Aims and scope

Discover Applied Sciences (formerly SN Applied Sciences) is a fully open access (OA) journal. All content published in the journal is published under an open access licence, and freely available to readers worldwide, enabling the widest possible dissemination and reuse.

It is a multi-disciplinary, peer-reviewed journal for the disciplines of Applied Life Sciences, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Materials Science and Physics, fostering sound scientific discovery to solve practical problems. The journal encourages quality, scientifically valid, original research which presents a good understanding of scientific knowledge, experiments and theories, methods and techniques, as well as interdisciplinary linkages.

The Applied Life Sciences section of Discover Applied Sciences aims to publish relevant articles that focus on modern applications of life sciences research in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Health Sciences, Physics, Engineering and Environmental Sciences. We are particularly interested in applied research that makes significant scientific and societal contributions across the broad spectrum of life sciences.
The topics covered in this section include but are not limited to:

    Agriculture and Agronomy
    Aquatic and Marine Biology
    Behavioral Sciences
    Biochemistry
    Bioengineering
    Biomaterials
    Biomedical Sciences
    Biophysics
    Biotechnology
    Cell Biology
    Ecology
    Environmental Life Science
    Evolutionary and Developmental Biology
    Food Science
    Forestry
    Genetics and Genomics
    Microbiology
    Plant Sciences
    Population dynamics
    Systems Biology and Bioinformatics
    Zoology and Veterinary Sciences

The Engineering section provides a forum for various sub-disciplines of Engineering Technology, e.g. Bioengineering, Applied Engineering, Robotics and Control, Signal Processing, Data Analysis, Experiments, Computational Mechanics, and Fluid Mechanics. We are looking for contributions covering theoretical and practical problems associated with:

    Aerospace Engineering
    Big Data, Data Science and Data Analysis
    Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering
    Communication Systems
    Complex Structures
    Computer Engineering
    Computing Systems
    Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electromagnetics
    Energy, Power and Industrial Applications
    Fluid Mechanics
    Image Processing and Signal Processing
    Industrial Technology and Manufacturing
    Machine Learning
    Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning
    Multiscale Modelling and Multiscale Analysis
    Optics
    Structural Integrity and Technologies in Construction
    Sustainable Inventive Systems

The Interdisciplinary section provides a forum for multi-disciplinary projects that cover the expertise of experiments, numerical modelling, and theory to provide a better understanding of key processes. It welcomes manuscripts combining or linking disciplines of applied sciences and exploring theoretical or practical problems.

The Chemistry and Materials Science section deals with the key research fields of chemistry and material science. Among many topics that our section covers, we promote the topics relating to catalysis, activation of small molecules, electrochemistry and energy materials. The following keywords are only few of the key topics in our section:

    Electrocatalysis
    Click Chemistry
    Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Catalysis
    Biochemistry
    Green Synthesis Of Nanoparticles
    Energy Conversion
    Biomass
    Construction Materials
    Photocatalysis
    Water Splitting
    Fuel Cells
    Inorganic Chemistry
    Analytical Chemistry
    Oxygen Reduction Reaction
    Electrolysers
    Food Chemistry

The Physics and Materials Science section of Discover Applied Sciences targets the latest developments in the Applied Physics area and its intersection with the Material Sciences. We encourage topics that generate an interest or are related to global challenges, including among others, alternative energy sources, climate change, food and water safety and innovative health. Some keywords that we are considering are:

    Electronic Properties of Materials
    Structure-Property Relationship and Characterization
    Superconductivity and Magnetism
    Spintronics
    Organic Electronics
    Perovskite/ Silicon Solar Cells
    Biomaterials and Health Applications
    Bioelectronics and Sensors
    Applied Photochemistry
    Photonic Materials
    Mechanical Properties of Materials
    Thermoelectric Materials
    Nanomaterials/Nanoparticles
    Energy Transfer, Storage and Conversion
    Organic Materials Doping
    Batteries
    Optical Properties of Materials
    Alloys and Ceramics
    Applied Biophysics
    Sustainable Development in Material Sciences

The Earth and Environmental Sciences section of Discover Applied Sciences aims to publish relevant articles and case studies within Earth and Environmental System Sciences. We welcome disciplinary papers from the fields of Physical Geography, Geology, Climate, Oceanography and Natural Hazards, as well as those with strong interdisciplinary connections from the fields of Geophysics, Environmental Chemistry, Geochemistry and Environmental Engineering. We welcome contributions which demonstrate linkages between natural and anthropogenic processes, human-environmental interactions and environmental processes and applications.

Content types

Discover Applied Sciences welcomes a variety of article types – please see our submission guidelines for details. The journal also publishes guest-edited Topical Collections of relevance to all aspects of applied sciences and its applications. For more information, please follow up with our journal publishing contact.

Special Issue on Materials Science: Surface Coatings and Coating Techniques
Submission Date: 2024-11-30

This collection intends to show research and innovation on surface coating and coating techniques, including either coating endowed with potential application in the field of green energy, environment, sea, or under the extreme conditions, or coating technique with innovation in principle and design of physical vapor deposition or chemical vapor deposition. Examples are Metal coating; Ceramic coating; High entropy alloy and ceramic coating; LBE resistant coating; Lubricant coating; Wear resistant coating; Antioxidation coating; Carbon based coating; Novel coating processes and equipment development.

Special Issue on Earth and Environmental Sciences: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies in a Multi-Risk Perspective
Submission Date: 2024-11-30

The growing concerns related to climate change and the increasing frequency of significant natural hazard impacts require the identification of adaptation and mitigation strategies. However, most of the time, risk reduction strategies consider one risk at a time and ignore the potential synergies (or conflicts) that these might have with other hazards. For instance, urban greening can be beneficial for both pluvial flooding and heat waves (synergy), and moving building contents to upper flood-safe floors can aggravate seismic risks (conflict). Therefore, each solution should be evaluated within the broad spectrum of multiple hazards in a multi-disciplinary way to promote risk capacity and resilience. This Topical Collection aims to profile a diverse range of mitigation and adaptations approaches within a multi-hazard and multi-risk perspective, including but not limited to structural and non-structural solutions, nature-based solutions, mapping and planning for reducing the impacts of multi-hazards on different exposed assets (e.g., infrastructures, building, population, cultural heritage etc.) with a quantitative evaluation of co-benefits or resolution of potential conflicts.

Special Issue on Earth and Environmental Sciences: Life Cycle Assessment of Processes and Products
Submission Date: 2024-11-30

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) plays an essential part in estimating the environmental impact of new technologies and methods. LCA is a methodology to analyze and compare various products and technologies considering their environmental effects along the whole life cycle, i.e. from the subtraction of raw materials until the end-of-life of a product. LCA helps to determine which product has the most negligible environmental impact over others by assessing the effects of products and processes throughout their lifecycle.

At an initial stage of a novel technology process, it is fundamental to recognize the environmental burdens. Calculating the effects when assessing a new technology is demanding, as the number of possible results can be enormous. More than two-thirds parts of the final expenses and effects on the environment are based on decisions that are made in the initial development phase of the technology. For this reason, it is extremely important to study technologies' environmental effects even before they are put into practice.

In this collection, we welcome articles focusing on the life cycle assessment of various products or processes. It can be a single evaluation or a comparison of different methods. The frame of the research can be any version, e.g., gate-to-gate, cradle-to-gate or cradle-to-grave analyses. We are also open to new research directions and/or combining LCA with economic and energy factors.

Special Issue on Earth and Environmental Sciences: River Basin Water Resources Assessment, Modeling, Protection, Optimization and Management
Submission Date: 2024-11-30

Rivers might be local, regional, or international. They are the main source of freshwater for many countries worldwide. The protection of river basin water resources and their optimization for the benefit of the beneficiaries along the rivers are of special importance due to the optimization of agricultural productivity and the saving of lives and industries. This Topical Collection aims to publish peer-reviewed original research on quantitative and qualitative research concerning river basin management, its challenges and opportunities. Challenges may include (but not limited to) climate change impacts, variations in habitats and biodiversity, variation of water levels and flows in rivers, the impact of mega structures on downstream countries, chemicals in the water environment, and various forms of pollution in river systems (e.g., plastic pollution, pollution from abandoned mines, pollution from agriculture and rural areas, pollution from towns, cities and transport, as well as industrial wastewater pollution), among others.

