jacobo Cabrera Crespo --- Chapter 4: Highly Deforming Computational Meshes for CFD Analysis of Twin-Screw Positive Displacement Machines by Sham Rane, Ahmed Kovačević, Nikola Stošić and Ian Smith --- Chapter 5: Optimization Design by Coupling Computational Fluid Dynamics and Genetic Algorithm by Jong-Taek Oh and Nguyen Ba Chien --- Chapter 6: Applications of CFD for Process Safety by Luis G. Zárate, Sebastián Uribe and Mario E. Cordero --- Chapter 7: Adaptation to Climate Change at Local Scale: A CFD Study in Porto Urban Area by Vera Rodrigues, Sandra Rafael, Sandra Sorte, Sílvia Coelho, Hélder Relvas, Bruno Vicente, Joana Leitão, Myriam Lopes, Ana Isabel Miranda and Carlos Borrego --- Chapter 8: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Applied to a Glass Vaporization Chamber for Introduction of Micro- or Nano-Size Samples into Lab-Based ICPs and to a CFD-Derived (and Rapidly Prototyped Via 3D Printing) Smaller-Size Chamber for Portable Microplasmas by Hamid R. Badiei, Gordon Stubley, Ryan Fitzgerald, Melanie Saddler and Vassili Karanassios --- Chapter 9: Analysis of Biomass Waste Cofiring into Existing Coal-Fired Power Plant Using Computational Fluid Dynamics by Arif Darmawan, Dwika Budianto, Koji Tokimatsu and Muhammad Aziz --- Chapter 10: CFD Modelling of Coupled Multiphysics-Multiscale Engineering Cases by Mario E. Cordero, Sebastián Uribe, Luis G. Zárate, Reyna Natividad Rangel, Alejandro Regalado-Méndez and Ever Peralta Reyes --- Chapter 11: CFD Analysis of Turbulence Models to Achieve the Digester Mixing Process by Jorge Flores-Velazquez, Abraham Jesus Arzeta-Rios, Waldo Ojeda Bustamante and Teodoro Espinosa-Solares --- Chapter 12: CFD for the Design and Optimization of Slurry Bubble Column Reactors by Omar M. Basha and Badie I. Morsi --- Chapter 13: Two Different Formulations for Solving the Navier-Stokes Equations with Moderate and High Reynolds Numbers by Blanca Bermúdez, Alejandro Rangel-Huerta, Wuiyevaldo Fermín Guerrero-Sánchez and José David Alanís --- Chapter 14: Vibration Characteristics of Fluid-Filled Functionally Graded Cylindrical Material with Ring Supports by Muzamal Hussain, Aamir Shahzad, Muhammad Nawaz Naeem and Maogang He --- Chapter 15: CFD Simulations of Crude Oil Fouling on Heat Transfer Surfaces by Ramasamy Marappa Gounder and Sampath Emani --- Chapter 16: Surrogate Model Applied for Analysis of Uncertain Parameters in Turbulent Mixing Flows by Boštjan Končar, Andrej Prošek and Matjaž Leskovar

Description / Table of Contents: Humanity’s ability to produce enough food is mostly due to adoption of new methods and technologies by the agricultural industries as they became available. New information, communication and high speed processing and precision agriculture technologies have the potential to transform the agricultural industry. These technologies incorporate radio-frequency and microwave radiation into their systems. This book presents an overview of how these technologies are being used in agricultural systems. The main purpose of the book is to provide a glimpse of what is possible and encourage practitioners in the engineering and agricultural industries to explore how radio-frequency and microwave systems might further enhance the agricultural industry. The authors have extensive experience in agricultural and microwave engineering, instrumentation and communication systems.

Description / Table of Contents: Chapter 1: Introductory Chapter: VLSI by Kim Ho Yeap and Humaira Nisar --- Chapter 2: Transistor Degradations in Very Large-Scale-Integrated CMOS Technologies by Chang Yeol Lee --- Chapter 3: Low Power Design Methodology by Vithyalakshmi Natarajan, Ashok Kumar Nagarajan, Nagarajan Pandian and Vinoth Gopi Savithri --- Chapter 4: High-purity Refractory Metals for Thin Film Metallization of VLSI by Vadim Glebovsky --- Chapter 5: Operational Amplifier Design in CMOS at Low-Voltage for Sensor Input Front-End Circuits in VLSI Devices by Muhaned Zaidi, Ian Grout and Abu Khari A’ain --- Chapter 6: Design of High-Order CMOS Analog Notch Filter with 0.18 μm CMOS Technology by Kittipong Tripetch

