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Beyond Publication: How to Maximize the Visibility and Impact of Your Research
Publishing a peer-reviewed article was once widely regarded as the final stage of the research process. A manuscript accepted by a reputable journal was expected to reach its audience through established channels such as library collections, conference proceedings, and citation networks. Today, that expectation is increasingly unrealistic. The rapid growth of scholarly publishing has created an environment in which researchers must compete for attention within an immense and continuously expanding body of literature. As a result, discoverability has become a major challenge, often standing between research and its intended audience. Publication remains an essential milestone, but it is no longer sufficient on its own to ensure scholarly impact. Whether a study is read, cited, applied in practice, or used as a foundation for further research increasingly depends on factors beyond publication itself. Visibility, accessibility, and purposeful dissemination have become critical components of the research communication process. 1. The Discoverability Problem The volume of scientific literature has grown exponentially over the past two decades, doubling roughly every nine years according to bibliometric estimates drawn from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. This growth means that any single article competes not only with contemporaries in its narrow subfield but with an ever-expanding archive of prior work indexed by the same search engines. Google Scholar appears to rank articles using factors that include citation counts, recency, and metadata completeness. The result is a visibility gradient: research quality and research reach are correlated, but imperfectly, and the gap between the two is where deliberate visibility strategy operates. Taherdoost's treatment of this problem frames visibility not as a passive outcome of publication but as an active, multi-stage process encompassing indexing, metadata optimization, author identification, and platform-level dissemination. This reframing is significant because it shifts responsibility from the publisher alone to the researcher, who must now treat academic search optimization, ORCID registration, and repository deposit as integral components of the research workflow rather than administrative afterthoughts. 2. Open Access and the Citation Advantage Empirical evidence on the relationship between accessibility and citation impact is substantial and consistent. A large-scale bibliometric study analyzing 1.4 million articles found that open access papers received a citation advantage of approximately 18 percent on average when compared with subscription-access articles published in the same journal and year, with the effect strongest in the first two years after publication [1]. The mechanism is plausible: articles behind a paywall are read by a smaller population of institutionally affiliated researchers, while open access articles are accessible to independent scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers in lower-income countries whose institutions cannot afford comprehensive subscription bundles. Piwowar et al. [1] further estimated that by 2025, a majority of journal articles viewed online would be available through some form of open access, whether via gold, green, or hybrid routes, reflecting a structural shift in how scholarly content circulates. Researchers who fail to deposit in an institutional or subject repository within the mandated embargo window risk not only reduced visibility but also non-compliance penalties that can affect future funding eligibility. The practical implication for individual researchers is that accessibility decisions made at the point of submission, choice of journal, licensing terms, and repository deposit have measurable downstream consequences for how widely their work travels. 3. Altmetrics and the Expansion of Impact Measurement Citation counts, while historically the dominant proxy for research impact, capture only a narrow slice of how research is actually used. A study is often read, downloaded, discussed on social media, cited in policy documents, or referenced in clinical guidelines long before it accumulates a meaningful citation count, and in many cases these forms of engagement never translate into formal citations at all. Altmetrics, a term encompassing mentions on Twitter/X, Mendeley reader counts, news coverage, and policy citations, have emerged as a complementary measurement framework capable of capturing this broader engagement in near real time [2]. Tennant et al. [2], in a comprehensive review of open scholarship practices, argue that altmetric indicators are particularly valuable for capturing societal and practitioner-facing impact that traditional citation metrics systematically underrepresent, including impact in fields such as public health, education, and applied engineering where practitioner audiences rarely cite author publications themselves. The adoption of altmetric tracking has grown accordingly. Altmetric.com, one of the leading providers, now tracks attention data for over millions research outputs, and its Attention Score has become a standard feature on the landing pages of major publishers including Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Wiley. For early-career researchers in particular, altmetric visibility can serve as an early signal of research relevance well before formal citations accrue, which typically takes two to three years to reach a measurable baseline. This lag matters practically: some tenure and promotion committees, grant panels, and hiring committees increasingly request altmetric data alongside traditional citation counts precisely because the former offers a more immediate signal of research uptake. 4. Researcher Identity and Metadata Infrastructure A frequently underestimated barrier to research visibility is the problem of author disambiguation. Common surnames, name changes, institutional affiliation changes, and inconsistent name formatting across databases mean that a single researcher's output can be fragmented across multiple non-linked author profiles, diluting apparent productivity and citation impact when viewed through any single database. The Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID) system was developed specifically to resolve this problem by assigning researchers a persistent, unique digital identifier that travels with them across institutions, publishers, and funding bodies. As of recent registry figures, ORCID has issued millions of persistent researcher identifiers, and an increasing number of journals now require ORCID registration as a condition of submission, reflecting its consolidation as infrastructure rather than an optional convenience [3]. More broadly, metadata quality, including accurate keywords, structured abstracts, standardized author affiliations, and complete funding acknowledgment, directly affects how well an article is indexed by discovery systems. Taherdoost (2025) [3] emphasizes that metadata optimization functions analogously to academic search optimization in commercial contexts: articles with keyword-rich titles and abstracts aligned to common search terminology are retrieved more reliably and rank higher in results than semantically equivalent articles using idiosyncratic or overly technical phrasing. This is not a matter of gaming search algorithms but of ensuring that indexing systems, which rely heavily on textual pattern matching rather than deep semantic understanding, can correctly categorize and surface the work to the audiences most likely to find it relevant (Figure 1). Figure 1. Enhancing research visibility: an integrated approach. 5. Institutional Repositories and Preprint Culture Beyond journal-level accessibility, institutional and disciplinary repositories have become a significant secondary channel for research dissemination. Green open access, the practice of depositing a manuscript version in a repository such as arXiv, SSRN, or an institutional archive, allows researchers to comply with funder mandates even when publishing in subscription journals with restrictive licensing. The preprint server arXiv alone has hosted over two million papers since its founding, and disciplines such as physics and computer science now treat preprint deposit as a near-universal norm preceding formal peer review. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated preprint adoption across biomedical fields as well, with medRxiv and bioRxiv collectively hosting tens of thousands of pandemic-related preprints that informed public health responses months before formal publication, illustrating how accessibility infrastructure can materially compress the time between research completion and societal use [2]. 