Researchers from everywhere are invited to submit original research articles and systematic review articles. Articles may address but are not limited to any of the following topics using one or more scientific methodological approaches:

- Flood risk analysis, its reduction, and possible natural-based flood management.
- Enhancements of habitats and biodiversity in rivers and water bodies.
- Optimal operation of river lakes and reservoirs via modeling of reservoirs’ operation.
- Sustainability of river basins and the improvement of agricultural productivity within them.
- Analysis and prediction of extreme flows (floods and droughts).
- Dam engineering studies and analysis of various measurements (dam monitoring).
- Interaction between river basin flow and groundwater.
- River basin water environment, sources of pollution, measurements and analysis, protection measures.
- River basin catchment planning, management and partnerships.
- River deltas challenges and opportunities.
- Utilizing modeling, AI, IoT, GIS, and RS tools to optimize river basin resources and management.
- Optimal allocation of river basin water resources.

Keywords: Extreme river flow; Flood control and management; Flood risk analysis; River basin management; River basin catchment; Watershed management; Water resources management; River basin integrated water resources management; River basin lakes; Dams and storage reservoirs; River deltas; River basin and groundwater; Transboundary and international rivers

Special Issue on Physics: Advances and Extensions of Transformation Optics and Metamaterials
Submission Date: 2024-11-30

In the past decade, Transformation Optics and Metamaterials have provided unprecedented methods for controlling electromagnetic waves, with significant applications in areas such as invisibility cloaking, super-resolution imaging, optical illusions, and optical black holes. Moreover, in recent years, the design methods involving coordinate transformations and the equivalent materials of artificially structured units have expanded beyond optics to include fields such as acoustics, thermodynamics, and mechanics. They have even been applied to simultaneously control multiple physical fields. This collection of research is expected to present the latest studies, applications, and discoveries in Transformation Optics and Metamaterials, along with their extensions to other physical fields. Subtopics related to this collection include, but are not limited to, cloaking, novel lenses, thermal flow control, innovative thermal devices, control of electromagnetic and acoustic waves, electromagnetic/acoustic/thermal illusions, near-zero refractive index media, negative refractive index media, and the simultaneous control of multiple physical fields.

Special Issue on Chemistry: Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalysts for Chemical and Biofuel Cells
Submission Date: 2024-11-30

As the world transitions towards sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources, fuel cells have emerged as a promising technology for powering a wide range of applications, from portable electronic devices to transportation and industrial processes. One of the critical components in fuel cell technology is the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst, which plays a pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency and performance of both chemical and biofuel cells. This Topical Collection invites researchers, scientists, and engineers from across the globe to contribute their latest findings and insights on ORR catalysts for chemical and biofuel cells. We aim to provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge and ideas in this critical area of energy research.

We encourage submissions covering a diverse range of topics related to ORR catalysts, including but not limited to: (1). Novel catalyst materials and synthesis methods for ORR catalysts; (2). Pt, Pt-alloy catalysts for ORR; (3). Non-Pt and metal free catalysts for ORR; (4). Characterization techniques for ORR catalysts; (5). Performance evaluation and optimization of ORR catalysts; (6). Durability and stability of ORR catalysts; (7). Advances in bio-inspired ORR catalysts; (8). Integration of ORR catalysts into fuel cell systems; (9). Environmental and sustainability aspects of ORR catalysts; (10). Scaling up the ORR catalysts for industrial mass production; (11). Recycling of the spent ORR catalysts – especially Pt catalysts; (12). Innovative strategies to fabricate MEAs – catalyst ink, nafion ionomer optimization etc; (13). Engineering of the GDL.

Special Issue on Chemistry: Innovative Catalysts for Renewable Hydrogen Production and Utilization
Submission Date: 2024-11-30

Recently, the interest towards hydrogen production and utilization is increasing more and more. Due to the several environmental issues raised by the scientific community, the identification of renewable energy sources is become an urgent need. In this scenario, the employment of hydrogen as renewable feedstock in fuel cells devices is drawing relevant attention. Thus, the efficient H2 production from sustainable sources is highly desired. In many cases, however, the obstacles towards the development of sustainable technologies for hydrogen generation lie in the identification of highly active and selective catalysts, which are expected assuring considerable durability with time on stream and relevant yields towards the desired product. The present Collection covers all the fields related to the development of innovative catalysts for hydrogen production devoted to chemical as well as fuel applications. Thus, reviews and scientific articles concerning reforming, water gas shift, methanation, hydrogasification, electrolysis and fuel cells-based processes are welcome.

Special Issue on Materials Science: New Insights into Emerging Materials Toward Efficient Optoelectronic Applications
Submission Date: 2024-11-30

Optoelectronic technologies encompass a wide range of applications, including light-emitting diodes, sensors, transistors, and photovoltaics. As such, optoelectronics utilizing emerging materials can establish a robust framework to meet the evolving technological demands of advanced applications in the future. In recent times, a plethora of novel and emerging nanomaterials, such as quantum dots, nanorods, and 2D nanomaterials, have demonstrated immense potential in the realm of optoelectronics.

This Topical Collection aims to gather both regular and review articles that focus on cutting-edge nanomaterials and their applications in optoelectronics. The scope of topics covers material development and design, variations of materials suitable for optoelectronic applications, innovative device architectures, device processing and characterization methods aimed at achieving substantial cost reduction and enhanced efficiency. This Topical Collection goes beyond device fabrication to include contributions related to theory, modeling, characterization techniques, and modified synthesis approaches for nanomaterials in all types of optoelectronic device applications. 

Special Issue on Engineering: Mechatronics and Digitalization in Agriculture
Submission Date: 2024-11-30

Mechatronics and digitalization in agriculture deal with cutting-edge technologies offering innovative solutions to optimize farm production, reduce waste, and improve environmental sustainability. Modern farms are adopting digital technologies, such as 5G communication, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, digital twins, blockchain, big data analytics, robotics, and augmented reality, to minimize cultivation risks and increase profit. This Topical Collection aims to explore the latest advancements, achievements, and groundbreaking methods in terms of improved efficiency, reduced labor costs, enhanced safety, as well as the challenges involved in the implementation, such as the high costs of adoption, regulations, and the need for skilled personnel. From smart planting and scientific irrigation systems that adapt to weather patterns to drones that survey large-scale farms with centimeter accuracy, each contribution is expected to unravel a different aspect of agro-mechatronics in which automation, robotics, sensor networks, and data-driven insights are fused to provide new solutions. Contributions are expected to bring together research reports describing new, recently developed methods and perspectives based on innovative tools emerging from basic and applied research. Topics that can engage with the academic community and the end-user farmers by demonstrating how mechatronics and digitalization are taking agriculture to the next level are of high interest.

Special Issue on Interdisciplinary: Advances in Multiphysics and Multiscale Modelling in Science and Engineering
Submission Date: 2024-11-30

Multiphysics and multiscale modelling encompass, e.g., quantum mechanics, molecular dynamics, mesoscale physics and continuum mechanics where scientific and engineering applications are relevant to the field of Newtonian and relativistic physics. Therefore, particle-based and continuum modelling including their coupling with external force fields such as electromagnetic field are in the scope of the mainstream research nowadays. This SN Applied Sciences Topical Collection is intended to bring together modelling techniques, experimental works and insightful knowledge in the field of interdisciplinary research. Scientific and engineering methods and applications are welcome to be submitted including mathematical modelling, numerical method development, physics (both Newtonian and relativistic), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), computational solid mechanics (CSM), classical and advanced turbulence modelling, biomedical device development and life sciences, non-Newtonian blood flows, biofluid mechanics (BFM), electro-, ferro- and magnetohydrodynamics (EHD, FHD, MHD), advanced material modelling, fluid-structure interaction (FSI) among other fields where coupling different approaches could lead to potential contribution to advance science, engineering and technology.

Special Issue on Applied Life Sciences: Chemical Signals in Skin-Derived Biofluids
Submission Date: 2024-12-01

Skin surface has become a focal point of interest due to its potential as an easily accessible source of information about human body through the secretion of sweat and sebum, and the emanation of volatile compounds (collectively known as skin gas). The skin-derived biofluids and their constituents are gaining increasing attention as novel biological samples for metabolomics, potential biomarkers for human health and welfare, and sources of body odor. These biofluids are well-suited to wearable sensing technologies to solve current medical challenges by providing continuous, real-time information through dynamic, non-invasive measurements of biomarkers. Therefore, investigating chemical signals in sweat, sebum, and skin gas represents a frontier in research and intensive studies are required focusing on their chemical components in relation to physical, physiological, and mental health, disease status, daily activities such as diet and cosmetic use, and the living or occupational environment.