Description / Table of Contents: Experimental Tests on a Dowel-Type Timber Connection and Validation of Numerical Models. Buildings 2017, 7(4), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings7040116 --- Multi-Directional Seismic Assessment of Historical Masonry Buildings by Means of Macro-Element Modelling: Application to a Building Damaged during the L’Aquila Earthquake (Italy). Buildings 2017, 7(4), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings7040106 --- Nonlinear Modelling of Curved Masonry Structures after Seismic Retrofit through FRP Reinforcing. Buildings 2017, 7(3), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings7030079 --- Assessment Method for Combined Structural and Energy Retrofitting in Masonry Buildings. Buildings 2017, 7(3), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings7030071 --- Rocking and Kinematic Approaches for Rigid Block Analysis of Masonry Walls: State of the Art and Recent Developments. Buildings 2017, 7(3), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings7030069 --- Effect of Material Variability and Mechanical Eccentricity on the Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Buildings. Buildings 2017, 7(3), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings7030066 --- Analysis of Cylindrical Granular Material Silos under Seismic Excitation. Buildings 2017, 7(3), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings7030061 --- Seismic Reinforcement of a R.C. School Structure with Strength Irregularities throughout External Bracing Walls. Buildings 2017, 7(3), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings7030058 --- The TVT Glass Pavilion: Theoretical Study on a Highly Transparent Building Made with Long-Spanned TVT Portals Braced with Hybrid Glass-Steel Panels. Buildings 2017, 7(2), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings7020050 --- Strengthening Masonry Arches with Lime-Based Mortar Composite. Buildings 2017, 7(2), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings7020049

Description / Table of Contents: 1. Adaptation in Agriculture / by Panit Arunanondchai, Chengcheng Fei and Bruce A. McCarl --- 2. Climate Adaptive Agricultural Innovation in Nepal: Prospects and Challenges / by Dhanej Thapa, Yuba Raj Subedi and Hemant Ojha --- 3. Naturally Available Genetic Adaptation in Common Bean and Its Response to Climate Change / by Andrés J. Cortés and Matthew W. Blair --- 4. Mitigation of the Negative Impact of Warming on the Coffee Crop: The Role of Increased Air [CO2] and Management Strategies / by Danielly Dubberstein, Weverton P. Rodrigues, José N. Semedo, Ana P. Rodrigues, Isabel P. Pais, António E. Leitão, Fábio L. Partelli, Eliemar Campostrini, Fernando Reboredo, Paula Scotti-Campos, Fernando C. Lidon, Ana I. Ribeiro-Barros, Fábio M. DaMatta and José C. Ramalho --- 5. Agricultural Management Impact on Greenhouse Gas Emissions / by Upendra M. Sainju --- 6. Low Carbon Technologies for Agriculture in Dryland: Brazilian Experience / by Vanderlise Giongo, Alessandra Monteiro Salviano, Francislene Angelotti, Tatiana Taura, Luiz Fernando Carvalho Leite and Tony Jarbas Ferreira Cunha --- 7. Pepper Crop under Climate Change: Grafting as an Environmental Friendly Strategy / by Consuelo Penella and Angeles Calatayud --- 8. Bringing Climate Smart Agriculture to Scale: Experiences from the Water Productivity Project in East and Central Africa / by Kizito Kwena, Fitih Ademe, Joseph Serge, Nezeghty Asmerom, Bernard Musana, Razaka Razakamiaramanana, Reuben Ruttoh, Hezron Mogaka, Assefa Dereje, Kifle Woldearegey, Anthony Esilaba and Rosemary Emongor --- 9. Climate Control in Mediterranean Greenhouses / by A. Nafi Baytorun and Zeynep Zaimoglu

Description / Table of Contents: The CleanEra project was initiated with the goal of developing revolutionary ideas for civil aviation. These ideas were to offer solutions which would limit and reduce some of the negative aspects of aviation, namely: emissions and the use of resources. This book presents you with the highlights of this journey in search of new technologies for a revolutionary aircraft; an aircraft that not only offers a future of comfortable air travel for the passenger, but a future of sustainable aviation for the planet as well.

