Announcements

In May, MDPI Romania held three author training sessions – one endorsing an external event and two stand-alone sessions.

The National Session of Scientific Student Communications took place at Technical University Cluj on 17 and 18 May 2024. MDPI Romania sponsored this event and contributed an author training session on the production of research papers and case study analyses. JRS Norbert Kiss gave a presentation called The World of Open Access to explain different open access publishing models and the benefits of open access publishing. His presentation highlighted the impact of open access publishing on scientific progress and innovation.

On 29 May 2024, MDPI Romania hosted an author training session for Ph.D. students, early career researchers, and professors at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy. In collaboration with Prof. Andreea Arsene, JRS Ioana Paunescu prepared two presentations: The Steps of the Publishing Process and Elaboration of a Peer Review Report. In her first presentation, she delved into MDPI’s history and mission, MDPI’s editorial process, and MDPI journals of various scopes that are accepting submissions. Her second presentation outlined the types of peer review, the contents of a peer review report by an MDPI reviewer, and the responsibilities of an MDPI reviewer.

MDPI Romania also hosted an author training session at the Iasi University of Life Sciences on 29 May 2024. JRSs Laurentiu Preda and Cosmin Artan gave four presentations: Efficient Writing of an ISI-Indexed Scientific Article, Benefits of Publishing in the Open Access Model, Various Methods of Open Access Publishing, and MDPI Guide for the Article Review Process. The first three presentations offered guidance on how to improve academic writing, the fourth focused on how to write peer review reports. A highly interactive discussion followed the presentations, during which the JRSs provided extensive answers to attendees’ questions.

MDPI is grateful for all the attendees, speakers, and organizers involved in these events. Through their enthusiasm and dedication, these events were great successes.

“Robots in Inspection and Monitoring of Buildings and Infrastructure: A Systematic Review”
by Srijeet Halder and Kereshmeh Afsari
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 2304; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042304
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/4/2304

“A Comparative Study for Control of Quadrotor UAVs”
by Marco Rinaldi, Stefano Primatesta and Giorgio Guglieri
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(6), 3464; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063464
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/6/3464

“Assessing the Relationship between Cognitive Workload, Workstation Design, User Acceptance and Trust in Collaborative Robots”
by Tommaso Panchetti, Luca Pietrantoni, Gabriele Puzzo, Luca Gualtieri and Federico Fraboni
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1720; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031720
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1720

“Non-Parametric Calibration of the Inverse Kinematic Matrix of a Three-Wheeled Omnidirectional Mobile Robot Based on Genetic Algorithms”
by Jordi Palacín, Elena Rubies, Ricard Bitrià and Eduard Clotet
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(2), 1053; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13021053
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/2/1053

“Integrating Virtual, Mixed, and Augmented Reality to Human–Robot Interaction Applications Using Game Engines: A Brief Review of Accessible Software Tools and Frameworks”
by Enrique Coronado, Shunki Itadera and Ixchel G. Ramirez-Alpizar
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1292; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031292
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1292

“Metamodelling of Manufacturing Processes and Automation Workflows towards Designing and Operating Digital Twins”
by Panagiotis Stavropoulos, Alexios Papacharalampopoulos, Kyriakos Sabatakakis and Dimitris Mourtzis
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1945; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031945
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1945

“Robotics in Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations: An Ethical and Design Perspective Framework for Response Phase”
by Hareesh Chitikena, Filippo Sanfilippo and Shugen Ma
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1800; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031800
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1800

“Study on Actuator Performance Evaluation of Aerial Water-Powered System for Firefighting Applications”
by Thinh Huynh, Dong-Hun Lee and Young-Bok Kim
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1965; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031965
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1965

“Exploring the Influencing Factors on User Experience in Robot-Assisted Health Monitoring Systems Combining Subjective and Objective Health Data”
by Caterina Neef, Katharina Linden and Anja Richert
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(6), 3537; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063537
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/6/3537

“We Do Not Anthropomorphize a Robot Based Only on Its Cover: Context Matters too!”
by Marion Dubois-Sage, Baptiste Jacquet, Frank Jamet and Jean Baratgin
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(15), 8743; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13158743
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/15/8743

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Laura Clarizia, an assistant professor at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, has won the Applied Sciences 2024 Travel Award. As the winner, she will receive an honorarium of CHF 600 and a certificate.

The following is an interview with Dr. Laura Clarizia:

1. Congratulations on your award! Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a little bit about your fields of interest?

I am an assistant professor at the University of Naples Federico II, Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering. I work in the field of industrial chemistry with specific applications in wastewater treatment and energy recovery, particularly hydrogen generation through photocatalytic processes. These processes are activated by sunlight and utilize specific catalysts. My research focuses on developing efficient catalysts to recover energy from sunlight using wastewater or other waste streams, including solid waste streams.