In this Topical Collection on "Chemical signals in skin-derived biofluids", we invite colleagues to submit research and review works that share new knowledge on the subject, spanning from basic research to practical applications. This collection covers a wide range of areas, including analytical and sensing methodologies, metabolomics, research involving human and animal subjects, clinical applications, and studies on environmental impacts. The goal of this collection is to provide a platform for promoting the utilization of skin-based biological information, fostering a smarter, less stressful, and more environmentally benign society. 

Special Issue on Engineering: Artificial Intelligence in Power Electronics Systems
Submission Date: 2024-12-01

Nowadays, technologies of power electronics and artificial intelligence are converging, and combined, they have the potential to revolutionize various aspects of the energy sector. Artificial intelligence is being incorporated into power electronics aiming to boost efficiency, smart management, reliability, and sustainability. In particular, the artificial intelligence techniques of machine learning and deep learning are assuming predominance in the industrial power electronic systems due to the possibility of predictive maintenance, fault detection, and real-time optimization. Regarding power electronics converters, the techniques and dedicated algorithms of artificial intelligence can be used to establish a more intelligent control of the switching devices targeting to optimize the overall performance of the converters, also helping to design more robust and high-density power electronics converters (e.g., covering aspects in the PCB design, in the selection of dedicated components, and in the optimization of coupling filters). In addition, artificial intelligence can also be used in power electronics converters applied to technologies of renewable energy systems, aiming to optimize the output power production and the power grid integration, as well as to contribute to establish a dynamic balance among supply and demand, while maximizing energy production. In the power grid side, artificial intelligence also plays a vital role for enhancing stability and power quality, offering the possibility of real-time monitoring and control, as well as better resilience during disturbances. It is objective of this Topical Collection to address present and future technologies of artificial intelligence for power electronics, attracting original contributions from academic researchers, Ph.D. students, and professional communities.

Special Issue on Interdisciplinary: Nanomaterials: Application in Agro-Food Industry
Submission Date: 2024-12-01

Nanomaterials derived from various biological and derived sources diversify agricultural activities while increasing the ease of the process and quality of the product. Nanomaterials have shown significant potential for various applications in the agro-food industry, offering opportunities to improve agricultural practices, enhance food quality, and address challenges related to crop protection and food safety. Furthermore, while nanomaterials offer promising applications, it's essential to consider the potential environmental and health impacts. Ongoing research, development of regulations, and responsible implementation are important for realizing the full potential of nanotechnology in the agro-food industry.

Submissions in the following research areas are welcome but the topics are not restricted to only these:

- Precision agriculture
- Nanofertilizers and nano-pesticides
- Smart delivery systems
- Crop protection
- Nano-pesticides
- Nanoencapsulation
- Food packaging (Nanocomposites, antimicrobial nanoparticles)
- Nanosensors in food and agriculture
- Nanostructured food additives
- Nanoremediation for water and soil
- Improved seed treatments
- Plant disease diagnostics using nanomaterials

Special Issue on Interdisciplinary: Cutting-Edge Innovations in Functional Nanomaterials: Pioneering Sustainable Energy Solutions
Submission Date: 2024-12-10

Advances in functional thin-film materials development and synthesis are crucial for renewable and sustainable energy technologies and their applications. The ability to design new or modified existing material systems with optimal properties and cost-effective fabrication processes can lead to significant improvement in many areas of sustainability including energy harvesting, storage, and savings. The best materials discovery and design initiatives feature a close linkage between materials prediction, synthesis, and characterizations. The different issues with materials design and synthesis for various applications including thermoelectric, photovoltaic, solid-state lighting, catalysts, batteries, metal alloys, complex oxides, and transparent conducting materials are still highly prioritized research activities worldwide. Therefore, this is a good time to think about materials' prospects from advanced design, fabrication, and characterization perspectives, together with various high-throughput computational and combinatorial methods, and advanced characterization approaches.

Special Issue on Interdisciplinary: Imaging and Spectrophotometric Techniques for Diagnostic and Sensing Applications
Submission Date: 2024-12-10

The use of imaging and spectrophotometric techniques is increasingly widespread, covering almost all fields of experimental research. This opens up dedicated research topics regarding their use and development that deserve to be shared with the scientific community. This interdisciplinary Topical Collection focuses on novel applications, methodologies and procedures of both imaging techniques covering the spectral range UV-Vis-IR (0.2 – 14 μm) and spectrophotometric analysis for characterization, diagnostic and sensing. This collection welcomes original articles and reviews focusing on applied research related to the use of these techniques at proximal or remote scales, in the laboratory or in situ. Multi- and hyper-spectral approaches as well as the combined complementary use of multiple imaging or spectrophotometric methods are welcome and suitable for this collection. Examples of application fields covered by this collection include but are not limited to: Cultural Heritage, Restauration studies, Agricultural studies, Food technology, Non-Destructive analysis and Biosensing.

Keywords:

Imaging; Spectrophotometric analysis; Infrared and Thermal imaging; UV; Colorimetry; Raman; Shearography; 3D scanning and photogrammetry; multispectral and hyperspectral imaging

Special Issue on Interdisciplinary: Hybrid Combined Catalysis for Energy and Environmental Applications
Submission Date: 2024-12-10

Since about 50 years of the first studies of Fujishima and Honda dealing with the photocatalytic H2 production, the real applications, and the yields of the UV and/or solar photocatalysis are still low with poor scale-up implementations. Recently, multi-catalytic approaches as photothermo-catalysis or photoelectro-catalysis attracted many interests. Indeed, with these hybrid catalytic methodologies it is possible to increase the performance of the single catalytic approaches with energy saving processes, also fitting the criteria for practical applications. Based on the above considerations, submissions to this Topical Collection are welcomed, in the form of original research papers, reviews, or communications that highlight the state of research in the applications of hybrid catalytic approaches for energy and environmental applications as: a) photothermo-catalysis; b) photo-electrocatalysis; c) sono-photo and/or thermo-catalysis; d) combined advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). The reactions focus can be: air purification (VOCs or NOx removal); water decontamination from emerging contaminants); energy production (H2 production, water splitting, photoreforming); CO2 valorisation (CO2 photocatalytic and photo-electrocatalytic reduction), etc. Finally, new research concerning the correlation between the physico-chemical properties and the catalytic activity in environmental and energy applications of conventional and unconventional catalysts will be taken into consideration.

Special Issue on Materials Science: Application of Electrochemical Methods for Formation a Functional Coatings for Long-Term Implant
Submission Date: 2024-12-15

Requirements for biomaterials include bioactivity, antibacterial properties, biocompatibility and appropriate mechanical properties. Metals dedicated to biomedical applications usually are bioinert or induce an allergic effect. Thus, their surface is modified to obtain the functional coatings. The metal surface treatment can be treated using single or multistep electrochemical techniques. Final biocompatibility of the implant depends on their surface morphology, surface roughness, chemical and phase composition, size of the grains, crystals, pores, thickness of the layer, the local pH near the surface, wettability or surface tension. These properties influence on cytotoxic or cytocompatibility effect. Thus, the characterization of the coatings plays a key role to understand how the biomaterial with coating response in in vitro and in vivo conditions. Understanding these processes allows designing desirable materials and then technology for their production.

Special Issue on Interdisciplinary: High Quality Food Science and Technology in the Current International Context
Submission Date: 2024-12-30

The recent international crisis and issues changed the relationship among food producers and their consumers. Some of the international research activity was focused to increase the availability of more information on sustainable, cheaper, higher value food, etc. The focus on the energy use, the environmental and hygienic impact, the valorization of wastes and byproducts, the use of alternative and high efficiency packaging were all pushed to higher level to satisfy the need of novel approach from the consumers.

Special Issue on Interdisciplinary: Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Applications and Services
Submission Date: 2024-12-30

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the medical field has received a great deal of interest in recent years. AI has demonstrated positive outcomes in a variety of healthcare applications, including diagnostics, drug development, medical image analysis, and personalized therapy, among others. On the other hand, the lack of transparency and interpretability of AI models has been a big worry in the field of healthcare, particularly when it comes to making important choices for the health of patients.

Explainable AI (XAI) has emerged as a promising approach to address this concern. XAI aims to make AI models transparent and interpretable by providing understandable explanations for the decisions they make. XAI has the potential to improve the trustworthiness and adoption of AI in healthcare, as it enables clinicians and patients to understand the underlying reasoning behind the AI model's decision.