Description / Table of Contents: The Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project: Phase I Activities by a Global Community of Science (Cynthia Rosenzweig, James W Jones, Jerry L Hatfield, John M Antle, Alexander C Ruane, and Carolyn Z Mutter) --- AgMIP's Transdisciplinary Agricultural Systems Approach to Regional Integrated Assessment of Climate Impacts, Vulnerability, and Adaptation (John M Antle, Roberto O Valdivia, Kenneth J Boote, Sander Janssen, James W Jones, Cheryl H Porter, Cynthia Rosenzweig, Alexander C Ruane, and Peter J Thorburn) --- AgMIP Climate Data and Scenarios for Integrated Assessment (Alexander C Ruane, Jonathan M Winter, Sonali P McDermid, and Nicholas I Hudson) --- Cropping Systems Modeling in AgMIP: A New Protocol-Driven Approach for Regional Integrated Assessments (Peter J Thorburn, Kenneth J Boote, John N G Hargreaves, Perry L Poulton, and James W Jones) --- Representative Agricultural Pathways and Scenarios for Regional Integrated Assessment of Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability, and Adaptation (Roberto O Valdivia, John M Antle, Cynthia Rosenzweig, Alexander C Ruane, Joost Vervoort, Muhammad Ashfaq, Ibrahima Hathie, Sabine Homann-Kee Tui, Richard Mulwa, Charles Nhemachena, Paramasivam Ponnusamy, Herath Rasnayaka, and Harbir Singh) --- Data Interoperability Tools for Regional Integrated Assessments (Cheryl H Porter, Chris Villalobos, Dean Holzworth, Roger Nelson, Jefffrey W White, Ioannis N Athanasiadis, Meng Zhang, Sander Janssen, Rob Knapen, James W Jones, Kenneth J Boote, John Hargreaves, and John M Antle) --- The AgMIP GRIDded Crop Modeling Initiative (AgGRID) and the Global Gridded Crop Model Intercomparison (GGCMI) (Joshua Elliott and Christoph Müller) --- The AgMIP Coordinated Climate-Crop Modeling Project (C3MP): Methods and Protocols (Sonali P McDermid, Alexander C Ruane, Cynthia Rosenzweig, Nicholas I Hudson, Monica D Morales, Prabodha Agalawatte, Shakeel Ahmad, L R Ahuja, Istiqlal Amien, Saseendran S Anapalli, Jakarat Anothai, Senthold Asseng, Jody Biggs, Federico Bert, Patrick Bertuzzi, Virender S Bhatia, Marco Bindi, Ian Broad, Davide Cammarano, Ramiro Carretero, Ashfaq Ahmad Chattha, Uran Chung, Stephanie Debats, Paola Deligios, Giacomo De Sanctis, Thanda Dhliwayo, Benjamin Dumont, Lyndon Estes, Frank Ewert, Roberto Ferrise, Thomas Gaiser, Guillermo Garcia, Sika Gbegbelegbe, Vellingiri Geethalakshmi, Edward Gerardeaux, Richard Goldberg, Brian Grant, Edgardo Guevara, Jonathan Hickman, Holger Hoffmann, Huanping Huang, Jamshad Hussain, Flavio Barbosa Justino, Asha S Karunaratne, Ann-Kristin Koehler, Patrice K Kouakou, Soora Naresh Kumar, Arunachalam Lakshmanan, Mark Lieffering, Xiaomao Lin, Qunying Luo, Graciela Magrin, Marco Mancini, Fabio Ricardo Marin, Anna Dalla Marta, Yuji Masutomi, Theodoros Mavromatis, Greg McLean, Santiago Meira, Monoranjan Mohanty, Marco Moriondo, Wajid Nasim, Lamyaa Negm, Francesca Orlando, Simone Orlandini, Isik Ozturk, Helena Maria Soares Pinto, Guillermo Podesta, Zhiming Qi, Johanna Ramarohetra, Muhammad Habib ur Rahman, Helene Raynal, Gabriel Rodriguez, Reimund Rötter, Vaishali Sharda, Lu Shuo, Ward Smith, Val Snow, Afshin Soltani, K Srinivas, Benjamin Sultan, Dillip Kumar Swain, Fulu Tao, Kindie Tesfaye, Maria I Travasso, Giacomo Trombi, Alex Topaj, Eline Vanuytrecht, Federico E Viscarra, Syed Aftab Wajid, Enli Wang, Hong Wang, Jing Wang, Erandika Wijekoon, Lee Byun-Woo, Yang Xiaoguang, Ban Ho Young, Jin I Yun, Zhigan Zhao, and Lareef Zubair) --- Uncertainty in Agricultural Impact Assessment (Daniel Wallach, Linda O Mearns, Michael Rivington, John M Antle, and Alexander C Ruane) --- Uncertainties in Scaling-Up Crop Models for Large-Area Climate Change Impact Assessments (Frank Ewert, Lenny G J van Bussel, Gang Zhao, Holger Hoffmann, Thomas Gaiser, Xenia Specka, Claas Nendel, Kurt-Christian Kersebaum, Carmen Sosa, Elisabet Lewan, Jagadeesh Yeluripati, Matthias Kuhnert, Fulu Tao, Reimund Rötter, Julie Constantin, Helene Raynal, Daniel Wallach, Edmar Teixeira, Balasz Grosz, Michaela Bach, Luca Doro, Pier Paolo Roggero, Zhigan Zhao, Enli Wang, Ralf Kiese, Edwin Haas, Henrik Eckersten, Giacomo Trombi, Marco Bindi, Christian Klein, Christian Biernath, Florian Heinlein, Eckart Priesack, Davide Cammarano, Senthold Asseng, Joshua Elliott, Michael Glotter, Bruno Basso, Guillermo A Baigorria, Consuelo C Romero, and Marco Moriondo) --- Statistical Analysis of Large Simulated Yield Datasets for Studying Climate Change Effects (David Makowski, Senthold Asseng, Frank Ewert, Simona Bassu, Jean-Louis Durand, Pierre Martre, Myriam Adam, Pramod K Aggarwal, Carlos Angulo, Christian Baron, Bruno Basso, Patrick Bertuzzi, Christian Biernath, Hendrik Boogaard, Kenneth J Boote, Nadine Brisson, Davide Cammarano, Andrew J Challinor, Sjakk J G Conijn, Marc Corbeels, Delphine Deryng, Giacomo De Sanctis, Jordi Doltra, Sebastian Gayler, Richard Goldberg, Patricio Grassini, Jerry L Hatfield, Lee Heng, Steven