6. Toward an Integrated Visibility Strategy The evidence surveyed here converges on a single conclusion: research impact in the digital age is not an automatic consequence of rigorous methodology and journal acceptance but the product of deliberate, sustained visibility practice operating across multiple layers of the scholarly communication system. Accessibility choices at the point of publication, disciplined use of persistent identifiers, attentive metadata construction, and engagement with both citation-based and attention-based impact metrics together determine whether a piece of research reaches its potential audience. Taherdoost's [3] framing of visibility as an active, ongoing researcher competency rather than a passive outcome captures this shift accurately, and the citation and altmetric evidence reviewed above substantiates the practical stakes involved. As the volume of scholarly output continues to grow, researchers who treat dissemination strategy as integral to the research process, rather than incidental to it, are likely to see a disproportionate return on both the resources invested in their research and the influence that research ultimately exerts on their field. References [1] Piwowar, H.; Priem, J.; Larivière, V.; Alperin, J. P.; Matthias, L.; Norlander, B.; Farley, A.; West, J.; Haustein, S. The state of OA: A large-scale analysis of the prevalence and impact of Open Access articles. PeerJ. 2018, 6, e4375. [2] Tennant, J. P.; Waldner, F.; Jacques, D. C.; Masuzzo, P.; Collister, L. B.; Hartgerink, C. H. J. The academic, economic and societal impacts of Open Access: An evidence-based review. F1000Res. 2016, 5, 632. [3] Taherdoost, H. Maximizing Research Impact: Practical Strategies for Enhancing Research Visibility (1st ed.) Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003604785. Biography Dr. Hamed Taherdoost is an award-winning researcher, educator, and R&D leader with over two decades of international experience across academia and industry. He is a Professor at University Canada West and holds academic affiliations with Westcliff University (USA), GISMA University of Applied Sciences (Germany), and Victorian Institute of Technology (Australia). He is a GUS Institute Fellow (UK), a Westcliff Faculty Fellow, and a Fellow at the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan. His work spans digital transformation, cybersecurity, AI, and technology innovation, with hundreds of high-impact publications. Dr. Taherdoost serves as Book Series Editor for Routledge’s Mastering Academic Excellence and holds editorial roles with leading international journals.
Blog 29 Jul 2026
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Why Deep Sediments Matter: Establishing a Geochemical Baseline for Environmental Monitoring
Environmental conditions are not only recorded at the surface. Beneath the ground, sediment layers preserve information about geological processes and natural variations in elemental composition. Understanding these underground records can help researchers distinguish natural geochemical characteristics from potential changes that may occur in the future. This type of baseline information is particularly important in regions where environmental conditions may change due to future development activities. Without reliable reference data, it can be difficult to determine whether observed changes represent natural variation or require further investigation. A study published in Agronomy, titled “Geochemical Profiles of Deep Sediment Layers from the Kolubara District (Western Serbia): Contamination Status and Associated Risks of Heavy Metals”, investigated the elemental composition of deep sediment layers in western Serbia. By combining geochemical characterization with statistical analysis and ecological risk assessment, the study established a detailed dataset that can support future environmental monitoring in the region. Figure 1. Geochemical Profiles of Deep Sediments from Kolubara District. Produced by MDPI Academic Video Service (Source: https://encyclopedia.pub/video/1834). 1. Looking Beneath the Surface Sediments are shaped by a combination of geological and environmental processes. Their chemical composition reflects factors such as the original source materials, mineral composition, weathering processes, and sediment formation conditions. The Kolubara District in western Serbia is an area of geological interest, including regions associated with potential future resource development. In this context, understanding the existing geochemical background is important for interpreting future environmental observations. Rather than focusing only on current surface conditions, this study examined deep sediment layers to characterize the distribution of major and trace elements throughout the sediment profile. 2. Building a Deep Sediment Geochemical Dataset To investigate the region’s geochemical characteristics, researchers collected samples from 18 boreholes across the study area. A total of 250 deep sediment samples were analyzed, covering depths ranging from 5 to 58.5 m. The researchers applied energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) analysis to determine the concentrations of major and trace elements. The study examined 11 oxides and 21 elements, providing a comprehensive overview of sediment composition. To better understand relationships among elements and identify possible controlling factors, the researchers also performed several statistical analyses, including correlation analysis, cluster analysis, factor analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA results showed that the first two principal components explained 76.2% of the total variance, indicating that most of the observed variation could be explained by several major geochemical factors. 3. What the Sediment Profiles Revealed The analysis showed that elemental distributions in the sediments were closely related to geological characteristics and sediment properties. Some elements showed associations with mineral components, suggesting that natural processes contribute substantially to the observed geochemical patterns. The study identified elevated concentrations of several elements, including vanadium (V), thallium (Tl), and barium (Ba), compared with reference values. However, the authors emphasized that interpreting elemental enrichment requires consideration of natural geological background conditions. This distinction is important because not all variations in elemental concentrations necessarily indicate human influence. Establishing the natural geochemical profile of a region provides an essential reference for evaluating future environmental changes. 4. Evaluating Potential Ecological Risks In addition to characterizing sediment composition, the researchers assessed potential ecological risks associated with heavy metals using pollution and risk indices. The pollution load index (PLI) analysis showed that 73.6% of samples corresponded to baseline pollution levels, while 26.4% of samples had PLI values above 1, indicating higher enrichment compared with reference conditions. The average PLI value was 0.80. The potential ecological risk index (RI) had an average value of 133.5, corresponding to a moderate ecological risk level. Among the analyzed samples, 38% were classified as low risk, 59.2% as moderate risk, and 0.4% as very high risk. The contribution of individual elements to ecological risk was not uniform. Mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) represented the largest contributors, accounting for 43.9%, 25.5%, and 17.7% of the total ecological risk, respectively. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring specific elements that may have a stronger influence on overall environmental risk assessments. 5. Why Establishing a Baseline Matters One of the main contributions of this study is the creation of a detailed geochemical reference dataset for deep sediments in the Kolubara District. Baseline studies provide a foundation for future environmental monitoring by documenting existing conditions before significant changes occur. When new measurements become available, researchers can compare them with baseline values to better understand whether observed variations reflect natural processes or require further evaluation. For regions experiencing potential changes in land use or resource development, such information can improve the interpretation of environmental data and support evidence-based decision-making. 6. A Framework for Future Monitoring Although this study focuses on a specific region in western Serbia, the research approach has broader applications. Combining deep sediment sampling, multi-element analysis, and statistical evaluation provides a practical framework for investigating environmental conditions in other areas. As environmental monitoring becomes increasingly important, understanding natural geochemical backgrounds will help researchers more accurately assess changes in ecosystems and geological systems.