The main goal of my research is the decontamination of contaminated matrices, such as water and soil, while simultaneously achieving energy recovery in the form of hydrogen gas. This dual objective addresses both environmental and energy concerns.

The Travel Award will provide me with the opportunity to travel and connect with other researchers, enhancing collaboration and knowledge exchange.

2. Do you have any advice for aspiring young researchers looking to make a meaningful impact in their respective fields?

For young researchers, it is important to connect with other researchers and build both a local and international network. They should also seek grants specifically for young researchers.

In my professional opinion, there are two key aspects to be considered: building a network with other young researchers and consistently looking for grants and opportunities. Additionally, spending some time abroad in other countries is crucial. I spent part of my research activity in the US at the University of Cincinnati, and it was very important for my career.

3. How supportive might these kinds of awards be for researchers? Do you have any suggestions on how our journal could further support the academic community?

This is very important because we don't have a large amount of funding available for these kinds of events. While there is funding for some research projects, there is no specific funding for traveling. Therefore, this opportunity is crucial for me to connect with my network.

4. Do you have any suggestions for our journal regarding how we could further support young researchers and the academic community?

Yes, for example, you could promote a Special Issue led by young researchers with specific expertise in a particular field. Additionally, you could promote opportunities for young women to develop their careers. As you know, it can be more difficult, especially for those with families or children, so providing more opportunities for young women is important.

In Italy, if you look at the percentage of women and men in STEM research, there is gender equality at the Ph.D. level, with 50% women and 50% men. However, at the full professor level, it is about 90% men and 10% women, which is a significant problem.

5. What is your experience with our service from the point of view of an author and reviewer?

According to my experience with MDPI journals, their service is always very quick. When we submit papers, the assistance from the journals is always prompt and efficient. Overall, my experience with MDPI has been excellent, and their email communication is outstanding.

For more information about the journal awards, please click on the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/awards.

The following is an interview with Prof. Dr. Pooya Davari:

My name is Pooya Davari, and I am an Associate Professor and leader of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)/Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) in Power Electronics Research Group at Aalborg University in the Department of Energy. I joined Aalborg University in 2014 as a postdoc after completing my Ph.D. at Queensland University of Technology in Australia. My research primarily focuses on power electronics, specifically on the electromagnetic compatibility of power electronics and the noise generated by power converters.

The winning paper originated from a project on hydrogen production using power electronics and was later expanded to explore other fields like electric steam methane reformer. Given the current interest in hydrogen through electrolyzers and the performance of different power converters, we aimed to provide an overview of various configurations and their potential future advancements. This paper has received positive feedback from the industry for its insights into the current and future states of power electronics.

One of the things I appreciate about Applied Sciences is its efficiency. The journal has a fast peer review process, ensuring quick reviews and publication. While there are article processing charges, there are also opportunities for discounts or free publication. Additionally, Applied Sciences does a great job of increasing the visibility of the authors' work, which is crucial for both academic and industry recognition. The journal's rising impact factor also reflects its growing reputation and the high quality of work it publishes.

My current research continues to focus on power electronics, particularly on power quality and compatibility with the power grid. With the shift towards greener technologies, power electronics play a vital role, especially in renewable energy sources like wind and Photovoltaic (PV), as well as emerging applications such as power-to-X. The unintentional noise generated by power electronics is a significant challenge, and my goal is to ensure that power converters are compatible with each other and the power grid. This field is essential for advancing sustainable energy solutions.

Several topics are gaining attention. Power-to-X applications, data centers, and electric vehicles are key areas where power electronics can make a significant impact. Unlocking the full potential of wide band gap devices and their application in these fields is crucial. In my opinion, now we are missing advancements on magnetics. Additionally, improving the reliability and lifetime of power converters is important for sustainability.

Research always comes with challenges. High-risk projects may not always succeed, and accurately modeling complex systems remains difficult. Simplifying models can help, but funding and finding the right team members are constant challenges. There is also a trend for researchers to prefer industry over academia due to salary differences and the daily challenges of academic research. Despite these obstacles, perseverance and adaptability are key to overcoming them.

My advice is to be patient. Significant results take time and effort. While it may seem like others are achieving quick success, there is usually a substantial amount of work behind those achievements. Focus on your research, put in the effort, and be patient. Over time, your work will gain visibility and recognition. Stay committed to your goals, and don't be discouraged by initial setbacks.

I really like open access because I can see that there are some regions or areas with limitations in accessing some publishers since they have to pay for a membership and so on. Open access helps by, first of all, providing the latest work as soon as it gets published, so we stay aware of what is going on. Additionally, it's easily accessible with no restrictions, benefiting both academia and industry, which may not always afford membership fees for accessing these publications. Many journals like Applied Sciences are flexible by offering discounts or even free access in some cases, which really helps researchers to contribute.