Hoek, Josh Hooker, Tony L A Hunt, Joachim Ingwersen, Cesar Izaurralde, Raymond E E Jongschaap, James W Jones, Armen R Kemanian, Christian Kersebaum, Soo-Hyung Kim, Jon Lizaso, Christoph Müller, Naresh S Kumar, Claas Nendel, Garry J O'Leary, Jorgen E Olesen, Tom M Osborne, Taru Palosuo, Maria V Pravia, Eckart Priesack, Dominique Ripoche, Cynthia Rosenzweig, Alexander C Ruane, Fredirico Sau, Mickhail A Semenov, Iurii Shcherbak, Pasquale Steduto, Claudio Stöckle, Pierre Stratonovitch, Thilo Streck, Iwan Supit, Fulu Tao, Edmar I Teixeira, Peter Thorburn, Denis Timlin, Maria Travasso, Reimund Rötter, Katharina Waha, Daniel Wallach, Jeffrey W White, Jimmy R Williams, and Joost Wolf) --- Crop Diseases and Climate Change in the AgMIP Framework (Ariena H C van Bruggen, James W Jones, Jose Mauricio C Fernandes, Karen Garrett, and Kenneth J Boote) --- Perspectives on Climate Effects on Agriculture: The International Efforts of AgMIP in Sub-Saharan Africa (Job Kihara, Dilys S MacCarthy, Andre Bationo, Saidou Koala, Jonathan Hickman, Jawoo Koo, Charles Vanya, Samuel Adiku, Yacob Beletse, Patricia Masikate, Karuturi P C Rao, Carolyn Z Mutter, Cynthia Rosenzweig, and James W Jones) --- Climate Change Impacts on West African Agriculture: An Integrated Regional Assessment (CIWARA) (Samuel G K Adiku, Dilys S MacCarthy, Ibrahima Hathie, Madina Diancoumba, Bright S Freduah, Joseph Amikuzuno, P C Sibiry Traore, Seydou Traore, Eric Koomson, Alhassane Agali, Jon I Lizaso, Dougbedji Fatondji, Myriam Adams, Lodoun Tigana, Daouda Z Diarra, Ousmane N'diaye, and Roberto O Valdivia) --- Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Agricultural Systems in East Africa (Karuturi P C Rao, Gummadi Sridhar, Richard M Mulwa, Mary N Kilavi, Anthony Esilaba, Ioannis N Athanasiadis, and Roberto O Valdivia) --- Projected Impacts of Climate Change Scenarios on the Production of Maize in Southern Africa: An Integrated Assessment Case Study of the Bethlehem District, Central Free State, South Africa (Yacob G Beletse, Wiltrud Durand, Charles Nhemachena, Olivier Crespo, Weldemichael A Tesfuhuney, Matthew R Jones, Mogos Y Teweldemedhin, Sunshine M Gamedze, Pontsho M Bonolo, Syanda Jonas, SueWalker, Patrick Gwimbi, Thembeka N Mpuisang, Davide Cammarano, and Roberto O Valdivia) --- Crop-Livestock Intensification in the Face of Climate Change: Exploring Opportunities to Reduce Risk and Increase Resilience in Southern Africa by Using an Integrated Multi-modeling Approach (Patricia Masikati, Sabine Homann-Kee Tui, Katrien Descheemaeker, Olivier Crespo, Sue Walker, Christopher J Lennard, Lieven Claessens, Arthur C Gama, Sebastiao Famba, Andre F van Rooyen, and Roberto O Valdivia) --- Integrated Assessments of the Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture: An Overview of AgMIP Regional Research in South Asia (Sonali P McDermid, Guntuku Dileepkumar, K M Dakshina Murthy, S Nedumaran, Piara Singh, Chukka Srinivasa, B Gangwar, N Subash, Ashfaq Ahmad, Lareef Zubair, and S P Nissanka) --- Impact of Climate Change on the Rice–Wheat Cropping System of Pakistan (Ashfaq Ahmad, Muhammad Ashfaq, Ghulam Rasul, Syed Aftab Wajid, Tasneem Khaliq, Fahd Rasul, Umer Saeed, Muhammad Habib ur Rahman, Jamshad Hussain, Irfan Ahmad Baig, Syed Asif Ali Naqvi, Syed Ahsan Ali Bokhari, Shakeel Ahmad, Wajid Naseem, Gerrit Hoogenboom, and Roberto O Valdivia) --- Integrated Climate Change Assessment through Linking Crop Simulation with Economic Modeling — Results from the Indo-Gangetic Basin (Nataraja Subash, Babooji Gangwar, Harbir Singh, Guillermo Baigorria, Alok Kumar Sikka, and Roberto O Valdivia) --- Integrated Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Maize Farms and Farm Household Incomes in South India: A Case Study from Tamil Nadu (Paramasivam Ponnusamy, Geethalakshmi Vellingiri, Raji Reddy Danda, Lakshmanan Arunachalam, Dakshina Murthy, Sunandini Prema, Sreenivas Gade, Sonali P McDermid, and Roberto O Valdivia) --- Climate Change Impacts on Rice Farming Systems in Northwestern Sri Lanka (Lareef Zubair, Sarath P Nissanka, W M W Weerakoon, Dumindu I Herath, Asha S Karunaratne, A S M Prabodha, M B Agalawatte, Rasnayaka M Herath, S Zeenas Yahiya, B V R Punyawardene, Janan Vishwanathan, Punya Delpitiya, A Erandika N Wijekoon, Janaka Gunaratna, Sewwandhi S K Chandrasekara, P Wickramagamage, K D N Weerasinghe, Champa M Navaratne, Ruchika S Perera, Asela I Gunesekara, G M Pradeep Kumara, Daniel Wallach, Roberto O Valdivia, and Sonali P McDermid) --- AgMIP Regional Activities in a Global Framework: The Brazil Experience (Eduardo D Assad, Fábio R Marin, Roberto O Valdivia, and Cynthia Rosenzweig) --- AgMIP Regional Activities in a Global Framework: The China Experience (Fulu Tao and Erda Lin) --- AgMIP Training in Multiple Crop Models and Tools (Kenneth J Boote, Cheryl H Porter, John Hargreaves, Gerrit Hoogenboom, Peter Thorburn, and Carolyn Mutter) --- Major Findings and Future Activities (Cynthia Rosenzweig and Daniel Hillel)