Blog 22 Jul 2026
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MDPI Books: Expanding Open Access Academic Publishing
Academic publishing continues to evolve with the advancement of open science and digital technologies. While journal articles remain a fundamental format for communicating individual research findings, academic books provide researchers with opportunities to explore topics in greater depth, integrate broader perspectives, and present comprehensive knowledge within a dedicated publication format. To support diverse forms of scholarly communication, MDPI has developed MDPI Books, an open access academic book publishing program that enables researchers, editors, and academic communities to share extensive research contributions and educational resources with a global audience. MDPI Books supports MDPI’s mission to foster open scientific exchange, with open access as a key approach for sharing knowledge. The program includes two main publication outputs: Open Access Books and Reprints. Since the publication of the first Reprint in 2013 and the first original Open Access Book in 2017, MDPI Books has continued to expand its publishing portfolio, contributing to the advancement of open access publishing and the dissemination of scholarly knowledge across diverse disciplines. For more information about MDPI Books and available publishing opportunities, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/books/. 1. What Is MDPI Books? MDPI Books publishes academic books across a wide range of disciplines, providing researchers, editors, and academic communities with flexible publishing options for sharing scientific knowledge. The program includes two complementary publication categories: Open Access Books are original academic publications that present comprehensive research studies, educational resources, and specialized knowledge collections. By adopting an open access publishing model, these books enable broader access to scholarly content and support the dissemination of knowledge worldwide. Reprints compile previously published research articles into dedicated book formats. By organizing related studies into structured collections, Reprints provide additional opportunities to increase the visibility and accessibility of published research. Together, Open Access Books and Reprints provide researchers with different approaches to create, share, and preserve scholarly knowledge. 2. Open Access Books Open Access Books published by MDPI Books contain original academic content and provide researchers with opportunities to present comprehensive studies, educational resources, and specialized knowledge collections in a book format. Compared with individual journal articles, academic books allow authors to explore research topics in greater depth, present broader perspectives, and provide more comprehensive discussions of scientific developments. 2.1. Types of Open Access Books MDPI Books supports different types of Open Access Books to accommodate diverse scholarly communication needs. Monograph A monograph is a comprehensive/in-depth contribution to a single scholarly subject, or an aspect of a subject, written by a single or small group of authors. Both short-form (70–110 pages) or full-length monographs are accepted. This also includes PhD monographs based on doctoral theses from all fields. Edited Books Edited books contain chapters usually written by different authors who are experts in their field. The chapters in an edited volume are original works (not republished works). One or more editors are responsible for the book as a whole. Edited volumes present different viewpoints and experiences on a common theme. Textbooks A textbook contains a comprehensive compilation of content in a branch of study with the intention of explaining this branch or a particular sub-branch. It contains detailed information about a subject for people studying that subject. Project Reports A project report is the formalized recording of project progress and project results. PhD Thesis / Dissertations PhD theses can be published open access with MDPI Books, allowing the research to reach a wider audience while maintaining their original academic integrity. They are usually structured into multiple chapters and include a comprehensive literature review, methodology, results, and discussion. They do not undergo traditional external peer review, as they have already been formally evaluated and approved by the author's academic institution as part of the doctoral degree requirements and are clearly declared as PhD theses. Book Series Book series are series of original Open Access Books covering the same subject area. 2.2. Benefits of Open Access Books Open Access Books provide authors and readers with advantages in accessibility, knowledge sharing, and publishing support. Enhanced Accessibility and Discoverability Open access publishing allows scholarly books to reach broader audiences by improving accessibility and removing barriers to knowledge sharing. Through online libraries, indexing services, and metadata dissemination, Open Access Books can achieve greater discoverability and long-term visibility. Published books are available through the MDPI Books Online Library and are indexed through platforms including Google Books, CrossRef, EBSCO, WorldCat, and Scilit. Eligible titles are also submitted to the Web of Science Book Citation Index (BKCI). Comprehensive Knowledge Sharing Academic books provide space for systematic analyses, interdisciplinary discussions, and extensive reviews that may go beyond the scope of individual research articles. By presenting broader perspectives and integrated knowledge, Open Access Books contribute to long-term scientific communication and knowledge development. Author Rights and Publishing Support Authors retain copyright of their work through Creative Commons licensing options. MDPI Books provides support throughout the publication process, including editorial coordination, production services, DOI and ISBN assignment, marketing support, and print-on-demand options. 2.3. Publication Process MDPI Books provides comprehensive support throughout the Open Access Book publishing process, from manuscript submission and initial quality checks to peer review, revision, production, and publication. Following submission, manuscripts undergo an initial assessment, including checks for plagiarism, data integrity, figure permissions, and authorship information. The Editorial Office coordinates peer review and revision processes before accepted manuscripts proceed through professional editing, formatting, typesetting, and proofreading. Published books are freely available online and can also be accessed in print formats through print-on-demand and distribution channels. A complete publication process can typically be completed within approximately 6–12 months, depending on manuscript preparation and review requirements. 