I’m really grateful for this award. When I saw the email, I was very surprised. We knew as a team that we did our best, but we didn’t do it just to get awards. I think I should appreciate the Department of Energy at Aalborg University because of the facilities and nice environment they provided, allowing us to conduct research on this topic. I am very grateful. And, of course, Professor Frede Blaabjerg himself has been a great mentor. I have learned a lot from him. Now, I have my own research group running, but from the beginning, I have learned a lot from his advice on how to look into the future strategically.

I think you are doing an excellent job, to be honest. Running a lot of Special Issues is quite important. Based on the impact factor increase, it shows that you are already doing great. One suggestion could be to engage more with conferences. This could help because selecting parts of the conference proceedings for publishing as Special Issues in the journal could motivate people to contribute more to Applied Sciences.

More information about journal awards could be found at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/awards.

The following is a short interview with winner Dr. Vanni Nicoletti:

I am currently a postdoc at Università Politecnica delle Marche in Ancona, Italy, and in September 2024, I will start as an assistant professor there. The paper I wrote, together with my colleagues, is based on research that we conducted about four years ago on a newly built bridge in Italy. We conducted extensive experiments on the bridge, focusing on both its before- and after-construction phases. The paper particularly details the experimental part conducted during the proof test. It was a very detailed, two-day test campaign where we described all the tests and the main outcomes.

I know Applied Sciences is a good journal with a solid ranking, which has recently increased. The journal collects high-quality papers, and one of the main benefits for authors is the fast-publishing process. The quality and speed of publishing are key points.

My research field is mainly structural health monitoring (SHM), focusing on monitoring buildings and infrastructures, like bridges. I work mainly in the field of data-driven SHM, which involves collecting data on-site, setting up monitoring systems, and analyzing the collected data. My team and I are also starting to analyze satellite data for monitoring structures.

Monitoring structures is an increasingly relevant topic, especially in Europe and Italy, where public programs are heavily investing in monitoring bridges. Monitoring will be a major topic, and improving methodologies to analyze and correlate data with the real conditions of structures will be crucial.

Performing research is challenging, especially with the limited time academics have due to other responsibilities like teaching and securing funding. Finding time to dedicate to research amidst these tasks is difficult.

Choose a research topic you like because research should be like a hobby, you need to be passionate about it. Stay updated with the current state of the art and know what other researchers around the world are doing in your field. Start from a well-established point and build upon it.

Open access is important because it provides easy access to articles. Academics sometimes struggle to access certain journals, so open access makes finding articles and information more convenient. Also, Applied Sciences is not as expensive as other journals, which is a strong advantage.

I want to thank all my co-authors and colleagues who helped me with my research. The work we did was a team effort. Without their support, I could not have prepared the materials to write the paper.

Your journal already provides good support through awards and recognitions, such as best paper awards and travel awards. These initiatives support both young and experienced researchers and enhance the journal's activities.

More information about journal awards could be found at: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/awards.

Conference: 4th European Mineralogical Conference
Date: 18–23 August 2024
Location: Dublin, Ireland

MDPI will be attending the 4th European Mineralogical Conference as an exhibitor which will be held from 18 to 23 August 2024, and we welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

The conference is organized by the Mineralogical Society of the UK and Ireland. The idea for a joint conference amongst the European mineralogical societies was “to foster exchange of new research results between the European countries”.

Minerals (ISSN: 2075-163X) is an international open access journal that covers the broad fields of mineralogy, mineral geochemistry and geochronology, economic mineral resources, mineral exploration, innovative mining techniques, and advances in mineral processing. Minerals will participate in this event as an exhibitor together with three other MDPI journals, among which Minerals will have journal representatives at our booth.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Minerals;
• Applied Sciences;
• Crystals;
• Geosciences.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please do not hesitate to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://emc-2024.org/.

The ASME 2024 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference will take place in August 2024. This year's event, IDETC/CIE 2024, will highlight emergent technologies that impact the critical engineering issues of product design and development, manufacturing, and the management and integration of information systems throughout a product’s life cycle. These events are key international meetings for design and manufacturing engineers in academia, government, and industry.

MDPI will attend the International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference 2024 (IDETC-CIE 2024), which will take place from 25 to 28 August 2024 at the JW Marriott Washington, Washington, DC, USA.

