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Summary: Modern societies demand high and varied mobility, which in turn requires a complex transport system adapted to social needs that guarantees the movement of people and goods in an economically efficient and safe way, but all are subject to a new environmental rationality and the new logic of the paradigm of sustainability. From this perspective, an efficient and flexible transport system that provides intelligent and sustainable mobility patterns is essential to our economy and our quality of life. The current transport system poses growing and significant challenges for the environment, human health, and sustainability, while current mobility schemes have focused much more on the private vehicle that has conditioned both the lifestyles of citizens and cities, as well as urban and territorial sustainability. Transport has a very considerable weight in the framework of sustainable development due to environmental pressures, associated social and economic effects, and interrelations with other sectors. The continuous growth that this sector has experienced over the last few years and its foreseeable increase, even considering the change in trends due to the current situation of generalized crisis, make the challenge of sustainable transport a strategic priority at local, national, European, and global levels. This Special Issue will pay attention to all those research approaches focused on the relationship between evolution in the area of transport with a high incidence in the environment from the perspective of efficiency.

Summary: This is a reprint of articles from the Special Issue published online in the open access journal Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This book addresses the most recent developments in soil pollution and restoration, contaminant hydrology, and ground disturbance to stimulate fruitful technical and scientific interactions between professionals.

Summary: The protection and maintenance of environmental resources for future generations require responsible interaction between humans and the environment in order to avoid wasting natural resources. According to an ancient Native American proverb, "We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." This indigenous wisdom has the potential to play a significant role in defining environmental sustainability. Recent technological advances could sustain humankind and allow for comfortable living. However, not all of these advancements have the potential to protect the environment for future generations. Developing societies and maintaining the sustainability of the ecosystem require appropriate wisdom, technology, and management collaboration. This book is a collection of 19 important articles (15 research articles, 3 review papers, and 1 editorial) that were published in the Special Issue of the journal Sustainability entitled "Appropriate Wisdom, Technology, and Management toward Environmental Sustainability for Development" during 2021-2022.addresses the policymakers and decision-makers who are willing to develop societies that practice environmental sustainability, by collecting the most recent contributions on the appropriate wisdom, technology, and management regarding the different aspects of a community that can retain environmental sustainability.

Summary: Buildings are responsible for almost one third of global energy consumption. The building and construction sector could thus make a significant contribution to the communal effort needed to meet the Paris Agreement that would substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. Given the importance of decarbonizing buildings and making them energy efficient in order to meet the Paris Agreement, and bearing in mind the promising role of biomimetic solutions in achieving this goal, this book reports on some recent research in the field related to bio-inspired approaches for reducing building energy use. This book includes a review of the use of biomimicry in modern building design; how both the Saharan ant and the zebra have inspired strategies for reducing energy use in Panama City; how the study of biomimetics can contribute to city regeneration; the description of a method to connect the thermal physiology of plants and animals to thermal challenges in buildings; how biomimicry could contribute to creating a circular economy in the construction sector; and how advances in electricity storage could benefit from a biomimetic approach. This book thus covers a combination of research and review articles to offer a glimpse into current biomimetic design strategies together with new directions for future research.

Summary: At present, the digital economy is creating a new approach to sustainable development. In particular, this relates to the transformation of the traditional economy via the influence of digitalization on finance management processes. The digital economy is affecting changes in resource management processes. Dynamic digital transformation processes are currently taking place and exerting influence on the shaping of new business models. Existing business models are changing, particularly in the context of their life cycle. The new economic model is rendered social factors more important in terms of creating value for people and the natural environment. Trust in financial institutions, which is also a factor in sustainable business models, is an important criterion for business research. Economic model based on the irresponsible use of natural resources have been heavily criticized for years, and societies have begun to reject business models that negatively impact the environment. The aim of this Special Issue is to present the results of research on the current trends and challenges related to the digital revolution in financial management for sustainable development, an issue that requires extensive research and analysis.

Summary: This reprint is a compilation of the articles submitted in the Special Issue entitled, "Heterogeneous Photocatalysis: A Solution for a Greener Earth", from the journal Catalysts, which presents an overview of the latest advances in the development of innovative photocatalytic processes.