This Topical Collection invites researchers to submit original research articles, reviews, and short communications that explore the latest developments and challenges in XAI for healthcare applications and services. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to (1) Interpretable and Explainable Machine Learning Models in Healthcare; (2) Explainable Decision Support Systems in Healthcare; (3) Ethical and legal implications of XAI in healthcare; (4) XAI for Clinical Decision Making; (5) Patient-centric Explainable AI; (6) Interpretability and Explainability of Deep Learning Models in Healthcare; (7) XAI in Medical Imaging and Diagnosis; (8) XAI in Precision Medicine; (9) XAI in personalized medicine and precision health; (10) XAI techniques for healthcare applications such as diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning.
This Topical Collection invites researchers to submit original research articles, reviews, and short communications.

Special Issue on Engineering: Application of Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning in the Field of Microwave Engineering: Devices and Communication
Submission Date: 2024-12-30

This Topical Collection is dedicated to highlighting the application of Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Learning (DL) in the field of Microwave Engineering: Devices and Communication. It will concentrate on AI/ML/DL approaches in Microwave Engineering, which includes new breakthroughs, design and performance techniques of various Microwave Devices like Antennas, Filters, Couplers etc. Starting with single/multiband antennas, this topical collection will showcase the application of AI/ML/DL in the design and/or performance features of wideband to super wideband antennas including Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna structures suited for wireless communication.
It will also focus on the use of AI/ML/DL in various aspects of Terrestrial and/or Satellite-based Microwave Communication: Processes, Algorithms and Protocols.

Special Issue on Earth and Environmental Sciences: Birth of Chemistry 250th Anniversary Collection: Priestley’s Gases-of-Life in Modern Biosphere Science
Submission Date: 2024-12-30

Next year, 2024, is the 250th anniversary of the report by Joseph Priestley of his discovery of ‘dephlogisticated air’ on “Oxygen Day” August 1st, 1774, in his diary. This is now described by historians of science as the “Birth of Chemistry”. Later the same year Priestley published the first of 3 classic Volumes “Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of Air”. The first focused on his characterization of carbon dioxide, (discovered earlier) and the second on oxygen and their relationship in plant and animal life in the biosphere. The Earth’s biosphere can be defined as that concentric ‘skin’ of the Earth’s surfaces, between the crust lithosphere and atmosphere troposphere, where life can be found. It includes the lower troposphere, and the land surfaces and ocean sinks. All physical processes are driven by gradients of temperature, pressure and Gibbs chemical potential, that define thermodynamic equilibria and the direction all of chemical reactions. We have in mind a collection of 10 articles, by world leaders in modern thermodynamics, that can put the description of many of these processes, such as global warming, and photosynthesis, on land and oceans, and in biological processes such as protein folding, on a proper thermodynamic platform that will correct many outdated misapprehensions of thermodynamic principles in the existing literature of the life sciences. Interestingly, 2024 is also a 150th anniversary of a Gibbs publications of “Gibbs Free Energy” (1873-4): therefore, we can also pay modern tributes to Gibbs contribution to life sciences.

Special Issue on Earth and Environmental Sciences: Applied Engineering to Mitigate the Impacts of Climate Change on the Built and Natural Environments
Submission Date: 2024-12-30

The built environment comprises buildings, roads, rails, bridges, tunnels and all structures and systems designed to live, work, and travel. The built environment is an asset of great value that must be preserved and continues to grow in harmony with nature in the coming decades. Climate change is a reality through multiple events: floodings, sea-level rise, heat waves, droughts, and storms are some examples. These disasters have severe impacts on the built and natural environments. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations call for urgent actions for global Earth protection. Engineering has committed to the noble mission of achieving the SDGs. Engineering can contribute significantly to protecting the built and natural environments against the impacts of climate change. This collection intends to provide scientific publications that describe technological and sustainable solutions to benefit the built and natural environments when exposed to climate change events.

Special Issue on Interdisciplinary: Sustainable Applications of Photonics in Medicine, Environment and Agriculture
Submission Date: 2024-12-30

Photonics comes from the Greek “photos” which means light. The term emerged to refer to the area of science that combines light and electronics. In this area, 18 Nobel Prizes in Physics have already been awarded. Light is clean and sustainable energy. Through light is possible to diagnose and treat diseases in humans, animals, plants, and the environment and microbial control effectively and cleanly. The scope of this collection is to publish original articles and reviews on photonics exploited by physicists, chemists, engineers, biologists, agronomists, etc., divulgating innovative research in light interaction with biological material in a sustainable form. Fundamental research and specific developments will be accepted. This complains: 1) the use of light for medium characterization by techniques as UV/Vis, light scattering, fluorescence, luminescence, THz, Raman, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR); 2) imaging techniques as confocal and multiphoton microscopy, fluorescence resonant energy transfer (FRET), fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), optical coherence tomography (OCT), pulse oximetry, photoacoustic imaging, fluorescence-guided surgery; 3) therapeutic approaches as PDT, LIBS, photothermal therapy, photocoagulation, optical neuromodulation including optogenetics and non-genetic photobiostimulation, 4) sensing, 5) light-based theranostic technologies integrated with molecular and genomic profiling for combined sensing/diagnostics/imaging and therapeutics, 6) artificial intelligence, including machine learning, data mining, big data analysis, and computational power, 7) applications in environmental monitoring as the assessment of climate change and marine life, 8) application in food control monitoring for pathogens and toxins detections, 9) applications in soil and vegetation evaluation and therapeutics, 10) Nanotechnology in photonics and its sustainable applications.

Special Issue on Chemistry: Conversion of Biomass and Waste to Chemicals and Fuels
Submission Date: 2024-12-30

Residual biomass and waste offer sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived products. Recent developments in reducing the use of non-renewable resources have led to significant advancements in technologies for producing biofuels and chemicals from various types of biomasses and waste. However, research in this area is rapidly evolving, necessitating a compilation of the latest breakthroughs to facilitate collaboration among researchers and engage readers. This Collection aims to present recent and emerging strategies for sustainable biomass and waste conversion processes, covering topics from chemical catalysis to biocatalysis and bioprocessing. Authors are encouraged to submit original research papers for peer review by experts in biomass and waste valorization. Additionally, review articles by experts in these fields are welcome contributions to this Collection.

Special Issue on Materials Science: Structured Soft Materials for Innovative Applications: From the Nanoscale Structure to the Physical Properties
Submission Date: 2024-12-30

Structured soft matter encompasses a wide range of materials that exhibit unique properties and form the basis of many advances in the fields of high-tech manufacturing, sustainability and medicine. This class of materials include liquid crystals and liquid crystal polymers, dye-doped- and polymer dispersed- liquid crystals, polymer-based hybrid nanocomposites, block copolymers, photomobile polymers, self-assembling biological systems, holographic materials for high-resolution optical patterning. What makes all these materials unique is that their structure and dynamics span multiple length- and time- scales, and these microscopic characteristics can be engineered to control the material properties. These materials offer great potential for cutting-edge applications in various fields, opening new avenues for relevant technological advancements. Structured soft materials (SSM) are extensively investigated from the nano- to the micro-scale for their structure and their physical properties by means of complementary technique including X-Ray diffraction and scattering, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, IR, Raman and TIR spectroscopies and optical and electro-optical techniques, with the ultimate goal of establishing structure-function relationships. Liquid crystals are generally known for their intriguing optical properties and responsiveness to external stimuli like electric fields or temperature changes, making them highly versatile for applications in displays, sensors, and photonic devices. Liquid crystal polymers reinforced with small amounts of stiff carbon-based nanofillers such as graphene or graphene oxide yield low-density nanocomposites with exceptional mechanical properties. Photomobile polymers can undergo shape changes upon exposure to light, opening up exciting opportunities in fields like soft robotics and drug delivery. On the other hand, SSM-based optical holography, a technique that employs light to create three-dimensional images in a soft-material matrix, has revolutionized diverse fields including data storage, security, and medical imaging. The constant development in the study of structured soft materials continues to push the boundaries of science and technology, driving advancements in areas such as advanced optics and innovative materials with unprecedented properties.

Special Issue on Materials Science: Recent Advances in Green and Chemical based Nanomaterials Synthesis: Characterization and Applications
Submission Date: 2024-12-30

Nanotechnology is one of the most fascinating frontier disciplines, a wide range of nanomaterials with various characteristics have found widespread use in several applications. The materials fabrication at the nanoscale plays a crucial role in recent technologies. The synthesis route either green or chemical based has the potential in improving the properties of the materials. Innovative characterizations and application of the materials are the focus of this call. In recent years, significant progress has been recorded in nanoscience and nanotechnology, enabling great successes from fundamental research to applications in technologies, facilitating new horizons in this area. The reports on real-life applications of these materials are highly encouraged. Nevertheless, review articles providing information on state-of-the-art developments will likewise be accepted.

