Movatterモバイル変換

[0]ホーム
URL:

You're using an outdated browser. Please upgrade to a modern browser for the best experience.

Encyclopedia:
From Scholars for Scholars

Encyclopedia Insights
More  >>
Ongoing
Encyclopedia MDPI is thrilled to announce significant enhancements to its Academic Video Service, which aim to improve its quality, accessibility, and functionality. Since its launch, our video service has enabled numerous scholars to present their research in a dynamic and visually engaging format, greatly enhancing its visibility and impact.Due to the overwhelmingly positive reception this service has received, we have reached a point where the number of orders we are receiving exceeds our current capacity. In order to maintain the quality of these videos and continue optimizing the service, we have made the decision to introduce a fee. However, to ensure that this service is still a cost-effective option, we have set our prices significantly below the market average.Highlights of the Upgrades to the ServiceAlthough the service will now be fee-based, we are committed to providing even more professional and comprehensive support, including the following:One-on-one video production guidancePersonalized assistance to ensure your needs are fully met.Scriptwriting and English editingExpertly crafted narratives and professional English editing to ensure your research is presented clearly, accurately, and with impact.High-quality animationsVisually engaging animations are created to simplify complex research and captivate your audience.Whiteboard Animations: Clean and minimalist, using hand-drawn illustrations to explain ideas step-by-step.Motion Graphics (MG) Animations:Cartoon Style: Bright, colorful, and approachable, ideal for making technical or scientific content more accessible and engaging.Hand-Drawn Style: Unique and artistic, adding a personal touch to your research while maintaining clarity and professionalism.Customized infographics (optional)We can also create tailored infographics to visually summarize key data or findings, enhancing the clarity and appeal of your video.Native voiceoverNative speakers provide voiceovers to enhance the accessibility and reach of your research.Multiple rounds of revision To ensure your video accurately represents your work.Social media promotionExpanding your research's visibility and impact.Why Choose Us?The Proven Impact of Video AbstractsResearch shows that a well-crafted video abstract can significantly enhance the visibility and impact of your work. It has been shown to do the following:Increase paper views by 120% （Source: 10.1007/ s11192-019-03108-w） Boost citations by 20% （Source: Wiley Online Library）Improve journal rankings by 33% （Source: Research Square）Raise Altmetrics scores by 140% （Source: Research Square）Our Expertise in Academic ResearchBacked by MDPI, our experienced production team combines deep academic knowledge with creative excellence. We understand the nuances of scholarly communication and ensure that every frame accurately conveys the value of your research, meeting the highest standards of quality and precision.Collaborations with SCI JournalsWe have partnered with many SCI journals to create exclusive video series, enhancing the dissemination and impact of published research. For example, our collaborations with Entropy, Remote Sensing, Nanomaterials , Animals , Nutrients, Foods , Sustainability, Encyclopedia, Cancers, etc., have helped authors achieve greater visibility and recognition for their work.Global visibilityThe videos are linked to your paper's DOI for maximum exposure.Available Video Services and Their PricingVideo Abstract (up to 5 minutes long): Summarizes the key findings, methodology, and significance of your research paper.Regular price: CHF 600Discounted Price: CHF 400Short Take (up to 2 minutes long): Uses original animations to explain the specific aspects of your research.Regular price: CHF 500Discounted Price: CHF 300Scholar Interview: A face-to-face discussion offering deeper insights into your publication.Regular price: CHF 400Discounted Price: CHF 200Special OfferTo express our gratitude for your support, we are pleased to offer a buy one get one free promotion. This offer is valid for two weeks, and the complimentary service provided can be utilized within one year.Video Production ServiceIf you want to see some examples of our videos, please visit https://encyclopedia.pub/video.If you would like to apply for the video service, please click https://encyclopedia.pub/video_service.OthersIf you have any other questions, please contact office@encyclopedia.pub.
Announcement 07 Apr 2025
Global crises—from accelerating climate change to biodiversity collapse—are exposing a troubling truth: our institutions are not equipped to respond effectively. Annual UN climate conferences (COPs) and similar forums demonstrate persistent stagnation, despite decades of negotiation. The world lacks not just transformative policies but also the mechanisms to decide how to create them.This is the central insight of the MDPI Sustainability study “Decision Change: The First Step to System Change". The authors argue that before meaningful system change can occur, we need decision change: a transformation of how decisions about system change are made.Source: Encyclopedia Video abstract. (https://encyclopedia.pub/video/1729)1. Why Current Governance FailsExisting structures face a “meta-coordination problem”: they can manage routine decisions but lack the capacity to decide how to redesign themselves. COPs illustrate this: emissions rise, fossil-fuel reliance persists, and geopolitical interests often outweigh scientific guidance. Previous proposals—citizens’ assemblies, UN reforms, world federalist models—exist, but none provides a legitimate procedure for evaluating and implementing systemic alternatives.Without a “meta-decision structure,” the world is trapped in procedural paralysis. Incremental reforms cannot match the scale or speed of current crises.2. A Three-Step Programme for Decision ChangeThe study proposes a structured, three-step programme designed to establish a legitimate, ethical, and transparent meta-decision process.Step 1: Independent Experts Design the ProcedureSpecialists in collective decision-making, institutional design, and procedural engineering—not political negotiators or domain experts—would create the procedure for deciding on system change. Their mandate includes:Diagnosing governance failures.Building safeguards for transparency, resilience, and