3. Reprints In addition to original Open Access Books, MDPI Books provides Reprints, which compile previously published research articles into dedicated book formats. Unlike Open Access Books, which contain original book-length content, Reprints focus on collecting and presenting existing research content. They allow researchers and editors to bring together related articles into thematic collections, extending the reach and visibility of published research beyond the traditional journal format. 3.1. Types of Reprints To facilitate the collection and dissemination of published research, MDPI Books provides several Reprint formats. Journal Collection Reprints Journal Collection Reprints compile articles from MDPI journals, including Special Issues, Topical Collections, Topics, and Proceedings. These collections provide a dedicated book format for completed research collections and are available as digital publications and physical books through print-on-demand services. Custom Selection Reprints Custom Selection Reprints allow tailored collections of published articles to be created according to specific requirements. They can support various purposes, including thematic research collections, teaching resources, institutional publications, conference and academic meeting materials. Article Reprints Article Reprints are professionally produced copies of individual journal articles. They preserve the original layout and typography of published research papers and provide a tangible format for sharing academic achievements. They can support research communication, institutional events, academic promotion, and other professional activities. 3.2. Benefits of Reprints Reprints provide additional opportunities to increase research visibility, organize published studies into focused collections, and support academic communication. Extending Research Visibility By bringing related research articles together into dedicated volumes, Reprints help increase awareness of specific research topics, Special Issues, Topical Collections, and conference contributions. Creating Structured Research Collections Reprints provide a convenient way to organize published studies into cohesive collections, allowing readers to discover related research more efficiently. Supporting Authors, Editors, and Institutions For authors and editors, Reprints provide a lasting representation of research achievements and editorial contributions. For institutions, customized collections can support educational activities, conferences, and academic outreach. 4. Contact For Open Access Books, researchers interested in editing a book volume or book series or in submitting a monograph proposal, can submit a Proposal Form and refer to the Information for Authors for further details. For Reprints, authors, editors, and institutions interested in creating Reprints can contact articlereprints@mdpi.com for further information and support.
Announcement 16 Jul 2026
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Beyond the PDF: Why Science Communication Must Evolve in the Digital Era
As modern reading habits shift toward rapid digital consumption and AI-assisted parsing, relying solely on static PDFs risks burying groundbreaking research in a digital crypt. Every single day, thousands of brilliant, groundbreaking papers are uploaded to academic repositories. Weeks, months, and sometimes years of exhaustive lab work, funding applications, and intellectual energy are condensed into a highly structured, peer-reviewed document. Then, for the vast majority of these papers, the trajectory flatlines. They are downloaded as a standard PDF, skimmed for a few seconds, and filed away into the silent crypts of reference managers, never to be opened again. The hard truth is that the traditional academic paper was designed for the printing press, not the smartphone, the modern web browser, or the AI answer engine. We are still communicating 21st-century science using a 19th-century format. In an era where information velocity is measured in seconds, relying solely on an ossified, 20-page static PDF to convey your life's work isn't just an outdated habit—it is a massive career bottleneck. If we want our research to actually change the world, or even just get cited, the way we communicate science must fundamentally evolve. 1. The Shifting Anatomy of Scholarly Attention We need to be honest about how we, as researchers, actually consume the literature today. We do not read linearly from abstract to conclusion. Drowning in cognitive overload and constrained by shrinking schedules, modern academics browse, filter, parse, and prompt. Increasingly, we rely on artificial intelligence tools and answer engines to summarize key findings, extract methodologies, and synthesize data before we ever commit to reading a full text. If your paper exists only as an unyielding wall of dense, academic prose trapped in a PDF—a format that is notoriously hostile to machine reading—you are making it incredibly difficult for the digital ecosystem to discover your work. A striking gap has emerged between passive publishing and active, multi-channel engagement. Depositing a paper in a journal repository and expecting the scientific community to discover it by chance is an uphill battle against an unforgiving algorithm (Figure 1). Figure 1. The research attention gap. A comparative projection of longitudinal reach showing traditional static publishing versus modern multi-channel digital engagement (conceptual model derived from aggregated institutional repository download analytics). As Figure 1 visually illustrates, multi-channel visibility acts as a massive force multiplier for full-text downloads. When you wrap a core paper in a dynamic digital ecosystem, you are not "dumbing down" the science; you are building an explicit, frictionless pathway that guides readers directly to your data. 2. Beyond the Impact Factor: The Real-Time Attention Economy For decades, the standard metric of academic success has been the journal Impact Factor. We have outsourced our professional worth to a single, lagging index. But waiting two to three years for a traditional citation to show up in a database is an archaic way to build a scientific reputation or demonstrate societal value to funding bodies. The digital era has democratized impact through alternative metrics—such as Altmetrics and PlumX—which track the real-time footprint of a paper across mainstream news, policy documents, authoritative blogs, Wikipedia, and social platforms. This data matters because funding agencies and tenure committees are rapidly shifting their gaze toward verifiable, immediate societal impact (Figure 2). Figure 2. How the digital era tracks real-time impact. The official Altimetric statistical weighting matrix, showcasing the value assigned to non-traditional scholarly discussions. Look closely at the data in Figure 2. A single mention in a mainstream news outlet, an inclusion in a public policy brief, or a highly shared thread by an authoritative academic moves the needle of your real-time research footprint far faster than a standard repository upload. Digital communication is no longer an optional hobby for eccentric scientists; it is actively indexed, mathematically weighted, and structurally embedded into how institutions measure visibility. 