MDPI

The 2022 citation metrics have been released in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR), and we’re pleased to announce the following results for MDPI journals: ✅ 208 MDPI journals earned an Impact Factor ✅ 41 MDPI journals with an Impact Factor above 4.0 ✅ 111 MDPI journals awarded first Impact Factor Thanks to all authors, editors and reviewers for your contribution and continued support. Together we share the latest scientific insights faster and ensure that your work is accessible to all. Learn more: https://fal.cn/3zuUF

Grammar is an important component of academic communication. Here, we look at the impact of grammar on clarity, impression and accessibility in academia. Learn more: https://brnw.ch/21wJ57d #academicwriting #academicresources

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Katrin Scheinemann has been appointed Section Editor-in-Chief of the Section “Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology” in Current Oncology MDPI (ISSN: 1718-7729). Prof. Dr. med. Katrin Scheinemann, a pediatric oncologist/hematologist, is a division head at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Switzerland and a professor at the Universität Luzern, her research focus is survivorship care in pediatric oncology and pediatric neuro-oncology. See the interview: https://brnw.ch/21wJ3ZN #mdpi #openaccess #currentoncology #research

All articles in Applied System Innovation MDPI (ISSN 2571-5577) Vol 7, Issue 1, are now freely available to access, read and download: https://brnw.ch/21wJ3sY COVER STORY: This article by authors at IPCB - Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco evaluates whether smart traffic lights can have a relevant role in reducing CO2 emissions in small cities, considering their specific traffic profiles. A novel microscopic traffic simulation framework is presented, designed to simulate realistic vehicle kinematics and driver behaviour, and accurately estimate CO2 emissions. The simulations reveal that deploying smart traffic lights at a single intersection can reduce CO2 emissions from 32% to 40% in the vicinity of the intersection, depending on the traffic density. The simulations show other advantages for drivers: an increase in average speed from 60% to 101% and a reduction in waiting time from 53% to 95%. Read more: https://brnw.ch/21wJ3sY #mdpi #openaccess #traffic #research

With over 39,000 views, this special issue focuses on the intelligent processing of images and sensor data acquired by drones, from the refinement of raw data to the symbolic representation and visualization of the real world. The special issue explores increasingly various purposes such as video surveillance, wildlife and farm monitoring, industrial investigation, search and rescue, firefighting, and 3D visualization. Guest edited by Prof. Dr. Seokwon Yeom of 대구대학교. Download the free reprint: https://brnw.ch/21wJ2Uh #mdpi #openaccess #drones #research

A paper, published in the open access journal Galaxies MDPI, outlines the key goals for the next-generation Event Horizon Telescope (ngEHT). The research, mentioned in Scientific American, discusses the groundbreaking achievements of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), which has captured the first images of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) residing within the M87 galaxy and at the centre of the Milky Way. The research outlines how a series of scientific objectives can drive advancements in very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) over the coming decades. These advances promise new discoveries illuminating the extraordinary role of black holes across various astrophysical scales. Read more about this research: https://brnw.ch/21wJ2vC or view the news story: https://brnw.ch/21wJ2vB #BlackHoles #EventHorizonTelescope

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Jan S. Suchodolski has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of Pets (ISSN: 2813-9372). Prof. Dr. Jan S. Suchodolski, a professor and associate director of Texas A&M University, focuses his research on gastrointestinal function testing, gastrointestinal pathogens, and intestinal microbial ecology with an emphasis on probiotics and prebiotics and how intestinal pathogens lead to disturbances in the intestinal microbiome of companion animals. See the interview: https://brnw.ch/21wIZq4 #mdpi #openaccess #editorinchief #pets #research

Octopuses are fascinating creatures. They are highly intelligent and have a variety of interesting behaviours. Here, we cover MDPI research which tests their intelligence and investigates other intriguing properties including the antimicrobial properties of their ink. Learn more: https://brnw.ch/21wIZ3Q

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As global temperatures rise, a recent study highlights the increasing frequency of flash droughts, especially notable in regions like Australia. These insights highlight the importance of gaining a deeper understanding of the drivers behind flash droughts to enhance preparedness and mitigate the socio-economic and environmental consequences of rapid and intense drought events. In a study, published in the open access journal Climate MDPI, researchers from the University of Technology Sydney investigate a recent flash drought in the Upper Hunter Valley region located in New South Wales, Eastern Australia. Employing machine learning techniques alongside detailed climate models, the researchers aimed to identify the key climate drivers behind flash droughts, enhancing prediction capabilities. Flash droughts manifest abruptly and intensify rapidly. They are characterised by sudden decreases in rainfall accompanied by above-average temperatures. Described by NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration as rapidly developing droughts, flash droughts often leave regions in drought conditions within a short span of below-average rainfall, typically lasting for weeks or months. These sudden droughts can have devastating economic, social and environmental impacts. Particularly vulnerable are agricultural regions reliant on consistent rainfall within river catchments, such as the Upper Hunter region, renowned for its agricultural productivity. Between May to October 2023, flash droughts affected this region. The researchers were interested in the emergence of this flash drought, despite the region being declared drought-free just one month earlier. “At that stage, almost nowhere in NSW showed any sign of an impending drought,” explain the authors of the study. Employing machine learning techniques, the researchers analysed rainfall variability in the Upper Hunter region using data spanning from 1963 to 2022. By focusing on the May to October periods each year, coinciding with the recent flash drought, they sought to identify key patterns and attributes, crucial for predicting flash drought intensification. “We found the dominant driver of the flash drought was global warming, modulated by the phases of the three major climate drivers in our region, the El Niño Southern Oscillation, Indian Ocean Dipole and the Southern Annular Mode,” explain the authors of the study. The researchers suggest that flash droughts are likely to become more common in the future due to rising temperatures, drier conditions, and decreasing relative humidity across different regions in Australia and globally. If you’re interested in learning more about this research, you can access the paper published in Climate here: https://brnw.ch/21wIYwD