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This book focuses on systematics, biogeography, and evolution of arachnids, a group of ancient chelicerate lineages that have taken on terrestrial lifestyles. The book opens with the questions of what arachnology represents, and where the field should go in the future. Twelve original contributions then dissect the current state-of-the-art in arachnological research. These papers provide innovative phylogenomic, evolutionary and biogeographic analyses and interpretations of new data and/or synthesize our knowledge to offer new directions for the future of arachnology.

Research. --- Biology. --- Microbiology. --- BioGeoBEARS --- Caatinga --- dispersal --- Galapagos --- Neotropical --- speciation --- spiders --- tropical dry forests --- vicariance --- coin spider --- Nephilidae --- phylogenomics --- biogeography --- dispersal probability --- Arthropoda --- circular reasoning --- investigator bias --- paleontology --- Arachnida --- tissue --- X-rays --- micro-CT --- cerebrum --- nervous system --- neuroanatomy --- imaging --- Araneae --- biodiversity --- community ecology --- elevation --- Pantepui --- species turnover --- Tetragnatha --- dynamic disperser --- intermediate dispersal model of biogeography --- GAARlandia --- Tetragnathidae --- taxonomy --- taxonomic crisis --- species concepts --- data management --- monographic research --- molecular phylogeny --- divergence time --- relict group --- Linyphiidae --- phylogeny --- Caribbean biogeography --- arachnid --- araneae --- Micrathena --- long distance dispersal --- distribution --- diversity --- Salticidae --- target sequencing --- reduced representation sequencing (RRS) --- spider phylogenomics --- deep phylogeny --- molecular dating --- ancestral range analysis --- endemics --- founder-event --- intermediate dispersal model --- BioGeoBEARS --- Caatinga --- dispersal --- Galapagos --- Neotropical --- speciation --- spiders --- tropical dry forests --- vicariance --- coin spider --- Nephilidae --- phylogenomics --- biogeography --- dispersal probability --- Arthropoda --- circular reasoning --- investigator bias --- paleontology --- Arachnida --- tissue --- X-rays --- micro-CT --- cerebrum --- nervous system --- neuroanatomy --- imaging --- Araneae --- biodiversity --- community ecology --- elevation --- Pantepui --- species turnover --- Tetragnatha --- dynamic disperser --- intermediate dispersal model of biogeography --- GAARlandia --- Tetragnathidae --- taxonomy --- taxonomic crisis --- species concepts --- data management --- monographic research --- molecular phylogeny --- divergence time --- relict group --- Linyphiidae --- phylogeny --- Caribbean biogeography --- arachnid --- araneae --- Micrathena --- long distance dispersal --- distribution --- diversity --- Salticidae --- target sequencing --- reduced representation sequencing (RRS) --- spider phylogenomics --- deep phylogeny --- molecular dating --- ancestral range analysis --- endemics --- founder-event --- intermediate dispersal model

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This book, a collection of 12 original contributions and 4 reviews, provides a selection of the most recent advances in the preparation, characterization, and applications of polymeric nanocomposites comprising nanoparticles. The concept of nanoparticle-reinforced polymers came about three decades ago, following the outstanding discovery of fullerenes and carbon nanotubes. One of the main ideas behind this approach is to improve the matrix mechanical performance. The nanoparticles exhibit higher specific surface area, surface energy, and density compared to microparticles and, hence, lower nanofiller concentrations are needed to attain properties comparable to, or even better than, those obtained by conventional microfiller loadings, which facilitates processing and minimizes the increase in composite weight. The addition of nanoparticles into different polymer matrices opens up an important research area in the field of composite materials. Moreover, many different types of inorganic nanoparticles, such as quantum dots, metal oxides, and ceramic and metallic nanoparticles, have been incorporated into polymers for their application in a wide range of fields, ranging from medicine to photovoltaics, packaging, and structural applications.

ceramizable silicone rubber --- halloysite --- encapsulant --- drug delivery --- fillers --- ultraviolet (UV) curable coatings --- PDMS etching --- nanoparticles --- roughness --- methacryl POSS --- composite --- chlorogenic acid --- hydrophilic --- surface free energy --- theranostics --- 29Si-NMR --- borate --- dental resin --- morphology --- surface --- fabrication --- polydimethylsiloxane --- recessed electrode --- swelling --- MAPOSS --- X-ray (Micro-CT) microtomography --- mechanical properties --- plateau-shaped electrode --- hybrid hydrogel --- hardness --- sugar templating process --- bioactivity --- amphiphilic --- high molecular weight --- low surface energy materials --- PDMS --- quartz microcrystal --- 3D porous network --- fluorinated siloxane resin --- mortar --- surface modification --- poly(dimethylsiloxanes) --- scratch resistance --- multielectrode array (MEA) --- non-releasable --- sol-gel --- topology of polysiloxane chains --- cross-linking --- FTIR --- diethyl carbonate --- poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) --- TG-FTIR --- organosilane --- anti-bioadhesion --- carbon content --- nanomedicine --- thermal stability --- hybrids --- underexposure --- nanosilica --- hyperbranched poly(methylhydrosiloxanes) --- spinal cord signal recording --- ceramizable mechanism --- coatings --- TG --- silicon --- polysiloxanes --- basalt fibre --- refractive index --- drug release --- thermal conductivity --- hydrolytic polycondensation --- shrinkage --- polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes

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The demand for cast iron components, with weights ranging from a few kilograms to several tons, has increased significantly in recent years, both for technical and economic reasons. In fact, the lower cost compared to other alloys, and the good castability, which allow one to obtain near-net shape components in as-cast conditions, and the mechanical properties that can be obtained, are just some of the motivations that attract mechanical designers. However, correct design requires a good knowledge of the intrinsic correlation among alloy chemical composition, process parameters, microstructure (with casting defects) and mechanical properties. This book is aimed at collecting excellent and recent research experimental and theoretical works in this filed. Technological (say, wear resistance and weldability) and mechanical properties (say, Young modulus, static and fatigue strength) of different grades of cast irons, ranging from solution strengthened ferritic ductile iron to compacted graphite iron as well as white and nodular cast irons, are correlated with the alloy chemical composition, process parameters and casting dimension.