3. The 3-Tier Digital Dissemination Strategy Transitioning into digital-first science communication does not mean you need to sacrifice your lab time to become a full-time content creator. It requires a strategic, highly efficient toolkit designed to layer over your existing publications. 3.1. The Micro-Abstract as an Algorithmic Hook The moment your paper is accepted, translate your abstract into a high-impact digital thread. Strip away the heavy jargon and focus purely on three core questions: What was the problem? What did you find? Why does it matter to the world outside your lab? Publish this on professional networks like LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter). Think of it as a digital front door to your paper. You are giving both human readers and search algorithms the exact keywords they need to find you. 3.2. Frictionless Accessibility via the Open Access Pipeline Never let your paper live exclusively behind an institutional paywall if you can legally avoid it. Maximize the use of green open-access repositories, pre-print servers, and academic research networks. If a policymaker, a science journalist, or a peer from an underfunded institution clicks your link and hits a $40 paywall, your research effectively ceases to exist for them. Remove the friction. 3.3. High-Density Encoding with Visuals and Video Human brains process visuals thousands of times faster than text. Accompany your paper with a single visual abstract or a clean infographic that highlights your primary chart. More importantly, embrace the video abstract. This does not require a cinematic budget. Record a raw, 60-second Zoom screen-share of your paper’s definitive figure with your webcam turned on. Explain the data exactly how you would to a colleague standing next to you at a conference poster session. Modern digital algorithms heavily prioritize authentic, face-to-camera human communication over polished, detached corporate marketing. A 60-second video can easily earn more engagement in a single afternoon than a static text abstract will accumulate over an entire semester. 4. Reclaiming the Power of Your Output The traditional academic infrastructure has conditioned us to believe that our job ends the moment the "Submit" button turns into an "Accepted" notification. It doesn't. In a crowded, hyper-accelerated digital landscape, taking control of how your research is communicated is not an act of vanity—it is an act of professional survival. We must stop treating public engagement as an administrative chore or a secondary distraction. By transforming our static findings into dynamic, discoverable multimedia assets, we bridge the gap between isolated laboratories and the global community. Let your data live outside the margins of an 8.5x11-inch PDF. Evolve your communication style, break through the digital noise, and give your science the attention it genuinely deserves. Biography Dr. Akeem Adeyemi Oladipo is a Research Professor of Chemistry at Eastern Mediterranean University (Cyprus), where he heads the SMART LAB (Electro-Bio-Environmental & Energy Technologies). Recognized globally among the Top 2% of Scientists by Stanford University and Elsevier, his pioneering research sits at the critical nexus of nanotechnology, advanced materials, and AI-driven materials discovery. Refusing to let his findings languish in academic repositories, Dr. Oladipo is an active deep-tech entrepreneur and the founder of multiple commercial ventures, including TracePulse, Adsoora, and ReduOXLab. Through these startups, he actively translates complex laboratory breakthroughs—such as high-performance nanofluids and advanced environmental remediation strategies—into scalable, industry-ready technologies. A highly prolific author and Editorial Board Member, he is deeply passionate about bridging the gap between isolated laboratory data and high-visibility, real-world sustainable solutions.
Blog 15 Jul 2026
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Beyond Glycaemic Control: Why Precision Medicine Is Redefining Type 2 Diabetes Care
Modern diabetes management is moving from glucose-centred care to precision cardiometabolic risk stratification. Because patients who share the same HbA1c can carry very different cardiovascular, renal, hepatic and metabolic risks, treatment is increasingly guided by clinical phenotype rather than by glucose alone. Drawing on the evidence for GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors, this outcome-centred approach tailors therapy to each patient's dominant risk and targets the long-term outcomes that matter most beyond glycaemic control. 1. The Era of Glucose-Centred Diabetes Care Is Over For many years, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) represented the cornerstone of diabetes management. Achieving glycaemic targets was rightly considered the primary therapeutic goal, because lowering glucose reduces the risk of microvascular complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy. The UK Prospective Diabetes Study established this microvascular benefit decades ago, yet its macrovascular signal emerged only slowly, a reminder that glucose lowering protects small vessels far more readily than it protects the heart. Glucose control alone never fully explained why some patients deteriorated despite excellent HbA1c values, while others remained stable. Cardiovascular outcome trials and contemporary guidelines have since transformed our understanding of the disease. Today, type 2 diabetes is recognised as a complex cardiometabolic disorder in which cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and heart failure frequently coexist and strongly influence prognosis [1–3]. 2. Every Patient Has a Different Cardiometabolic Profile Two patients may present with an identical HbA1c value while requiring completely different therapeutic strategies. A younger individual living with obesity and MASLD has different priorities from an older patient with chronic kidney disease and a previous myocardial infarction. For this reason, treatment decisions increasingly rely on comprehensive clinical phenotyping rather than on isolated laboratory parameters. Cardiovascular risk, renal function, albuminuria, heart failure, body weight, liver involvement, frailty and life expectancy should all contribute to therapeutic selection. Modern guidelines reflect this by suggesting that the first therapeutic question is no longer simply how high the glucose is, but which organs are most at risk. The same diagnosis, in other words, can describe profoundly different patients, and each profile points towards a different first choice of therapy [1,2]. 