Description / Table of Contents: Chapter 1: Singular Lagrangians and Its Corresponding Hamiltonian Structures by Alvaro Restuccia and Adrián Sotomayor --- Chapter 2: Lagrangian Subspaces of Manifolds by Yang Liu --- Chapter 3: Topology and Integrability in Lagrangian Mechanics by Leo T. Butler --- Chapter 4: Closure Models for Lagrangian Gas Dynamics and Elastoplasticity Equations in Multimaterial Cells by Yury Yanilkin --- Chapter 5: Mechanics of Electric Rope Shovel Performance and Reliability in Formation Excavation by Muhammad Azeem Raza and Samuel Frimpong --- Chapter 6: Lagrangian Model-Based Fault Diagnosis in a PVTOL by César Martínez Torres, Luis Humberto Rodríguez Alfaro, Efrain Alcorta Garcia, Gerardo Romero Galvan and David Lara --- Chapter 7: Fuzzy Logic and S-Lagrangian Dynamics of Living Systems: Theory of Homeostasis by Uziel Sandler and Lev Tsitolovsky

Description / Table of Contents: Chapter 1: Introductory Chapter: The Main Directions and Tasks of Pure and Applied Biogeography in Solving the Global Problems of Our Time by Levente Hufnagel --- Chapter 2: Are Historical Biogeographical Events Able to Promote Biological Diversification? by Julián A. Velasco --- Chapter 3: Ecological Responses to Climate Change at Biogeographical Boundaries by Melinda Pálinkás --- Chapter 4: A Synopsis of Global Mapping of Freshwater Habitats and Biodiversity: Implications for Conservation by Ryan A. McManamay, Natalie A. Griffiths, Christoper R. DeRolph and Brenda M. Pracheil --- Chapter 5: Plant Antiherbivore Defense in Diverse Environments by Alina Morquecho-Contreras, Carmen Zepeda-Gómez and Hermilo Sánchez-Sánchez --- Chapter 6: Vachellia (Acacia) karroo Communities in South Africa: An Overview by Mamokete Dingaan and Pieter J. du Preez --- Chapter 7: Ecological Biogeography of West Usambara Mountains: A Study on the Influence of Abiotic Factors to Spatial Distribution of Plant and Animal Species by Joel Loitu Meliyo, Kenneth F.G. Masuki, Balthazar M. Msanya, Didas N. Kimaro and Loth S. Mulungu

Description / Table of Contents: The present Special Issue intends to explore new directions in the field of acoustics and ultrasonics. The interest includes, but is not limited to, the use of acoustic technology for condition monitoring of materials and structures. (The basis of this issue comes from selected papers of the 6th International Conference on Emerging Technologies in Non-destructive Testing, ETNDT6 held in Brussels May 27-29th, 2015).

Description / Table of Contents: According to the 2014 revision of the World Urbanization Prospects by UN DESA, urbanization could add another 2.5 billion people to the urban population by 2050, with close to 90 percent of the increase concentrated in Asia and Africa. The largest urban growth will take place in India, China and Nigeria. This unprecedented increase in urban population not only poses challenges to providing urban jobs, housing, and infrastructure, but also exerts an increased pressure on urban land and sustainability. As land is a vital yet limited resource, sustainable management of urban land to cater to the needs of this growing urban population is seen as one of the key challenges for achieving an economically efficient, socially equitable, and environmentally safe society. A key tenet for sustainable economic development and smart growth is promoting sustainable urban land development and mitigating land use conflicts. While a large body of literature has dealt with both land use and sustainable development, the study of the interactive effects of these two remains limited. We also need more sophisticated empirical studies examining processes, mechanisms, institutions, equity, and sustainability of urban land use. We also encourage efforts to develop new theories, new concepts and new methods to understand the myriad ways in which urban land and sustainable development correlate each other. This special issue examines patterns, structure, and dynamics of urban land development and sustainability from multiple perspectives, in various contexts and at multiple dimensions (economic, social, political, developmental, environmental, etc.).