fairness.Embedding ethical principles and norms.Mitigating conflicts of interest and bias.Oversight bodies ensure methodological rigor and accountability. Crucially, these experts do not decide on system change themselves.Step 2: Broadly Collect System-Change ProposalsOnce the procedure exists, proposals for transforming governance, economic structures, or crisis-response strategies would be solicited from:Scientific communities.Civil society and indigenous groups.Governments and policy think tanks.Independent experts.Wide participation ensures diversity, credibility, and legitimacy, making eventual decisions more broadly accepted.Step 3: Decide on System ChangeA separate body applies the designed procedure to evaluate proposals and decide on system change. Auxiliary verification, oversight, and argumentation mechanisms maintain fairness, transparency, and resistance to political capture. This separation prevents technocracy while ensuring robust, legitimate decisions.3. Strengths and ChallengesStrengthsAddresses the failure of current governance systems.Embeds ethics, transparency, and procedural fairness.Broad participation enhances legitimacy and acceptance.Encourages innovative solutions often overlooked in traditional politics.ChallengesDesigning a meta-decision procedure may be contested.Experts may carry implicit biases.Administrative complexity and resistance from vested interests could slow progress.Misperception as technocratic control is a risk.The authors argue that these challenges are manageable with oversight mechanisms and ethical safeguards—and far preferable to continuing under current ineffective systems.4. Why Decision Change MattersEven well-designed institutions will face public resistance, geopolitical obstacles, and structural inertia. Yet relying on existing governance mechanisms, such as future COPs, to produce systemic transformation is increasingly unrealistic.Decision change lays the foundation for meaningful system change. By creating a legitimate, transparent, and ethically guided procedure for deciding on systemic transformation, the world can move beyond incremental reforms toward solutions capable of addressing planetary-scale crises.The call is clear: leadership must extend beyond governments. Independent experts, auxiliary oversight bodies, and inclusive participation are essential to ensure that decisions are legitimate, ethical, and resilient. Only then can humanity hope to make the systemic transformations needed to keep the planet habitable.For more information about topic, you can view the online video entitled "Decision Change".
Blog 17 Nov 2025
The Encyclopedia Advisory Board (AB) serves as the key academic advisory body of the Encyclopedia platform (https://encyclopedia.pub). The Board is composed of distinguished experts and scholars who have significant influence in their respective fields. Advisory Board members provide strategic guidance and professional support to advance the platform's development and ensure the scholarly quality of its content.Eligibility and RequirementsHolds a Doctoral degree or possesses extensive and verifiable research or professional experience in the relevant field.Passionate about science and committed to the open sharing of knowledge.Main Roles and ResponsibilitiesContent Review and Quality Control: Provide expert evaluation of submitted entries to ensure academic accuracy, clarity, and integrity. Offer guidance on content quality, publishing policies, and the resolution of ethical issues.Development Strategy and Promotion: Contribute to the strategic development of the Encyclopedia platform by providing guidance on promotion, content innovation, and academic community building. Expand and leverage the Advisory Board to foster broader academic collaboration and interdisciplinary engagement.Compilation and Publication: Organize and coordinate the compilation of Encyclopedia Entry Collections and Encyclopedia books in relevant fields. Edit and curate high-quality entries into a series of published volumes.BenefitsEnjoy a one-time free academic video service.Benefit from exclusive discounts on academic video services.Receive a 100 CHF voucher from the Encyclopedia platform, redeemable for MDPI paper publication.Encyclopedia Advisory Board members may be recommended to the Encyclopedia Journal. Upon becoming Editorial Board members of the journal, they are entitled to one free publication annually.Note: AB members who have been inactive for over a year will no longer be eligible for benefits. The standard term of service is two years, with the possibility of renewal.The Encyclopedia Advisory Board is committed to fostering the open sharing of scientific knowledge and to supporting the continued accumulation and dissemination of high-quality content. We warmly welcome experts with outstanding academic credentials to join us in elevating the platform to new heights.
Announcement 10 Nov 2025
Horses are among nature's finest examples of power and grace. From galloping at breathtaking speeds to standing motionless for hours, their musculoskeletal system combines strength, endurance, and stability in ways few other mammals can match. What makes this possible is a remarkable anatomical adaptation known as the passive stay apparatus — a natural “locking system” that allows horses to support their massive bodies with minimal muscular effort. A recent study published in the International Journal of Morphology (2025) by Chilean researchers explores how this system develops throughout a horse's life. 1. The Passive Stay Apparatus: Nature's Energy-Saving DesignWhen horses stand, their joints remain stable without requiring continuous muscular contraction. This energy-saving mechanism is achieved through a combination of tendons, ligaments, and bone structures working together to “lock” the limbs in position. Two of the most critical components are:The Intermediate Tubercle (IT) — a bony prominence on the humerus that provides leverage for the biceps brachii, a muscle that stabilizes the shoulder and assists in forelimb protraction.The Medial Trochlear Ridge (MTR) — part of the femur that interacts with the patella to allow locking of the stifle joint (the horse’s equivalent of the human knee), preventing the hind limb from collapsing under the animal’s weight.Together, these features act like an integrated system of biological springs and braces, enabling the horse to conserve energy whether resting or remaining vigilant against predators. Understanding how these structures