3. Precision Medicine Has Already Entered Routine Care Precision medicine is often associated with genomics or advanced molecular profiling. In type 2 diabetes, however, it is already part of everyday practice. The landmark cardiovascular outcome trials made this concrete. In EMPA-REG OUTCOME, the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin reduced cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalisation in patients with established cardiovascular disease [4]. In LEADER and SUSTAIN-6, the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists liraglutide and semaglutide reduced major cardiovascular events in high-risk patients [5,6]. Importantly, these were not merely glucose-lowering effects: the benefits appeared too early and too consistently to be explained by HbA1c reduction alone, pointing instead to direct cardiac and renal actions. Selecting a GLP-1 receptor agonist when obesity and atherosclerotic risk predominate, or an SGLT2 inhibitor when heart failure or chronic kidney disease is present, is precision medicine in action. The objective is simple: the right treatment, for the right patient, at the right time. This shift from glucose-centred to outcome-centred medicine is summarised in Figure 1 [1–6]. Figure 1. From traditional glucose-centred diabetes care to precision cardiometabolic medicine. ASCVD: atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; CKD: chronic kidney disease; HF: heart failure; MASLD: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. 4. Residual Cardiometabolic Risk: What HbA1c Does Not Capture Even when glycaemic targets are met, a substantial burden of risk often remains. This residual cardiometabolic risk is driven by factors that HbA1c simply does not measure: persistent albuminuria, visceral adiposity, atherogenic dyslipidaemia, subclinical heart failure and ongoing kidney decline. Recognising it has reframed the therapeutic goal from normalising a single number to protecting the organs most likely to fail. The DAPA-HF trial, for example, showed that dapagliflozin reduced worsening heart failure and cardiovascular death even in patients without diabetes [7], while FLOW demonstrated that semaglutide slowed kidney disease progression in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease [8]. The benefit, in these settings, is no longer about glucose at all. 5. The Next Frontier: Integrated Cardiometabolic Risk Future diabetes care will depend on integrating multiple clinical domains into a single decision-making framework. Digital health technologies, artificial intelligence, continuous glucose monitoring and electronic health records may help clinicians identify high-risk phenotypes and select personalised strategies, flagging, for instance, the patient whose declining estimated glomerular filtration rate and rising albuminuria warrant earlier organ protection. Used well, such systems could shorten the gap between a worsening trajectory and the moment a protective therapy is actually started. These tools are not intended to replace clinical judgement, but to enhance it through more efficient interpretation of increasingly complex information. The challenge will be to transform data into decisions that are clinically meaningful, feasible and centred on the individual patient [8–10]. 6. Looking Beyond HbA1c The success of modern diabetes care should no longer be measured exclusively by lower HbA1c values. Preserving kidney function, reducing cardiovascular events, preventing heart failure, improving metabolic health and addressing obesity have become equally important therapeutic objectives. The evidence now extends beyond diabetes itself: in SELECT, semaglutide reduced cardiovascular events in people with obesity but without diabetes, underlining how far the field has moved from a purely glucose-centred view [9]. Precision medicine is therefore not a distant aspiration, but the natural evolution of evidence-based diabetes care. As therapies continue to expand and risk assessment becomes more sophisticated, clinicians will be increasingly able to deliver personalised cardiometabolic care focused on the outcomes that matter most to patients. References American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. Standards of Care in Diabetes—2025. Diabetes Care. 2025, 48, S1–S350. Davies, M.J.; Aroda, V.R.; Collins, B.S.; Gabbay, R.A.; Green, J.; Maruthur, N.M.; Rosas, S.E.; Del Prato, S.; et al. Management of hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes, 2022. A consensus report by the ADA and EASD. Diabetologia. 2022, 65, 1925–1966. Marx, N.; Federici, M.; Schütt, K.; Müller-Wieland, D.; Ajjan, R.A.; Antunes, M.J.; Christodorescu, R.M.; Crawford, C.; et al. 2023 ESC Guidelines for the management of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes. Eur. Heart J. 2023, 44, 4043–4140. Zinman, B.; Wanner, C.; Lachin, J.M.; Fitchett, D.; Bluhmki, E.; Hantel, S.; Mattheus, M.; Devins, T.; et al. Empagliflozin, cardiovascular outcomes, and mortality in type 2 diabetes. N. Engl. J. Med. 2015, 373, 2117–2128. Marso, S.P.; Daniels, G.H.; Brown-Frandsen, K.; Kristensen, P.; Mann, J.F.E.; Nauck, M.A.; Nissen, S.E.; Pocock, S.; et al. Liraglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes. N. Engl. J. Med. 2016, 375, 311–322. Marso, S.P.; Bain, S.C.; Consoli, A.; Eliaschewitz, F.G.; Jodár, E.; Leiter, L.A.; Lingvay, I.; Rosenstock, J.; et al. Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. N. Engl. J. Med. 2016, 375, 1834–1844. McMurray, J.J.V.; Solomon, S.D.; Inzucchi, S.E.; Køber, L.; Kosiborod, M.N.; Martinez, F.A.; Ponikowski, P.; Sabatine, M.S.; et al. Dapagliflozin in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. N. Engl. J. Med. 2019, 381, 1995–2008. Perkovic, V.; Tuttle, K.R.; Rossing, P.; Mahaffey, K.W.; Mann, J.F.E.; Bakris, G.; Baeres, F.M.M.; Idorn, T.; et al. Effects of semaglutide on chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. N. Engl. J. Med. 2024, 391, 109–121. Lincoff, A.M.; Brown-Frandsen, K.; Colhoun, H.M.; Deanfield, J.; Emerson, S.S.; Esbjerg, S.; Hardt-Lindberg, S.; Hovingh, G.K.; et al. Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in obesity without diabetes. N. Engl. J. Med. 2023, 389, 2221–2232. Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Diabetes Work Group. KDIGO 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline for Diabetes Management in Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney Int. 2022, 102, S1–S127. Biography Antonio Maria Labate, MD, is a specialist in Internal Medicine working as an outpatient diabetology and internal medicine specialist at ASST Franciacorta and ASST Mantova, in Lombardy, Italy. He trained in Internal Medicine at the University of Messina and has broad clinical experience spanning internal medicine, emergency medicine and diabetology. His work focuses on clinical diabetology, cardiovascular and cardiometabolic risk in type 2 diabetes, real-world evidence, and the clinical use of newer glucose-lowering therapies such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors. He has authored peer-reviewed articles and congress communications on the cardiovascular, renal and metabolic effects of these agents, and serves as a reviewer for several international journals.