Special Issue on Interdisciplinary: Emerging Nanophotonic Devices for Smart Cities and Smart Healthcare
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

In recent decades, emerging nanophotonic devices such as photonic bandgaps and surface wave-based devices have attracted the attention of researchers because of their unique characteristics to control the guiding of light and unconventional applications in surface wave coupling, photonic spin hall enhancement, smart cities, smart healthcare, and engineering optics. The complete potential of these devices can be utilized by integrating with nanophotonic technology. This provides an alternative to the conventional photonic devices, with improved functionality and better design control. Thus, with this technique, we can focus on the generation, manipulation, and confinement of lights, along with novel applications such as microscopic imaging, fluorescence spectroscopy, wave guiding, filters and sensors. This topical collection aims to provide a platform to exchange recent breakthroughs and future perspectives related to emerging nanophotonic devices. All types of research and review papers presenting novel research ideas based on either theoretical or experimental insights are welcome.

Special Issue on Interdisciplinary: Climate Change and Sustainable Viticulture: From Mitigation Strategies and Wine Quality to Sensory Pleasantness
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

Climate change presents significant challenges to wine production, affecting everything from vineyard management to wine quality and sensory characteristics. As temperature and irradiation levels increase and a decrease in water availability, grape ripening patterns are altered, impacting sugar levels, acidity, and phenolic ripeness, leading to wine style and quality changes. Mitigating the effects of climate change can be achieved by adjusting planting and harvesting dates, changing trellising systems, selecting grape varieties suited to warmer and drier climates, and using vine protective compounds. Winemaking techniques such as fermentation temperature and duration can be modified to preserve wine quality and sensory characteristics. Investing in research to understand how climate change affects wine sensory properties is crucial to developing new approaches to maintain or enhance wine quality. Addressing the challenges posed by climate change requires proactive vineyard management practices, innovative winemaking techniques, and ongoing research and collaboration within the wine industry.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to: SDG 2

Special Issue on Materials Science: Metal Plastic Processing Theory, Technology, and Equipment
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

Metal forming and processing is one of the oldest technologies used by humans to manufacture products. Today, it is difficult to imagine the civilized development of parts produced without metal forming processes. Despite accumulating rich knowledge and experience over the centuries, we are still striving to develop technology, mechanical equipment, and research methods, and understand the phenomena that accompany metal deformation. Since entering the new era, driven by major national demands in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and equipment manufacturing. The metal plastic forming industry has achieved rapid development. This topical collection aims to showcase the latest achievements in this field, and we encourage you to submit original articles on the widely understood topic of metal plastic processing theory and technology. Suggested topics related to this topical collection include, but are not limited to:

- Sheet metal forming
- Powder forming
- Bulk-forming
- Plastic deformation due to forming
- Tribology in the forming process
- Innovative forming technology
- Incremental forming
- Laser forming
- Hydroforming
- Heat treatment
- Laser/electron beams heat treatment
- Surface characterization
- Rolling
- Forging and joining or welding technology

Special Issue on Materials Science: Piezoelectric Material and Devices: Piezo Materials, Piezo MEMS Device, and Their Applications
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

The field of piezoelectric material and device has witnessed remarkable advancements, driving innovation across diverse industries. From pioneering materials science, to groundbreaking device designs and practical applications, this field has revolutionized the landscape of sensing, actuation, energy harvesting, and beyond. This Topical Collection aims to compile and showcase the latest breakthroughs, fostering an in-depth exploration of piezoelectric materials, devices, and their intricate design principles, versatile device implementations, as well as wide-ranging applications across multifaceted domains. Key topics of interest include but are not limited to: (1) Novel Materials: Unveiling the synthesis methodologies and properties of emerging piezoelectric materials. (2) Design Innovations: Exploring the design principles and fabrication techniques for piezoelectric devices. (3) Modeling and Optimization: Advancements in the simulation, modeling, and optimization of piezoelectric devices. (4) Applications: Showcasing the integration of piezoelectric elements in biomedical, industrial, and consumer electronics, as well as their utility in sensors, actuators, transducers, and energy harvesting.

Special Issue on Engineering: Data Science in Autonomy and Navigation
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

Data science has become a vital element in autonomy and navigation, improving decision-making processes and providing accurate navigation capabilities. Additionally, sensory data collected from diverse sensors is a counterstone in developing sophisticated sensor fusion algorithms using deep learning or hybrid methodologies.

Advances in real-time processing facilitate faster decision making and obstacle avoidance for autonomous systems that can be operated in very limited hardware computation capacity. Data science continues to be a driving force in autonomy and navigation. It provides the tools and techniques to address these challenges and push the boundaries of what autonomous systems can achieve. This Topical Collection aims at collecting high quality research papers and review articles focusing on recent advances in data-driven based autonomy and navigation. 

Special Issue on Interdisciplinary: Advances in Earth Observation for Geohazard Management
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

Geohazards, such as landslides, earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions, pose significant threats to human life, infrastructure, and the environment. Earth observation plays a crucial role in mitigating these risks by providing vital data for hazard monitoring, risk assessment, early warning systems, emergency response and post-disaster recovery. This topical collection aims to showcase cutting-edge research and applications that leverage the power of earth observation for geohazard management. We welcome submissions addressing various aspects of this rapidly evolving field, including:

- Emerging earth observation technologies: Utilizing data from advanced satellites, drones, and other platforms.
- Data processing and analysis techniques: Employing machine learning, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics to extract meaningful insights from earth observation data.
- Integration with other datasets: Combining earth observation data with ground-based measurements and socioeconomic data for comprehensive risk assessment.
- Development of user-friendly tools and applications: Facilitating the use of earth observation data by stakeholders involved in geohazard management.
- Case studies of successful applications: Demonstrating the practical value of earth observation in real-world geohazard scenarios. 

Special Issue on Engineering: Rail Infrastructure Challenges and Solutions: Pathways to the Future
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

Railways have long served as the backbone of global transportation, connecting cities, countries, and continents. As the world accelerates towards urbanization and demands more sustainable modes of transport, the role of a dependable and efficient railway infrastructure has grown ever more vital. Every railway sub-system is paramount in ensuring safety and punctuality, including for example the tracks that guide our travels, the bridges that span obstacles, the stations that serve as gateways to new destinations, etc. Yet, with evolving challenges such as climate change, urban congestion, and rapid technological advancements, the railway industry stands at an intersection. This collection will explore into the complexed world of railway infrastructure systems, addressing its challenges, and spotlighting the innovations paving its future.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following. (1) Aging Infrastructure; (2) Railway Bridge & Tunnel Engineering; (3) Rail Tracks and Trackbed; (4) Electrification; (5) Signaling & Communication; (6) Station Design; (7) High-Speed Rail; (8) Climate Resilience; (9) Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance; (10) Noise & Vibration Mitigation; (11) Drainage Systems; (12) Sustainable Materials.

Special Issue on Engineering: Innovative Demand Side Management Approaches for Optimal Operation of Microgrids
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

Recently, demand side management (DSM) has become essential to ensure cost-effectiveness and stability in microgrids. There is an increasing use of various DSM approaches in microgrid energy management systems (EMS), optimizing power consumption and improving power performance. This Topical Collection aims to serve as a platform for researchers to present diverse DSM approaches to solve the energy management problems associated with microgrids, in addition to modern and effective methods in developing a stochastic EMS architecture for implementing and analyzing the variable loads DSM approaches, scenario-based methods, cost-driven and motive-driven demand response programs (DRPs). This Collection will also investigate cost-oriented load approaches for cost-based and incentive-based DRPs to demonstrate users' sensitivity to market prices (MPs). Particular attention will be paid to recent approaches to dealing with the uncertainties of renewable energy resources (RERs), MPs and load requirements. Moreover, the challenges facing integrating renewable energy into the smart grid are also investigated. 

Special Issue on Engineering: Energy Management System
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

Power system energy management is performed at different levels with different aims. The most important goals of optimal energy management of the power systems are cost reduction, reduce emissions, improve reliability and power quality indexes, increase profitability, etc. Innovative methods can be used to provide an energy management plan, or energy management can be defined as an optimization problem and optimization algorithms can be used to solve it. Uncertainties are also very important issues in power system operation programs, especially in the lower levels of the power system (microgrids). The electric vehicle parking lots or aggregators can also be used in the microgrids to store energy, in which case the issue of energy management takes on a new face. Therefore, to provide a good energy management program for the power system, one must have a detailed knowledge of its components and the technical constraints of the power system. Therefore, to provide a good energy management program, a comprehensive model of the power system with detailed data should be provided.