Summary: It has been confirmed that the number of cases and the death toll of COVID-19 are continuing to rise in many countries around the globe. Governments around the world have been struggling with containing and reducing the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19; however, their respective responses have not been consistent. Aggressive measures imposed by some governments have resulted in a complete lockdown that has disrupted all facets of life and poses massive health, social, and financial impacts. Other countries, however, are taking a more wait-and-see approach in an attempt to maintain business as usual. Collectively, these challenges reflect a super wicked problem that places immense pressure on economies and societies and requires the strategic management of health systems to avoid overwhelming them-this has been linked to the public mantra of 'flattening the curve', which acknowledges that while the pandemic cannot be stopped, its impact can be regulated so that the number of cases at any given time is not beyond the capacity of the health system. Dynamic simulation modelling is a framework that facilitates the understanding/exploring of complex problems, of searching for and finding the best option(s) from all practical solutions where time dynamics are essential. The papers in this book provide research insights into this super wicked problem and case studies exploring the interactions between social, economic, environmental, and health factors through the use of a systems approach.

Summary: This reprint is the compilation of the articles submitted in the Special Issue entitled "Metallic or Metallic Oxide (Photo)catalysts for Environmental Applications" from the journal Catalysts, which gives an overview of the latest advances in the development of metallic or metallic oxide (photo)catalytic materials, with environmental applications for the elimination of organic pollutants or the valorization of biomass.

Summary: This Special Issue explores recent developments and advanced concepts related to the valorisation of organic wastes and other biomass through the application of anaerobic digestion (AD). Biological phenomena, the efficiency of the AD process, the viability of full-scale AD installations, the integration of hydrogen and biomethane concepts, and biorefineries are some of the themes covered. While AD is addressed under different perspectives, the results all strengthen AD to fulfil its important role as a sustainable and highly versatile technology. Further research and development needs are also presented.

Summary: This book describes interesting case studies of the exploration, characterization, and use of geothermal resources in Spain, Sweden, Italy, Croatia, China, Djibouti, and Canada. A new open-source software, with an easy-to-use graphical user interface, is applied to assess the deep geothermal potential of the Reus-Valls sedimentary basin in Spain. Then, a high-temperature borehole thermal energy storage facility at Linköping, Sweden, is described to shift excess heat generated from a waste incineration plant during the summer to the winter season. Next, a plastic plate heat exchanger was geometrically and thermodynamically modeled, optimized, and applied to a direct geothermal heating system for a building in Southern Italy. In the last European study, in Croatia, an unconventional hydrocarbon gas reservoir is analyzed (geothermal gradient of 49°C/km), in the geothermal field Velika Ciglena. Going down to Africa, the assessment of the geothermal resources in the Asal Rift (Djibouti) through multiphase flow and heat transfer simulations is presented. Moving to Asia, in the Chinese province of Guangdong, magnetotelluric profiles are used to interpret the crust and upper mantle structure and its geothermal implications. Then, in the remote Canadian Northern regions, uncertainty and risk evaluation of deep geothermal energy resources (> 4 km) for heat production and electricity generation are described. Finally, a literature review provides a comparison of geothermal projects in unconventional reservoirs in United Kingdom (Cornubian Batholith), Canada (Williston Sedimentary Basin), and Italy (Campi Flegrei Caldera).

Summary: This Special Issue on "New Trends in Catalysis for Sustainable CO2 Conversion", released in the Catalysts open access journal, shows new research about the development of catalysts and catalytic routes for CO2 valorization, in addition to the optimization of the reaction conditions for the process. This issue includes ten articles and three reviews about different innovative processes for CO2 conversion.Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a physical process consisting of the separation the CO2 (emitted by industry and the combustion processes for energy generation) and its transportation to geological storage isolates it from the atmosphere in the long term. However, the most promising routes for CO2 mitigation are those pursuing its catalytic valorization. By applying specific catalysts and suitable operating conditions, CO2 molecules react with other components to form longer chains (i.e., hydrocarbons). Accordingly, effort should be made to catalytically valorize CO2 (alone or co-fed with syngas) as an alternative way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and obtaining high-value fuels and chemicals. Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) is a developing field with significant demand for research in the following aspects:The development of new catalysts, catalytic routes, and technologies for CO2 conversion;The study of new processes for obtaining fuels and chemicals from CO2;Optimization of the catalysts and the reaction conditions for these processes;Further steps in advanced processes using CO2-rich feeds (H2+CO2 or CO2 mixed with syngas), increasing product yields.