Blog 08 Jul 2026
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Where Do Sutureless Valves Fit in Modern Aortic Valve Surgery?
Aortic valve replacement remains one of the most commonly performed procedures in cardiac surgery for treating severe aortic valve disease. While conventional surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) continues to provide excellent long-term outcomes, advances in both surgical techniques and transcatheter therapies have expanded the range of treatment options available to patients. Among these developments, sutureless aortic valve replacement (SuAVR) was introduced to simplify valve implantation by reducing the need for multiple sutures, with the goal of shortening operative time and facilitating minimally invasive surgery. More than a decade after its introduction, clinical experience with sutureless valves has grown substantially. At the same time, rapid progress in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and continued refinements in conventional surgery have reshaped the treatment landscape. A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, titled "Exploring Use-Rates of and Scientific Evidence on Sutureless Devices in Aortic Valve Replacement: A Bibliographic Meta-Analysis and Clinical Considerations", reviews the current evidence surrounding SuAVR, examines how its use has evolved across different regions, and discusses where the technique may fit within contemporary cardiac surgery. Figure 1. Use and Evidence of Sutureless Aortic Valves. Produced by MDPI Academic Video Service (Source: https://encyclopedia.pub/video/1831). 1. Why Sutureless Valves Were Developed Conventional surgical valve replacement requires the prosthetic valve to be secured with multiple sutures, a process that contributes to aortic cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times. Because longer operative times are associated with increased surgical risk, particularly in elderly patients and those with multiple comorbidities, techniques that simplify valve implantation have attracted considerable interest. Sutureless valves were developed to address this challenge. By reducing the number of sutures required during implantation, they may simplify the procedure while maintaining the principles of surgical valve replacement. The technology also complements minimally invasive surgical approaches, where the limited operative field can make conventional suturing more technically demanding. For these reasons, SuAVR attracted considerable attention as a potential way to improve procedural efficiency while preserving the established benefits of surgical valve replacement. 2. What the Current Evidence Suggests Over the past decade, a substantial body of clinical evidence has accumulated on sutureless valve implantation. To better understand how this evidence has evolved, the authors systematically reviewed 538 published studies on SuAVR. The analysis showed that most of the available evidence comes from observational studies, while randomized controlled trials account for only 1.3% of the published literature. Although SuAVR has been investigated extensively, the limited availability of randomized evidence means that important clinical questions remain incompletely answered. Across the published literature, one of the most consistent findings is that SuAVR is associated with shorter aortic cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times than conventional SAVR. These procedural advantages may be particularly relevant in patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery or in those for whom reducing operative time is desirable. At the same time, the paper notes that concerns remain regarding long-term valve durability, pacemaker implantation, and procedural costs. These issues continue to influence how the technology is evaluated and adopted in clinical practice. 3. Clinical Use Has Continued to Evolve Although research on SuAVR has expanded considerably, its global clinical adoption remains relatively limited. The paper found that approximately 80% of the published literature originated from Europe, whereas North America contributed fewer than 10% of publications, highlighting a marked geographical imbalance in both research activity and clinical use. The authors suggest that this pattern may reflect a combination of factors, including earlier regulatory approval in Europe, differences in reimbursement policies, and variation in patient populations. At the same time, the rapid expansion of TAVR has transformed the treatment of aortic valve disease, while conventional SAVR has continued to evolve through refinements in surgical techniques and prosthetic valve technology. Against this background, SuAVR has assumed a more selective role rather than becoming a universal alternative. The authors suggest that SuAVR may offer its greatest clinical value by facilitating minimally invasive surgical aortic valve replacement, an approach that remains underutilized in many parts of the world despite its potential benefits in appropriately selected patients. 4. Finding a Place Alongside SAVR and TAVR As treatment options for aortic valve disease continue to expand, selecting the most appropriate intervention increasingly depends on individual patient characteristics, anatomical considerations, surgical risk, and procedural goals. Rather than replacing existing approaches, SuAVR has become one of several treatment options available to cardiac surgeons. Its potential advantages are most relevant in selected clinical settings, highlighting the importance of individualized decision-making when planning valve replacement. 5. What Comes Next for SuAVR? The study emphasizes that additional high-quality comparative trials are needed to strengthen the evidence base for SuAVR. More standardized clinical guidance will also be important for better defining the role of this technology within modern valve therapy. Meanwhile, advances in conventional surgery, transcatheter interventions, and prosthetic valve technology will continue to shape the management of aortic valve disease. As these treatment options evolve, careful patient selection will remain central to choosing the most appropriate therapeutic approach. 6. Putting the Evidence into Perspective Sutureless aortic valve replacement was developed to simplify surgical valve implantation and support less invasive cardiac surgery. More than a decade of clinical experience has shown that the technique can shorten operative times and may offer practical advantages in selected patients, particularly when minimally invasive surgery or reduced procedural duration is desired. Current evidence suggests that SuAVR occupies a focused rather than universal role in contemporary valve therapy. As additional comparative evidence becomes available and clinical guidance continues to evolve, a clearer understanding of where SuAVR fits within modern aortic valve treatment will help support informed surgical decision-making.