Special Issue on Engineering: Digital Twins: Principles, Practice and Possibilities
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

Digital twins are seen by most observers to be the next major technology development. The possibility of a digital twin as a virtual model which accurately reflects a physical object in real-time opens up new approaches to optimization, research and the development of understanding. Currently, the largest and most ambitious digital twin project is “DefinE” whose objective is a digital twin of the earth to support sustainable development and European environmental policies. This collection “Digital twins – principles, practice and possibilities” encourages and welcomes manuscripts which explore the exploitation of digital twins in applied science as well as those which focused on mathematical principles. Manuscripts which address life science applications are most welcome alongside those that focus on the physical sciences. As many of the areas to be addressed are multiscale areas, we particularly encourage those which address the use of multi-scale data.

Special Issue on Engineering: Computer Aided Engineering Design, Manufacturing and Maintenance
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

The collection bridges the gap between traditional engineering practices and the latest technological advancements. Spanning from the intricate scale of materials to the broader dimensions of structures and systems, this collection offers a panoramic view of the engineering landscape. Open to a diverse range of engineering disciplines, it welcomes contributions from areas such as Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Automotive Engineering, and Civil Engineering. Central to the collection is the integration of time-tested traditional methodologies with modern innovations like additive manufacturing and digital twins. Topics of interest include design simulations (single- or multi-scale), precision manufacturing, system maintenance, and the harmonization of legacy systems with contemporary tools, all while emphasizing the importance of understanding materials and their influence on larger structures and systems. By offering a blend of foundational knowledge and cutting-edge insights, this collection serves as an invaluable resource for authors aiming to showcase their research and readers keen on understanding the evolution of engineering practices.

Special Issue on Engineering: Accidental and Extreme Actions on Structures
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

Accidental and extreme design loads are particularly challenging for design of buildings and structures, because they may have different causes (including high-strain natural hazards, man-made attacks, and accidents), and also derive from extreme operational conditions (severe temperature variations, humidity, etc.). All of these aspects can be critical for specific structural typologies and/or materials that are particularly sensitive to external conditions. In this regard, dedicated and refined methods are required for their design, analysis, and maintenance under the expected life-time. Major challenges are related to their structural typology and material properties, with respect to the key features of the imposed design load.

In this Topical Collection, we invite the publication of original research studies, review papers, case study examples and experimental and/or numerical investigations on the performance of buildings and structures under accidental and extreme actions. A particular interest will be given to the analysis at the material, component, or assembly level, as well as to the retrofit and mitigation of existing facilities.

Special Issue on Earth and Environmental Sciences: Innovations in Hydrology and Water Resource Management in the Global South
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

The Global South, including developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, is facing numerous challenges related to water resource management, including increasing demands for water due to population growth and economic development, as well as the impacts of climate change on water availability. To address these challenges, it is crucial to foster the development of innovative approaches to hydrology and water resource management in the Global South. Hydrological observation has traditionally been limited to site-specific measurements, but the use of remote sensing technology has expanded the scope of research by providing high-resolution, spatiotemporal data on a larger scale. Understanding changes in water resources (in terms of quality and quantity) can also help us better manage watersheds and conserve future water resources. In addition, the incorporation of machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques has opened up new opportunities for addressing engineering challenges in the field of hydrology and water resources. Against this backdrop, researchers and professionals are working towards developing innovative approaches for tackling the complex issues related to hydrology and water resource management in an increasingly dynamic environment. This Topical Collection invites researchers in the field of hydrology, water resources engineering, environmental science, geography, agricultural science and other related disciplines. Relevant topics include but are not limited to the following areas: (1) Water resource assessment and planning, (2) Climate change impacts on water resources, (3) Watershed and hydrological modelling, (4) Water quality monitoring and management, (5) Recent changes in water stress and droughts, (6) Hydrological forecasting and simulation, (7) Optimal reservoir(s) operation and planning, (8) Early warning system and flood risk management, (9) Agricultural watershed planning and management, (10) Impacts of land-use changes on water resources to enhance food security.

Special Issue on Earth and Environmental Sciences: Earth Surface Monitoring Using Remote Sensing Data and Artificial Intelligence
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

Recent advances in remote sensing technology allow rigorous monitoring of ground deformation and environment both in time and space. Thanks to artificial intelligence techniques and data processing platforms, such as Google Earth Engine (GEE) and QGIS, there are a lot of opportunities for researchers to analyze measurements acquired from various sources, such as satellites, aircrafts, and ground-based instruments. This topical collection welcomes all the topics related to processing satellite imagery (both active and passive) as well as aircraft and drone imagery, Lidar, Radar, GNSS, etc., for the purpose of environmental monitoring and assessment. The research areas include but are not limited to agriculture, geology, geodesy, seismology, climatology, and ecology.

Special Issue on Earth and Environmental Sciences: Crop Diversification for Resilient Ecosystem
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

Crop diversification is a strategic approach in agriculture that involves cultivating a range of different crops on a farm rather than relying solely on one type of crop. This practice offers numerous advantages, including reducing the risk of crop failure due to pests, diseases, or adverse weather conditions. By growing a variety of crops, farmers can also maintain soil health and fertility more effectively, as different crops have varying nutrient requirements and growth patterns. Moreover, crop diversification provides farmers with opportunities to tap into diverse markets, stabilize their income throughout the year, and contribute to environmental sustainability by promoting biodiversity and reducing reliance on chemical inputs. Overall, crop diversification is a key aspect of modern farming practices aimed at enhancing resilience, profitability, and ecological stewardship. Along with this, a resilient ecosystem is one that demonstrates the capacity to withstand and recover from disturbances while maintaining its essential functions and supporting biodiversity. These ecosystems possess several key characteristics that contribute to their resilience. Firstly, they have high levels of biodiversity, including a variety of species with different functions and niches. This diversity helps buffer against environmental changes and increases the likelihood that some species will thrive even under adverse conditions. Additionally, resilient ecosystems often exhibit strong ecological connectivity, allowing for the movement of species and genetic material across landscapes, which promotes adaptation and enhances overall resilience. They also tend to have robust feedback mechanisms and adaptive management strategies in place, enabling them to respond flexibly to disturbances and incorporate new information into their resilience strategies. Overall, resilient ecosystems play a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth by providing essential services such as clean air and water, climate regulation, and habitat for wildlife, while also supporting human well-being and livelihoods.

In this Topical Collection, we invite novel research and constrictive review works that share new insight results on the subject, as well as establish a positive discussion about the Crop Diversification for Resilient Ecosystem.

Major themes include:

- Ecosystem services for soil health management
- Biodiversity conservation for ecosystem resilience
- Sustainable soil health management through crop diversification
- Climate resilience farming for ecosystem management
- Reduced pesticide dependency through crop management
- Water quality management for enhancing nutrient use efficiency
- Crops nutritional dietary diversity
- Food security through crop management
- Economic stability through crop management
- Ecosystem services and crop risk management
- Crop diversification through building resilient ecosystems
- Water management through crop diversification
- Sustainable agriculture through
- Cultural Heritage and crops diversification

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to: SDG 2, SDG 15

Special Issue on Earth and Environmental Sciences: Calcium Carbonate Accumulation in Soils: Features, Genesis, Classification and Significance
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

It is well known that pedogenic carbonates are not uncommon at the base of some soils, especially in arid or semiarid climates. In fact, using binocular lenses, optical microscopy, and SEM, it is possible to study pedogenic carbonates at the base of their profiles, forming an evolutionary stage that can culminate with the formation of calcretes. Indeed, the precipitation of calcium carbonate is common in soils, especially in arid or semiarid climates, producing a wide variety of forms of secondary carbonates in soils that include isolated crystals and discrete elementary features (as coating, hypocoating, pseudomycels) to calcic/petrocalcic horizons and differentiated calcrete profiles. This topical collection intends to address this research. Indeed, globally speaking, although the controls for the precipitation of pedogenic carbonate are well known, there is still considerable debate regarding the origin of calcium carbonate accumulation as well as the formation of calcic and petrocalcic horizons. Therefore, although a rich literature exists on carbonate features in soils, there is still a need to delve deeper into the form and mechanisms of pedogenic carbonates. Additionally, it is also necessary to know what the factors affecting such processes are. Priority lines of research related to carbonate accumulations in soils are debated today in relation to the classification of soils, as archives of paleoenvironmental conditions, or regarding their significance; for example, many vineyard soils in semiarid Mediterranean environments develop from carbonated materials, and their soils often show very diverse forms of pedogenic, whose meaning is necessary to know regarding their role on vineyard performance and berry composition.