Description / Table of Contents: Zambon, I.; Colosimo, F.; Monarca, D.; Cecchini, M.; Gallucci, F.; Proto, A.; Lord, R.; Colantoni, A. An Innovative Agro-Forestry Supply Chain for Residual Biomass: Physicochemical Characterisation of Biochar from Olive and Hazelnut Pellets. Energies 2016, 9(7), 526; doi:10.3390/en9070526. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/7/526 --- Liu, P.; Wang, Q.; Yan, D.; Fang, W.; Mao, L.; Wang, D.; Li, Y.; Ouyang, C.; Guo, M.; Cao, A. Effects of Biochar Amendment on Chloropicrin Adsorption and Degradation in Soil. Energies 2016, 9(11), 869; doi:10.3390/en9110869. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/11/869 --- Fang, W.; Cao, A.; Yan, D.; Han, D.; Huang, B.; Li, J.; Liu, X.; Guo, M.; Wang, Q. The Effect of Two Types of Biochars on the Efficacy, Emission, Degradation, and Adsorption of the Fumigant Methyl Isothiocyanate. Energies 2017, 10(1), 16; doi:10.3390/en10010016. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/1/16 --- Long, J.; Boyette, M. Analysis of Micronized Charcoal for Use in a Liquid Fuel Slurry. Energies 2017, 10(1), 25; doi:10.3390/en10010025. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/1/25 --- Fuente-Hernández, A.; Lee, R.; Béland, N.; Zamboni, I.; Lavoie, J. Reduction of Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol in Liquid Phase over a Biochar-Supported Platinum Catalyst. Energies 2017, 10(3), 286; doi:10.3390/en10030286. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/3/286 --- Brassard, P.; Godbout, S.; Raghavan, V.; Palacios, J.; Grenier, M.; Zegan, D. The Production of Engineered Biochars in a Vertical Auger Pyrolysis Reactor for Carbon Sequestration. Energies 2017, 10(3), 288; doi:10.3390/en10030288. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/3/288 --- González-Vázquez, M.; García, R.; Pevida, C.; Rubiera, F. Optimization of a Bubbling Fluidized Bed Plant for Low-Temperature Gasification of Biomass. Energies 2017, 10(3), 306; doi:10.3390/en10030306. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/3/306 --- Yang, X.; Wang, H.; Strong, P.; Xu, S.; Liu, S.; Lu, K.; Sheng, K.; Guo, J.; Che, L.; He, L.; Ok, Y.; Yuan, G.; Shen, Y.; Chen, X. Thermal Properties of Biochars Derived from Waste Biomass Generated by Agricultural and Forestry Sectors. Energies 2017, 10(4), 469; doi:10.3390/en10040469. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/4/469 --- Ellison, C.; McKeown, M.; Trabelsi, S.; Boldor, D. Dielectric Properties of Biomass/Biochar Mixtures at Microwave Frequencies. Energies 2017, 10(4), 502; doi:10.3390/en10040502. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/4/502 --- Kang, S.; Sim, B.; Kim, J. Volume and Mass Measurement of a Burning Wood Pellet by Image Processing. Energies 2017, 10(5), 603; doi:10.3390/en10050603. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/5/603 --- Tamošiūnas, A.; Chouchène, A.; Valatkevičius, P.; Gimžauskaitė, D.; Aikas, M.; Uscila, R.; Ghorbel, M.; Jeguirim, M. The Potential of Thermal Plasma Gasification of Olive Pomace Charcoal. Energies 2017, 10(5), 710; doi:10.3390/en10050710. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/5/710 --- Guizani, C.; Jeguirim, M.; Valin, S.; Limousy, L.; Salvador, S. Biomass Chars: The Effects of Pyrolysis Conditions on Their Morphology, Structure, Chemical Properties and Reactivity. Energies 2017, 10(6), 796; doi:10.3390/en10060796. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/6/796 --- Zhao, S.; Ta, N.; Wang, X. Effect of Temperature on the Structural and Physicochemical Properties of Biochar with Apple Tree Branches as Feedstock Material. Energies 2017, 10(9), 1293; doi:10.3390/en10091293. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/9/1293 --- Wanassi, B.; Hariz, I.; Ghimbeu, C.; Vaulot, C.; Jeguirim, M. Green Carbon Composite-Derived Polymer Resin and Waste Cotton Fibers for the Removal of Alizarin Red S Dye. Energies 2017, 10(9), 1321; doi:10.3390/en10091321. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/9/1321 --- Ghouma, I.; Jeguirim, M.; Sager, U.; Limousy, L.; Bennici, S.; Däuber, E.; Asbach, C.; Ligotski, R.; Schmidt, F.; Ouederni, A. The Potential of Activated Carbon Made of Agro-Industrial Residues in NOx Immissions Abatement. Energies 2017, 10(10), 1508; doi:10.3390/en10101508. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/10/1508 --- Jeguirim, M.; Limousy, L. Biomass Chars: Elaboration, Characterization and Applications. Energies 2017, 10(12), 2040; doi:10.3390/en10122040. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/12/2040