History of engineering & technology --- boundary element method (BEM) --- periodic boundary conditions --- representative volume elements (RVEs) --- effective elastic properties --- homogenization --- lamellar graphite iron --- ultimate tensile strength --- primary austenite --- gravity casting process simulation --- nodular cast iron --- effective Young’s modulus --- computational homogenization --- multiscale numerical methods --- micro-CT --- finite elements --- n/a --- silicon solution strengthened ferritic ductile iron --- thickness --- solidification time --- microstructure --- mechanical properties --- fatigue --- thermal analysis --- weldability --- pre-heating --- spheroidal graphite cast iron --- ductile cast irons --- tensile tests --- plasticity modelling --- compacted graphite iron --- minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) --- drilling machinability --- dry machining --- ductile iron --- cooling rate --- segregation --- cast iron --- high-chromium --- abrasive wear --- niobium alloying --- high chromium cast irons --- eutectic carbide --- carbide volume fraction --- chemical composition --- image analysis --- simulation --- MatCalc --- hardness --- effective Young's modulus

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Fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) materials are widely used in advanced structures and are often applied in order to replace traditional materials such as metal components, especially those used in corrosive environments. They have become essential materials for maintaining and strengthening existing infrastructure due to the fact that they combine low weight and density with high strength, corrosion resistance, and high durability, providing many benefits in performance and durability. Modified fiber-based composites exhibit better mechanical properties, impact resistance, wear resistance, and fire resistance. Therefore, the FRC materials have reached a significant level of applications ranging from aerospace, aviation, and automotive systems to industrial, civil engineering, military, biomedical, marine facilities, and renewable energy. In order to update the field of design and development of composites with the use of organic or inorganic fibers, a Special Issue entitled “Progress of Fiber-Reinforced Composites: Design and Applications” has been introduced. This reprint gathers and reviews the collection of twelve article contributions, with authors from Europe, Asia and America accepted for publication in the aforementioned Special Issue of Applied Sciences.

Technology: general issues --- fiber-cement-treated subgrade soil --- mechanical properties --- triaxial test --- brittleness index --- failure angle --- carbon fibers --- lignin --- melt spinning --- carbonization --- Raman --- micro-CT --- banana fiber --- impact response --- compression after impact --- natural fiber --- compression shear properties --- bonded–bolted hybrid --- C/C composites --- high temperature --- hybrid structures --- metallic/composite joints --- plasticity --- damage propagation --- FEM --- crashworthiness --- finite element analysis (FEA) --- composites --- progressive failure analysis (PFA) --- cyclic hygrothermal aging --- high strain rates --- braided composites --- compressive property --- basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) --- thickness --- durability --- hygrothermal ageing --- accelerated ageing method --- GFRP composite structures --- slip-critical connection --- stainless-steel cover plates --- surface treatment --- prevailing torque --- anchor --- shear behavior --- concrete edge breakout resistance --- ultimate flexural strength --- energy absorption capacity --- steel fiber --- multi-material design --- thermoplastic composites --- joining --- resistance spot welding --- metal inserts --- tubular composites --- finite element analysis --- computational fluid dynamics --- wireless communication --- signal attenuation --- n/a --- bonded-bolted hybrid

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This Special Issue on “Cement-Based Composites: Advancements in Development and Characterization” presents the latest research and advances in the field of cement-based composites. This Special Issue covers a variety of experimental studies related to fiber-reinforced, photocatalytic, lightweight, and sustainable cement-based composites. Moreover, simulation studies are presented in this Special Issue to provide fundamental knowledge of designing and optimizing the properties of cementitious composites. The presented publications in this Special Issue show the most recent technology in the cement-based composite field.

History of engineering & technology --- lightweight cement paste --- air entraining agents --- hollow microspheres --- aluminum powder --- pores --- micro-CT --- thermal insulation --- compressive strength --- photocatalysis --- core-shell structure --- TiO2/SiO2 composite nanoparticles --- cement-based materials --- sustainability --- hemp --- sound absorption --- thermal conductivity --- fire characteristics --- mechanical properties --- microscopy --- thermal analysis --- X-ray diffraction --- SCC-SFR --- chlorides --- diffusion --- concrete --- fiber-reinforced cemented clay --- unconfined compression strength --- fiber content --- composite cement content --- curing time --- steel fiber --- MgO expansive agent --- split tensile strength --- chloride diffusion resistance --- porosity --- interfacial transition zone --- bond strength --- high performance concrete --- reinforcing steel bar --- basalt fibre --- inhibit --- alkali-carbonate reaction --- fly ash --- expansion --- mechanism --- graphite carbon nitride --- silica --- visible light catalysis --- cement --- Bayesian updating --- spatial randomness --- uncertainty --- correlation distance --- stochastic field --- Interfacial transition zone --- quick-converting track concrete --- aggregate surface condition --- railway ballast --- fiber-reinforced concrete --- mechanical characteristics --- three-point bending test --- fracture energy --- cement-based composite --- experimental studies --- numerical simulation