develop helps explain not only individual biomechanics but also the evolutionary success of the modern horse.2. A Life-Stage Approach to Equine AnatomyThe Chilean study analyzed humeri and femora from horses representing five distinct life stages: newborn, juvenile, subadult, adult, and senescent. Each specimen was carefully photographed using a calibrated photogrammetric workflow, a precise, non-destructive imaging technique that enables accurate morphometric analysis.Two quantitative metrics were applied:IT relative size: (IT / Trochlear Line Reference) × 100MTR asymmetry: [(MTR / LTR) × 100] − 100These ratios provided standardized measures of how the IT and MTR evolve through growth. Although each life stage was represented by a single individual — making the study exploratory — the consistent trends observed align well with broader evolutionary data.Source: Encyclopedia Scientific Infographic (https://encyclopedia.pub/image/3837)3. Findings: Strength Built Over Time3.1. Shoulder Stability: The Growing Intermediate TubercleAt birth, the IT is nearly absent, meaning the shoulder lacks the full mechanical leverage needed for efficient stabilization. During the juvenile phase, however, the IT grows rapidly, reflecting the animal’s increasing need for coordinated forelimb movement and weight-bearing. By adulthood, it reaches about 60% of the reference length, representing maximum functional efficiency.In senescent horses, the IT shows a slight reduction, possibly due to bone remodeling or decreased muscular use — a subtle reminder that even the strongest anatomical systems are subject to aging.This progressive development allows for greater biceps–lacertus synergy, enhancing the limb’s ability to both stabilize the shoulder and assist in forelimb protraction, a key component of stride efficiency.3.2. Hindlimb Endurance: The Evolving Medial Trochlear RidgeMTR–LTR asymmetry is near zero in newborns, rises to ~20–24% in juveniles, ~26% in adults, and ~31% in senescent horses.This increasing asymmetry reinforces the patellar locking mechanism, a key feature of the stifle joint that allows horses to stand for long periods without fatigue. Essentially, the hind limb becomes a self-supporting column, transferring body weight efficiently through the skeleton rather than the muscles.4. From Growth to Evolution: Echoes of Equine HistoryWhat makes this study particularly fascinating is how ontogeny (development) reflects phylogeny (evolution). When the researchers compared their findings with known patterns in equid evolution, a striking parallel emerged.Newborn horses, lacking a defined IT and with symmetrical trochlear ridges, resemble early equids such as Mesohippus and Parahippus, species with limited stay-apparatus function.Juveniles, developing these features rapidly, align with transitional forms like Dinohippus, showing intermediate shoulder and stifle mechanics.Adults, with well-developed ITs and pronounced MTR asymmetry, match the anatomy of modern Equus — the fully specialized horse we know today.This relationship supports the concept of peramorphosis, where developmental timing extends or accelerates traits that were advantageous in evolution. In this case, horses literally “grow through” their evolutionary past as they mature.5. Why This Matters: Bridging Anatomy, Evolution, and WelfareThe implications of these findings extend beyond academic curiosity. Understanding the development of the stay apparatus offers practical insights for veterinary science, equine biomechanics, and animal welfare.Training and management: Knowing when key joint structures reach maturity helps optimize the onset of physical training and minimize injury risk in young horses.Veterinary diagnostics: Early detection of asymmetry or underdevelopment in the IT or MTR could indicate musculoskeletal imbalances that predispose horses to lameness or fatigue.Evolutionary biology: The ontogenetic data reinforce long-standing hypotheses that evolutionary innovations often emerge from developmental modifications rather than new structures.This connection between growth and evolution underscores a simple truth: the efficiency of modern horses was not an abrupt innovation, but a gradual refinement repeated in every individual life cycle.6. Looking Ahead: A Blueprint for Future ResearchWhile this study provides valuable insight, its authors emphasize the need for larger datasets encompassing multiple breeds, sexes, and environmental conditions. The integration of CT imaging and 3D morphometric modeling could further refine our understanding of how joint morphology translates into motion efficiency. Combining such anatomical studies with field biomechanics — for example, measuring joint angles during locomotion — would bridge form and function even more closely.For more information about topic, you can view the online video entitled "Ontogeny of the Stay Apparatus in Chilean Horses".
Blog 05 Nov 2025
We are pleased to announce that in August 2025, Encyclopedia (ISSN 2673-8392) has been selected for coverage in the Scopus indexing database. We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all the authors, reviewers, and editors who have contributed to this journal and made this achievement possible.Encyclopedia is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal that mainly publishes high-quality entries, field guides, reviews, and systematic reviews in all scientific areas. Original research articles in the area of Encyclopedia Studies are also welcome. Our goal is to form a comprehensive record of scientific development and provide reference information not only for researchers but also for the general public interested in accurate and advanced knowledge on specific topics.To make the most of this opportunity, we would like to invite you to submit your research to the journal. We warmly welcome you to consider Encyclopedia as a platform for publishing your work. If you have a paper concerning any topic within the scope of the journal, please submit it via the journal’s website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/encyclopedia.
Announcement 28 Aug 2025
Featured Images
More  >>
Horned Lizard
Horned Lizard
Encyclopedia Editorial Office
  • 13 Nov 2025
Shoebill
Shoebill
Encyclopedia Editorial Office
  • 13 Nov 2025
Dark Matter
Dark Matter
Encyclopedia Editorial Office
  • 29 Oct 2025
Growing Strength: Limb Evolution in Horses
Growing Strength: Limb Evolution in Horses
Encyclopedia Editorial Office
  • 29 Oct 2025
JournalEncyclopedia
More  >>
Peer Reviewed