Summary: The electrical power system is undergoing a revolution enabled by advances in telecommunications, computer hardware and software, measurement, metering systems, IoT, and power electronics. Furthermore, the increasing integration of intermittent renewable energy sources, energy storage devices, and electric vehicles and the drive for energy efficiency have pushed power systems to modernise and adopt new technologies. The resulting smart grid is characterised, in part, by a bi-directional flow of energy and information. The evolution of the power grid, as well as its interconnection with energy storage systems and renewable energy sources, has created new opportunities for optimising not only their techno-economic aspects at the planning stages but also their control and operation. However, new challenges emerge in the optimization of these systems due to their complexity and nonlinear dynamic behaviour as well as the uncertainties involved.This volume is a selection of 20 papers carefully made by the editors from the MDPI topic "Optimisation, Optimal Control and Nonlinear Dynamics in Electrical Power, Energy Storage and Renewable Energy Systems", which was closed in April 2022. The selected papers address the above challenges and exemplify the significant benefits that optimisation and nonlinear control techniques can bring to modern power and energy systems.

Summary: The renewable energy sector is one of the fastest growing branches of the economy in the world, including in Poland. Extensive investigation in research centers results in the increased efficiency of obtaining energy from renewable sources, as well as a decrease in the prices of renewable energy installations. The development of renewable energy motivates further research and the development of new technologies. Investments in renewable energy may also benefit the local community by increasing the attractiveness of the region to tourists, creating opportunities for professional activation (especially in areas with high unemployment), increasing the competitiveness of the local economy and its energy efficiency and obtaining raw materials from local producers, mainly farmers, which are an additional source of income for them. Another possible economic advantage is charging lease fees, for instance, for land under wind turbines or fees for ground easement, in order to ensure access to the construction of power lines, e.g., connecting turbines to the grid; lowering heat prices for residents of a given town; building investment plots in or near heat plants and biogas plants, with the provision of heat and electricity at competitive prices directly from these plants; investors covering the costs of modernizing local roads; and creating new transmission, power lines and supply points.

Summary: The investigation of rail vehicle running dynamics plays an important role in the more than 200 year development of railway vehicles and infrastructure. Currently, there are a number of new requirements for rail transport associated with the reduced environmental impact, energy consumption and wear, whilst increasing train speed and passenger comfort. Therefore, the running dynamics of rail vehicles is still a research topic that requires improved simulation tools and experimental procedures. The book focuses on the current research topics in railway vehicles running dynamics. Special attention is given to high-speed railway transport, acoustic and vibrational impact of railway transport to the surroundings, optimization of energy supply systems for railway transport, traction drives optimization and wear of wheels and rails.

Summary: This reprint focused on the advancements in the field of shoulder arthroplasty in recent years. These concern surgical indications that have dramatically evolved and planification and navigation. The rapid development of surgical techniques and new prosthetic designs, as well as glenoid and humeral reconstruction for various conditions, is also overviewed. Despite the important progress highlighted in this reprint, there is currently a myriad of prosthetic designs, highlighting the evolving nature of this field.

Summary: Membrane Distillation (MD) is based on the evaporation of a hot feed through a microporous and hydrophobic membrane. Thermal energy is needed to heat the feed up to the desired temperature during the process. Therefore, improvements of the thermal performance of MD are important to apply this technology at large scale. The Special Issue "Thermal Performance of Membrane Distillation" focuses on the recent research efforts made in this direction, covering both the development of new membranes and the optimization of the process.

Summary: The triple-R model (reduce, reuse, and recycle) is the essential concept of the circular economy. Due to population growth, the recovery of added-value products from wastes has become a challenge. Wastewaters of different origin (urban, industrial, mining, textile, distillery, and microbial culture, among others) are rich in energy, water, and nutrient sources that can be recovered and reused within a circular economy framework. Recently, wastewater treatment plants have been converted into biofactories, since they can convert waste into new products (water, nutrients, fertilizers, biomethane, electricity, heat, etc.) with a minimal environmental impact. In this context, adsorption and ion-exchange, as well as the integration of both processes, have been proposed as promising technologies for the treatment of wastewaters for resource recovery. Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue, entitled "Wastewater Treatment by Adsorption and/or Ion-Exchange Processes for Resource Recovery", is to promote these two processes as innovative and environmentally friendly alternatives for the recovery of secondary raw materials from by-products or waste streams. These processes could improve the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the currently used wastewater treatment techniques.