Special Issue on Physics: Structured lights: Properties and Applications
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

As a kind of customized light field with specific spatial-temporal evolution characteristics, the structured light possesses novel properties in the interaction between light and matter. It has widely been employed in optical manipulation, biomedical sensing and imaging, optical communication, and many others. The aim of this topical collection is to showcase the most recent works associated with structured lights. This collection will feature original research covering a broad range of topics, including but not limited to the physical mechanism of spatial/temporal field modulations, characterization techniques, as well as advances in wide functional applications. We expect that this collection can be of interest to researchers in the field of optics, as well as facilitate future research from members of wider scientific communities.

Special Issue on Chemistry: Hydrothermal Liquefaction: Chemicals, Biofuels and Valuable Compounds from Biomass, Plastic and Algae
Submission Date: 2024-12-31

The rapid depletion of conventional fossil fuels, chemicals, and valuable compounds and the day-by-day growth of environmental pollution due to the extensive use of fossil fuels has raised concerns over the use of fossil fuels; and thus search for alternate renewable and sustainable sources for fuels and chemicals has started in the last few decades. In this context, biomass, plastics and algae to produce chemicals and biofuels seem to be the promising path; and various routes are available for biomass processing such as pyrolysis, transesterification, hydrothermal liquefaction, steam reforming, etc.; and the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of wet feedstock seems to be the promising route. Therefore, this collection will include articles, reviews and perspectives related to HTL of biomass, chemicals and algae, including different topics: a) HTL mechanism reactions, b) HTL of biomass, c) HTL of plastic, d) HTL of algae, e) Life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of HTL.

Special Issue on Applied Life Sciences: Innovative Approaches to Plant-Microbe Interactions for Global Health and Sustainability
Submission Date: 2025-01-10

This Collection focuses on pioneering research in the area of plant-microbe interactions, emphasizing their role in promoting good health and well-being, aligning with SDG 3 objectives. We invite contributions that explore novel mechanisms through which beneficial microbes enhance plant health, bolster crop resilience, and mitigate environmental stressors. Studies on microbial degradation of toxins, biocontrol agents, and microbial consortia fostering sustainable agriculture are particularly welcome. This Collection aims to bridge the gap between applied life sciences and health, showcasing how advances in understanding plant-microbe dynamics can lead to innovative solutions for improving agricultural productivity and human health. We encourage submissions that incorporate multidisciplinary approaches, including genomics, and biotechnological innovations, to offer comprehensive insights into the potential of plant-microbe interactions in achieving sustainable development goals. By highlighting cutting-edge research and fostering collaboration among scientists, this Collection seeks to contribute to the global effort of enhancing health and well-being through sustainable agricultural practices.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to: SDG 3

Special Issue on Materials Science: Plasmonic Nanomaterials: From Plasmon-Enhanced Light–Matter Interactions to Sensing Applications
Submission Date: 2025-01-31

In the last decades, there has been significant advances in both theoretical and experimental investigations of surface plasmons, which led to the development of new simulation methods to calculate the optical properties of nanoplasmonic systems and has delivered a relevant number of important applications. This Collection focuses on the latest advances and most exciting results in the area of Plasmonic Nanomaterials, i.e. materials containing plasmonic nanoparticles or nanostructures used to i) enhance several light-matter interaction processes (Raman scattering, photocatalysis, chemical energy conversion, heat generation, photovoltaics, etc.), ii) to accurately detect different kinds of molecules and biomolecules using label-free sensing platforms, or even to iii) perform biological imaging and photothermal therapies. We welcome contributions reporting new knowledge and/or breakthrough innovations in the development of Plasmonic Nanomaterials, addressing radical new design concepts that can be supported by theory, and new thin film deposition pathways to fabricate these materials.

Potential subjects to be explored in this Collection include (but are not limited to): Theory of Surface Plasmons; Modelling Nanoplasmonic Effects; Graphene/Plasmonic Nanoparticles Systems; Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS); Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) Sensors; Plasmon-Enhanced Photocatalysis; Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Coupled to Plasmonic Structures (e.g. Fano Resonances); Enhanced Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect using Plasmonic nanomaterials; Thermal Phototherapy of Tumors Using Plasmonic Nanoparticles, among others.

Special Issue on Physics: Unconventional Magnetism
Submission Date: 2025-01-31

The aim of this Topical Collection is to promote research on unconventional magnetism. Specific topics of interest include magnetism in Moire twisted graphene, D-wave magnetism namely, altermagnetism, interplay between magnetism and topology (axion insulators and anomalous Hall insulators, Shiba chains for topological superconductivity), magnetism at the interface between hetero-structures, skyrmions. This would help to explore the frontiers of quantum phenomena and uncover the complexity of unconventional magnetism and its potential applications.

Special Issue on Interdisciplinary: Advances in the Development of Sustainable Cities
Submission Date: 2025-01-31

This topical collection aims to gather works that deal with the development of sustainable cities. In particular, we aim to collect studies on waste management (including wastewater treatment and waste-to-energy conversion technologies, treatment of emerging pollutants, conversion of waste materials to high-value products), water treatment and conservation, fate and transport of environmental pollutants, and life cycle assessment.

Special Issue on Interdisciplinary: Advanced Method for Signals Processing in Earth and Environmental Sciences
Submission Date: 2025-01-31

Adequate signal processing (including 2D, i.e., images, and multidimensional signals in the term) is of paramount importance in Earth & Environmental Sciences. Think e.g., of the study of crustal kinematics using GNSS time series, of the various remote sensing techniques and applications, of the acquisition of seismic data in real time or for geophysical prospecting, of the acquisition and analysis of time series in oceanography, of the detection of trends in atmospheric time series. In some cases, the signals can be characterized by the absence of data for more or less prolonged periods, by significant variations in the observation conditions and therefore uncertainties or are sometimes reconstructed on the basis of more or less stringent hypotheses (an example is the reconstruction of the conditions of thermohaline oceanic circulation starting from paleontological data). This Collection is devoted to advanced methods of signal processing in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Papers dedicated to both theoretical and technological aspects of signal processing (provided they are consistent with the topic) and to the applications of advanced methods, as well as simulation, are welcome. Papers focused on deep learning in signal processing, aimed e.g., at data filtering or reconstructing missing segments of time series, are particularly encouraged. Manuscripts describing the acquisition of information of geophysical/environmental interest from disturbances of radio/TV/phone/… signals are also encouraged. Although not strictly required, it is strongly encouraged that any codes developed be made available to the reader (e.g., in Harvard Dataverse or Zenodo).

Special Issue on Engineering: Recent Advancements in Waste Recovery Technologies
Submission Date: 2025-01-31

This collection is a compilation of recent advancements in waste heat recovery technologies in industry. A substantial amount of energy is undesirably rejected in the form of waste heat. Despite the amount of fuel consumed, such wasted heat contributes to the global warming due to the CO2 emissions resulted from the combustion of fossil fuels. In this regard, waste heat recovery technologies are the solution to reduce the global consumption of fuel and its associated carbon dioxide emission. Among the various waste heat recovery technologies, supercritical CO2 power cycle, and organic Rankine cycles are considered one of the promising cycles for waste heat recovery in industry. Given the significance of this subject, you are invited to contribute a research article to this collection. The contributions may include, but are not limited to, supercritical CO2 power cycles, organic Rankine cycles, design and analysis of heat exchangers, design and analysis of expansion machines, and thermal storages.

Special Issue on Earth and Environmental Sciences: Advancements in Monitoring Soil Water and Plant Conditions in a Changing Climate
Submission Date: 2025-01-31

Soil water and plant systems are interconnected, and their interactions play a crucial role in the climate system. Monitoring these interactions is important for understanding and predicting the impacts of climate change on soil and plant systems and for developing sustainable land and soil management practices. Monitoring soil water and plant conditions in a changing climate is critical because soil moisture is essential for photosynthesis, it serves as a carrier of nutrients and minerals for plant growth, and in general helps keep soil ecosystems healthy. Soil physical, chemical, and biological properties influence the storage of soil moisture, plant development, and consequently the climate system, which properties play a crucial role in controlling factors such as evaporation, transpiration, or soil temperature. Changes in land use or other soil parameters (e.g. tillage) can accelerate or slow climate change-related effects on the soil-plant-water system.