Description / Table of Contents: Yin, S.; Zhang, X.; Pumpanen, J.; Shen, G.; Xiong, F.; Liu, C. Seasonal Variation in Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Three Age-Stages of Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) Stands in an Alluvial Island, Eastern China. Forests 2016, 7(11), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/f7110256 --- Chang, C.; Sperlich, D.; Sabaté, S.; Sánchez-Costa, E.; Cotillas, M.; Espelta, J.; Gracia, C. Mitigating the Stress of Drought on Soil Respiration by Selective Thinning: Contrasting Effects of Drought on Soil Respiration of Two Oak Species in a Mediterranean Forest. Forests 2016, 7(11), 263; https://doi.org/10.3390/f7110263 --- Hou, L.; Li, Z.; Luo, C.; Bai, L.; Dong, N. Optimization Forest Thinning Measures for Carbon Budget in a Mixed Pine-Oak Stand of the Qingling Mountains, China: A Case Study. Forests 2016, 7(11), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/f7110272 --- Jeong, J.; Bolan, N.; Kim, C. Heterotrophic Soil Respiration Affected by Compound Fertilizer Types in Red Pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) Stands of Korea. Forests 2016, 7(12), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/f7120309 --- Suchewaboripont, V.; Ando, M.; Yoshitake, S.; Iimura, Y.; Hirota, M.; Ohtsuka, T. Spatial Upscaling of Soil Respiration under a Complex Canopy Structure in an Old‐Growth Deciduous Forest, Central Japan. Forests 2017, 8(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8020036 --- Raich, J. Temporal Variability of Soil Respiration in Experimental Tree Plantations in Lowland Costa Rica. Forests 2017, 8(2), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8020040 --- Li, G.; Kim, S.; Han, S.; Chang, H.; Son, Y. Effect of Soil Moisture on the Response of Soil Respiration to Open-Field Experimental Warming and Precipitation Manipulation. Forests 2017, 8(3), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030056 --- Al‐Maliki, S.; Jones, D.; Godbold, D.; Gwynn‐Jones, D.; Scullion, J. Elevated CO2 and Tree Species Affect Microbial  Activity and Associated Aggregate Stability in Soil  Amended with Litter. Forests 2017, 8(3), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030070 --- Forests Editorial Office Erratum: Spatial Upscaling of Soil Respiration under a Complex Canopy Structure in an Old-Growth Deciduous Forest, Central Japan; Forests 2017, 8, 36. Forests 2017, 8(3), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030071 --- Munir, T.; Khadka, B.; Xu, B.; Strack, M. Partitioning Forest‐Floor Respiration into Source  Based Emissions in a Boreal Forested Bog: Responses  to Experimental Drought. Forests 2017, 8(3), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030075 --- Chen, D.; Yu, M.; González, G.; Zou, X.; Gao, Q. Climate Impacts on Soil Carbon Processes along an Elevation Gradient in the Tropical Luquillo Experimental Forest. Forests 2017, 8(3), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8030090 --- Marconi, S.; Chiti, T.; Nolè, A.; Valentini, R.; Collalti, A. The Role of Respiration in Estimation of Net Carbon Cycle: Coupling Soil Carbon Dynamics and Canopy Turnover in a Novel Version of 3D-CMCC Forest Ecosystem Model. Forests 2017, 8(6), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8060220

Description / Table of Contents: The copper-cobalt outcrops of Upper Katanga and north-western Zambia host a particular flora which comprises an estimated 750 species of which more than 400 are treated in this copper-cobalt field guide. The aim of this book, resulting from several years of intensive field work and study, is to bring together the basic knowledges permitting an easy approach to the identification of a great number of the species to be encountered. More than 400 species are illustrated with color photographs and/or drawings together with comments concerning synonyms, habit, description, ecology and distribution. Plant species are listed and colour-coded according to classification: Cyanoprocaryota, lichenized Fungi, Anthocerophyta, Marchantiophyta and Bryophyta (red edge), Lycophyta and Monilophyta (green edge), Magnoliopsida (blue edge) and Liliopsida (yellow edge). An index allows easy location either according to genus and species. An account of the research on copper-cobalt ecosystems carried out during the last ten years in southeastern D.R. Congo is also presented. The editors have spent more than twenty years in the area concerned and have collected more than 8,500 voucher specimens, including eleven species new to science (holotypes).

Description / Table of Contents: The “landscape Approach” is widely promoted as a way to reconcile biodiversity conservation with both commercial agriculture and local peoples’ demands for land. Landscape approaches imply a strong role for local communities in decision making and, therefore, local citizen science plays a role in determining landscape outcomes (Sayer et al., under review). Many claims and counter claims are made about the success and failure of local management in achieving good forest outcomes. There is significant uncertainty about the incentives for local people to manage forests for their global carbon storage and biodiversity values. Local people may be more concerned about immediate economic returns and less about the long term global environmental values of their forests. This Special Issue seeks to assemble papers that provide empirical evidence for the success of landscape and community managed initiatives to conserve biodiversity. We are seeking papers that report upon successful biodiversity conservation projects that have operated at a landscape scale and those that have been led by local communities. We are also interested in cases where these approaches were attempted but were less successful. Our ultimate goals is to identify the conditions under which these approaches have succeeded and those where they have been less successful.