This systematic review investigates the state of the art of smart fasteners and smart washers. The collected documents were systematically classified, focusing on fasteners and washers equipped with embedded sensors capable of detecting flaws, corrosion, cracks, or monitoring features like structural response, applied load, and preload. The review emphasizes sensor technologies rather than devices made from smart materials. A total of 148 documents were found through electronic databases, of which 32 were thoroughly analyzed and categorized into 5 categories depending on the sensing capabilities, actuating capabilities, ability to transmit data, and their combinations. The analysis showed that most devices incorporate piezoelectric materials as sensing or actuation elements, primarily aimed at detecting fastener loosening or monitoring preload and load in fastened joints. Despite progress, several challenges limit industrial adoption, including sensor integration affecting bolt integrity, durability and calibration issues, and high costs. Few studies address scalability or measurement performance, highlighting the need for reliable, low-cost, and industrially scalable solutions.

Peer Reviewed

Misinformation has emerged as a significant threat to both society and public health, with social media acting as a major conduit for its dissemination. This contributes to harmful health outcomes and undermines trust in authoritative institutions. In addition, the dismantling of scientific authority seems to be a symptom of the post-truth era, where “alternative facts” are presented in the public debate as indisputable evidence of the inherent limitations of scientific infallibility. The prevalence of misinformation on social media platforms stems from multiple, interconnected factors, including individual-level influences such as cognitive biases, as well as systemic aspects of social media’s information architecture. Unlike scientific institutions that adhere to the principles of evidence-based knowledge, social media platforms operate under an attention-driven model that favors virality over factuality. Addressing these challenges effectively requires coordinated, multi-level, and multidisciplinary interventions targeting users, content creators, technology companies, health authorities, and governments to restore public trust and safeguard the credibility of medical expertise.

See what people are saying about us
Shlomi Agmon
Encyclopedia Video provides potential readers with a tool to quickly understand what the work is about. That is important for casualreaders, whose time is thus spared, and for investedreaders, for whom it makes the decision to say "yes, I want to read the paper" much simpler.
School of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
Ignacio Cea
For the video abstracts, the papers and authors could gain more visibility and increase citations. Also, it means a more diverse and interesting way of communicating research, which is something valuable in itself.
Center for Research, Innovation and Creation, and Faculty of Religious Sciences and Philosophy, Temuco Catholic University
Melvin R. Pete Hayden
Thank the video production crew for making such a wonderful video. The narrations have been significantly added to the video! Congratulations on such an outstanding job of Encyclopedia Video team.
University of Missouri School of Medicine, United States
Academic Video Service
Feedback
Top
[8]ページ先頭
©2009-2025 Movatter.jp