This Topical Collection focuses on longer term monitoring on any part or the entire soil-plant-water system, particularly advancements in instruments or the use of current technologies and information, such as remote sensing. This interdisciplinary Collection invites papers in the topics on recent techniques, such as new instruments or remote sensing data on soil moisture monitoring; plant growth, development, or physiological monitoring; climate change-related studies; or the effects of soil management systems on soil-plant-water systems. 

Special Issue on Interdisciplinary: Biotechnological Application of Bioactive Compounds: Sustainable Processes for Obtaining and Applying
Submission Date: 2025-02-24

The collection delves into the biotechnological applications of bioactive compounds, focusing on sustainable processes for their extraction and utilization. It explores innovative methods for obtaining these compounds and highlights their eco-friendly applications in various industries. The aim is to foment the publication of research that emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices in biotechnology and the potential impact of bioactive compounds on diverse fields. Based on the above considerations, submissions to this Topical Collection are welcomed, in the form of original research papers, reviews, or communications that highlight the state of research in the applications of bioactive compounds using sustainable processes for its extraction and application.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to: SDG 3, SDG 9, SDG 12

Special Issue on Earth and Environmental Sciences: Environmental Tracers in Water Resources Management
Submission Date: 2025-02-24

 Environmental tracers are defined as geogenic (natural to the Earth) or anthropogenic (human-created) isotopes, elements, or compounds that are widely distributed in the near-surface environment of the earth, such that variations in their abundances can be used to infer environmental processes. An ideal tracer of water flow is one that is soluble, mobile, relatively unreactive, and easily measured. However, while tracers that behave conservatively (that is, do not cling to subsurface materials nor undergo chemical change) in the environment yield information on water sources or transport processes, tracers that readily undergo chemical reactions can be used to determine hydro-chemical conditions in aquifers and reaction pathways. Several environmental tracers also provide information on the timescales of subsurface processes. These include radioactive tracers, which decay at a known rate; radiogenic tracers, which are produced and accumulate in the subsurface; and event markers, which are neither produced nor consumed in the subsurface but have a variable and well-known history as to when they entered the water system. These can be used for various surface water, ground water, environmental and hydrometeorological studies and help in solving the difficulties involved in hydrological evaluations.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to: SDG 6

Special Issue on Engineering: Biofuels
Submission Date: 2025-02-28

The energy business has continued to change course due to the significant increase in climate change over the last few years. The need for energy is likely to continue to climb globally, and pressure to reform the energy sector is growing. Recently, the energy and trading value chain has been dominated by the energy transition. To cater the climate change, the world's largest economy, the energy sectors have adopted objectives for net-zero emissions by 2050. The power sector's primary objective is to create new energy ecosystems that support economic growth in order to provide global access to clean, dependable, sustainable, and secure electricity in the upcoming years. The energy sectors are reducing emissions through sustainable initiatives and involving in inventions related to more low-carbon energy such as biofuels, hydrogen, charging for electric vehicles and electricity generated by solar, wind power, and so forth. Biofuels are recognized as a pertinent technology since they provide numerous advantages, such as energy security, environmental cleanliness, and sustainable development. In order to increase fuel security, address climate change, and support infrastructure development, biofuels are primarily employed as alternatives to petroleum-based fuels for transportation. Due to economic and technological limitations, biofuels, however, have not been able to totally replace fossil fuels. The purpose of this Topical Collection is to inform readers about the most recent developments in the production of biofuels and bioenergy while also addressing current trends and improvements in biofuel and bioenergy production technology. This Topical Collection will cover all areas of emerging technologies in the area of biofuels technologies, catalysis, process optimization, digitalization, techno-economic analysis and life cycle analysis. Topics of interest for submission include, but are not limited to: (1) biofuels’ production, (2) digitalization in biofuels, (3) catalysis in biofuels production, (4) Circular Economy in biofuels’ production, (5) sustainability in biofuels’ production.

Special Issue on Materials Science: Natural-based Polymeric Materials for Environmental Remediation
Submission Date: 2025-03-10

In the last decades, the environment and all the ecosystems are progressively threatened by pollution, evidencing a worldwide problem of great concern that needs urgent solutions.

Different pollutants are released every day in water bodies, and some of these chemicals are endocrine disruptors, carcinogenic, mutagenic. Accordingly, Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs), and textile dyes, are particularly dangerous categories due to their toxicological impact on human and environmental health, even in traces, although the risks they pose are still not fully understood. For these reasons, their removal is necessary. Thus, researchers are working hardly for finding solutions to ensure the safety of all ecosystems. The innovative tendency represented by the use of wastes and by-products as adsorbents materials to treat water from pollutants is increasing in the last years, according to greener technologies.

Besides, natural-based polymeric materials are still widely used for the purpose. Among remediation strategies, the adsorption, even when in synergy with the Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs), is widely studied.

This Topical Collection aims to offer a background about these useful materials and approaches, proposing the sustainable management, the efficient use of natural resources as dictated by Bioeconomic principles, and the reduction of wastes through recycling and upcycling.

Keywords: Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs); Dyes removal; Water remediation technologies; Adsorption processes; Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs); Adsorption substrates; Polymeric materials; Waste management; Circular Economy

Special Issue on Materials Science: Advanced Materials for Thermoelectric Energy Conversion
Submission Date: 2025-03-28

This collection intends to show research and innovation on exploring high-performance thermoelectric conversion materials, namely Advanced Materials for Thermoelectric Energy Conversion, including discovering new types of three-dimensional and low dimensional thermoelectric conversion materials, exploring new theoretical methods and corresponding experimental techniques for thermoelectric conversion, considering the effects of high-order anharmonicity and multiple scattering mechanisms on material thermal and conductive properties, etc. Examples are thermoelectric material, density functional theory, first-principles calculation and Boltzmann transport equations, anharmonic lattice dynamics, lattice thermal transport, electron transport characteristics, phonon coherence effect, machine-learning potential-based molecular dynamics, energy-conversion efficiency of the materials.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to: SDG 9

Special Issue on Materials Science: Quantum Material (2D and Hybrids): Synthesis, Characterization, Simulation, Properties, and Applications
Submission Date: 2025-03-31

This collection focuses on a special class of advanced materials namely Quantum materials which offers fascinating quantum properties for various advanced application across diverse domains. The research in QM has witnessed an upsurge due to their unprecedent potential. 2D material showing such properties offer additional platform for their exploration. The exceptional opportunity in this domain comes with additional challenges of scalable synthesis, accurate characterization, simulation study and property determination. Therefore, we aim a topical collection which offers a vast understanding on these topics.

This collection invites articles, review covering the recent advancement on the synthesis, characterization, simulation study, properties of quantum materials. The research exploring the application of quantum materials in the form of 2D, hybrids, bulk for energy, electronics, gas-sensing, devices, and other useful relevant application are encouraged to submit.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to: SDG 9

Special Issue on Earth and Environmental Sciences: Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing Methods for Analyzing Sustainable Agriculture in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas around the World
Submission Date: 2025-03-31

Advanced GIS and remote sensing methods to assess food security in arid and semi-arid areas. The 21st century is a century of challenges in the areas of food, water, energy and soil conservation. The semi-arid and arid regions will increase by a total of 15 %. The areas in North and Central Africa, South and East Australia, South-East Asia, the zones in South America, North America and South-East Europe will be arid and semi-arid. In these zones, water shortages and water deficits are increasing, plants and vegetables need to be preserved and new species need to be established. In all these cases, it is important that the countries concerned take the initiative to stop the water deficit and preserve plants and vegetables. The advanced GIS and remote sensing methods and techniques can contribute to a better understanding of climate drivers and modeling of suitable areas. Results can be collected at local, regional, and global scales. The work (research) on this or similar topics can be limited to solving this or similar problems. The final results can be presented in an integrated database in raster or vector format. All methods in the field of GIS and remote sensing are welcome.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to: SDG 2, SDG 13

Special Issue on Engineering: Research and Technology Innovations in Industrial Engineering
Submission Date: 2025-06-30

 The Collection aims to present the latest achievements in automation strategies, digitalization, and process efficiency improvement, with particular emphasis on sustainable practices. It covers topics related to modern technologies used in industrial engineering, innovations in production management, and the use of data analysis in improving the efficiency of production systems. It aims to discover the future generation in manufacturing by implementing smart technologies, intelligent systems using up-to-date approaches, and modern software based on IoT, VR/AR, ANN, GA, etc. These technologies allow using data and information throughout the entire life cycle of the product and ensure the creation of flexible production processes that rapidly respond to challenges in demand at low cost to the enterprises as well as to the environment.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to: SDG 9, SDG 12