Description / Table of Contents: Chapter 1: Sustainable Solid Waste Recycling by Ahmad K. Jassim --- Chapter 2: Sustainable Power Technology: A Viable Sustainable Energy Solution by Kikelomo Ijagbemi --- Chapter 3: Sustainable Maintenance Practices and Skills for Competitive Production System by Adeyeri Michael Kanisuru --- Chapter 4: Interventions to Skills Development in the Automotive Manufacturing Sector of South Africa by Opeyeolu Timothy Laseinde and Grace Mukondeleli Kanakana --- Chapter 5: Designing and Developing New VET Curricula to Address Skills Gaps in the Aeronautics Industry by Rosa Maria Arnaldo Valdés, Victor Fernando Gómez Comendador and Alvaro Rodriguez Sanz

Description / Table of Contents: Chapter 1: Roles of the Environment in Plant Life-History Trade-offs by Yang Liu, Jeffrey L. Walck and Yousry A. El-Kassaby --- Chapter 2: Decoding the Transcriptome of Rice Seed During Development by Arunima Mahto, Iny Elizebeth Mathew and Pinky Agarwal --- Chapter 3: Transcriptome (ESTs) of Avocado “Native” Mexicano Early Seed Development Shows Abundance of Regulatory, Antioxidant and Defense Genes by Luis María Suárez-Rodríguez, Fernando Sánchez-Albarrán, Huber León-Corona and Rodolfo López-Gómez --- Chapter 4: Identification and Mapping of Phosphorylated Isoforms of the Major Storage Protein of Potato Based on Two- Dimensional Electrophoresis by Javier Bernal, María López-Pedrouso, Daniel Franco, Susana Bravo, Lucio García and Carlos Zapata --- Chapter 5: Seed Dormancy by Mustafa Yildiz, Ramazan Beyaz, Mehtap Gursoy, Murat Aycan, Yusuf Koc and Mustafa Kayan --- Chapter 6: Characterization of Genotype by Planting Date Effects on Runner-Type Peanut Seed Germination and Vigor Response to Temperature by Timothy L. Grey, Charles Y. Chen, Russell Nuti, Walter Scott Monfort and George Cutts III --- Chapter 7: Impact of Conditions of Water Supply on the Germination of Tomato and Pepper Seeds by Yekaterina Shapira, Edward Bormashenko, Gene Whyman, Bat- Chen Lubin and Elyashiv Drori --- Chapter 8: Metabolic Processes During Seed Germination by Awatif S. Ali and Alaaeldin A. Elozeiri --- Chapter 9: Free Radicals and Antioxidant System in Seed Biology by Fadime Eryılmaz Pehlivan --- Chapter 10: Anatomical and Chemical Insights into the White Clover (Trifolium repens L.) Seed Coat Associated to Water Permeability by Alberto Aníbal Galussi and María Esther Moya --- Chapter 11: Morphological Studies on Seeds of Scrophulariaceae s.l. and Their Systematic Significance by Balkrishna Ghimire, Go Eun Choi, Hayan Lee, Kweon Heo and Mi Jin Jeong --- Chapter 12: Seed Transmission of Tobamoviruses: Aspects of Global Disease Distribution by Aviv Dombrovsky and Elisheva Smith --- Chapter 13: Biology of Seed Vigor in the Light of -omics Tools by Isaac Oludayo Daniel --- Chapter 14: The Potential of Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum L.) Seeds for Development of Functional Foods by Chandra Shekhar Singh and Vinod Kumar Paswan --- Chapter 15: Genetic Improvement of Oilseed Crops Using Modern Biotechnology by Diego Villanueva-Mejia and Javier Correa Alvarez --- Chapter 16: Application of Mechanics to Plant Seeds as a Granular or Particulate Material by Michal Petrů and Ivan Mašín

Description / Table of Contents: Chapter 1: General Aspects of the Cobalt Chemistry by Yasemin Yildiz --- Chapter 2: Synthesis, Processing, and Characterization of the Cobalt Alloys with Silicon Addition by Petrica Vizureanu, Mirabela Georgiana Minciuna, Gianina Iovan and Simona Stoleriu --- Chapter 3: Synthesis of Cobalt-Based Nanomaterials from Organic Precursors by Maria Smyrnioti and Theophilos Ioannides --- Chapter 4: Hydrothermally Produced Cobalt Oxide Nanostructures at Different Temperatures and Effect on Phase Transition Temperature and Threshold Voltage of Nematic Liquid Crystal Host by Hasan Eskalen, Süleyman Kerli and Şükrü Özgan --- Chapter 5: Substitution and Redox Properties of Some Organoisocyanide Cobalt(II) Complexes by Olayinka A. Oyetunji, Godiraone Tatolo, Banyaladzi D. Paphane and Clifford A. L. Becker --- Chapter 6: Effect of Cobalt on Morphology of Microhole Formed by Micropunching by Kelvii Wei Guo and Hon Yuen Tam --- Chapter 7: A Review of the Radionuclide, Cobalt-60, as a Fine-Sediment Tracer by Philip Greenwood