The divisions of the booths constitute the DED and the CIE:

• The Design Engineering Division (DED) fosters understanding and research, covering the art, science, and application of design engineering to the product realization process, including the conception, evolution, and manufacturing of products;
• The Computers and Information in Engineering Division (CIE) is a forum for understanding the application of emerging technologies that impact critical engineering issues of representation, product design, and product development.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Machines;
• Systems;
• Logistics;
• Technologies;
• Inventions;
• Electronics;
• NDT;
• JMMP;
• Vehicles;
• JLPEA;
• Applied Sciences;
• Robotics
• Vibration.

If you plan to attend this conference, we invite you to visit our booth and converse with our delegates at the conference venue (JW Marriott Washington). We are excited to meet you in person and address any questions that you may have. For further details about the conference, please visit the following website: https://event.asme.org/IDETC-CIE.

Conference: The 2024 International Conference on Guidance, Navigation and Control

Date: 9−11 August 2024

Location: Changsha, China

The International Conference on Guidance, Navigation and Control (ICGNC) is a biennial event and is also one of the leading events in the field of Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC).

MDPI will be attending the conference as an exhibitor. We welcome researchers from various backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Drones;
• Electronics;
• Aerospace;
• Applied Sciences;
• ASI;
• Biomimetics;
• J. Imaging;
• Technologies;
• Telecom;
• Vehicles;
• Automation;
• Robotics;
• WEVJ.

If you plan to attend this conference, please contact us online. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at our booth and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://icgnc.buaa.edu.cn/enindex.htm.

MDPI will be attending the 26th IUPAC International Conference on Physical Organic Chemistry in Beijing, China, that will take place from 18 to 22 August 2024. The conference is organized by Tsinghua University, China, and the venue will be the Beijing Friendship Hotel, a prestigious location for academic conferences and events. The conference will focus on four main topics: organic structure and chemical reactivity; reaction mechanism and application; supramolecular assembly, and AI and new POC frontiers.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Molecules;
• Applied Sciences;
• AppliedChem;
• Catalysts;
• Chemistry;
• Colorants;
• Foundations;
• Molbank;
• Organics;
• Reactions.

If you are participating in this conference, please feel free to contact us online prior to attendance. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #D10 and answering any questions you may have. For more information regarding the conference, please visit the following link: https://www.icpoc26.tsinghua.edu.cn/column/home.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. André Furtado has won the Applied Sciences 2023 Early Career Investigator Award.  As the winner, he will receive an honorarium of CHF 1000, an offer to publish one paper free of charge in Applied Sciences (ISSN: 2076-3417) after peer review before the end of 2024, and an electronic certificate.

Dr. André Furtado (World’s Top 2% Scientists list across all fields in 2021, according to scientists from Stanford University) is an Assistant Professor of structural engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal. Dr. André Furtado’s research interests focus on seismic engineering, structural engineering, experimental testing, numerical modeling, masonry infill walls, reinforced concrete structures, seismic vulnerability assessment, and retrofitting. Dr. André Furtado received his Ph.D. in 2020 and has an outstanding publication record, comprising over seven publications in peer-reviewed international journals in the last two years. Dr. André Furtado’s Scopus Scientific Citations number is 1553 and his Hirsch index is 24. He is a rising star in the field of structural engineering.

The following is a short interview with the winner Dr. André Furtado:

My name is André Furtado, and I’m working right now as an Assistant Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon. So, my expertise is related to the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete structures, particularly the interaction between reinforced concrete structures and masonry infill walls. I also have another focus on my investigation–the seismic behavior of precast concrete structures.

Try to be original and believe in your capacity. Sometimes it's not easy, and one of the things that I was wondering about during my early research career was being original and trying to put all my imagination into my papers, develop new things, and try not to copy other existing works, but instead of that, take a good inspiration from them and do different things. Also, since we are currently in a very competitive research environment, my best recommendation is to be persistent, resilient, and ambitious, believe in your skills, and learn to work as a team with colleagues.

I think that these types of awards for young investigators are very important because they are usually targeted at senior investigators and somehow this is a recognition that the young investigators who have made huge efforts to be recognized by the scientific community can also make impactful research activities despite their shorter careers. I believe that these types of awards will stimulate many more outstanding early career investigators to improve their research and increase their impact on science and society. I also believe that this will stimulate many other early career investigators in the future to apply for this award. The journal can support the academic community by being more active in conferences and trying to have meetings with the authors or the Editorial Board Members to strengthen collaborations. Another thing that I would like to suggest, and I believe that you have started already, is to start with some webinars with specialists where you can be associated. Imagine that applied sciences are associated with a series of webinars related to earthquake engineering. This can be useful.

One of the things you could do is focus on gender equality. Of course, there are some fields where there is an unbalanced number of genders, but the distinction with awards for all genders will stimulate the attention of all genders, attract more young researchers, and the results will be fruitful. Not only in my case for structural engineering, but I believe for other disciplines.

For more information about the journal awards, please click on the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/awards.