Blog 01 Jul 2026
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Less Dissection, Same Fixation: A Modified Approach to Lumbopelvic Reconstruction
Lumbopelvic fixation is used to stabilize the lumbosacral junction in complex clinical situations where standard posterior instrumentation is no longer sufficient. These cases are commonly seen in trauma, tumor involvement, infections, or severe deformity, where structural instability may coexist with neural compression. Although minimally invasive spinal techniques have expanded significantly in recent years, their use in the lumbopelvic region remains limited. This is largely due to the need for direct access to the sacrum in many of these cases. As a result, open surgery continues to play an essential role when decompression or reconstruction cannot be achieved through percutaneous methods alone. In this context, a technical note published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, titled “Lumbopelvic Fixation: How to Be Less Invasive When You Cannot Be Minimally Invasive—A New Subcutaneous Supra-Fascial Approach to Minimize Open Iliac Screwing”, describes a modified method for iliac screw placement that aims to reduce soft tissue disruption while maintaining the principles of standard lumbopelvic reconstruction. Figure 1. Lumbopelvic Fixation. Produced by MDPI Academic Video Service (Source: https://encyclopedia.pub/video/1788). 1. Clinical Context and Indications The technique is demonstrated in a clinically complex case involving a 56-year-old female patient diagnosed with metastatic breast carcinoma affecting the sacrum. In this patient, tumor involvement led to significant sacral destruction, accompanied by nerve compression and urinary retention, indicating both mechanical instability and neurological compromise. In such scenarios, surgical goals typically extend beyond stabilization alone. Decompression of neural elements and partial tumor resection are often required in combination with structural reconstruction of the lumbopelvic junction. 2. Surgical Strategy and Exposure Technique The procedure was performed using a linear midline incision. Rather than relying on extensive subperiosteal muscle stripping, the authors describe a more controlled subfascial dissection technique. This approach emphasizes preservation of key paraspinal muscles, including the Longissimus thoracis and Iliocostalis lumborum, which are often disrupted in conventional open exposures. To access the iliac entry point, a subcutaneous supra-fascial corridor is created. This corridor allows instrumentation toward the posterior superior iliac spine while limiting deeper muscular dissection. Intraoperative CT navigation is used to guide screw placement, particularly important in cases where the exposure is intentionally reduced and anatomical landmarks may be less directly visualized. A U-shaped cross-link is then applied to complete the construct and enhance overall stability, especially in long-segment reconstructions where rotational control is relevant. 3. Clinical Outcome and Postoperative Course Following surgery, the patient underwent successful lumbopelvic fixation combined with nerve root decompression and partial tumor resection. No new postoperative neurological deficits were observed. Over the early postoperative period, the patient showed progressive improvement in sphincter function, suggesting recovery of some degree of neurological function following decompression. Intraoperative blood loss and soft tissue disruption were reported to be reduced compared with more extensive open dissection approaches. At six-month follow-up, computed tomography confirmed stable positioning of the lumbopelvic construct. Residual tumor tissue was still present, consistent with the underlying metastatic disease process, but no mechanical failure of fixation was observed. 4. Technical Interpretation The described approach does not modify the fundamental biomechanics of lumbopelvic fixation. Pedicle and iliac screw constructs continue to function by transferring load from the lumbar spine to the pelvis, effectively bypassing the compromised sacrum. Instead, the innovation lies in the method of exposure. By combining muscle-preserving dissection, a subcutaneous supra-fascial iliac corridor, and CT navigation, the technique reduces the extent of soft tissue injury required to achieve the same reconstructive goals. 5. Position Within Existing Surgical Strategies This technique sits within a practical middle ground between conventional open fixation and percutaneous approaches. While minimally invasive techniques aim to reduce exposure entirely, they are not always feasible in cases requiring tumor resection or sacral decompression. In contrast, traditional open surgery provides full access but at the cost of significant soft tissue disruption. The approach described here represents an attempt to reduce this burden without altering the overall surgical strategy. 6. Broader Clinical Implications From a clinical perspective, this type of modification reflects an important reality in spine surgery: many complex cases cannot be categorized as purely open or minimally invasive. Instead, surgeons often operate within hybrid conditions where exposure is necessary, but its extent may still be optimized. In such settings, even modest reductions in muscle dissection and tissue trauma may be clinically meaningful, particularly in patients with oncologic disease who require recovery of neurological function and long-term structural stability. 7. Final Remarks This report describes a modified subcutaneous supra-fascial approach for iliac screw placement in lumbopelvic fixation performed in the setting of sacral metastasis. The technique combines muscle-preserving dissection, CT-guided instrumentation, and a standardized cross-link construct. Rather than changing the principles of fixation, it refines how surgical exposure is achieved when open lumbopelvic surgery is unavoidable.
Blog 24 Jun 2026
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From Concept to Safety: Integrating CAD and MBSE in Aircraft Design
Supersonic passenger aircraft have regained attention in recent years as advances in aerodynamics, materials, and digital engineering continue to expand the possibilities for high-speed air travel. At the same time, these aircraft introduce engineering challenges that are often more demanding than those encountered in conventional aviation. Fuel systems, in particular, must operate safely under elevated temperatures, complex subsystem interactions, and demanding operating conditions. Addressing potential hazards early in the design process is therefore an important aspect of aircraft development. A recent study published in Aerospace, titled “Integrating Computer-Aided Design and Model-Based Systems Engineering for Early Zonal Hazard Analysis: Application to a Supersonic Aircraft Fuel System”, presents a framework that combines Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to support hazard analysis during the conceptual design stage of a supersonic aircraft. Figure 1. Integrating CAD and MBSE for Early Zonal Hazard Analysis. Produced by MDPI Academic Video Service (Source: https://encyclopedia.pub/video/1819). 1. Safety Challenges in Supersonic Aircraft Design Safety assessment is a fundamental component of aircraft development. One commonly used approach is Zonal Safety Analysis (ZSA), which examines the interactions between systems and components located within specific areas of an aircraft. Traditionally, these assessments rely heavily on documentation, engineering reviews, and expert judgement. As aircraft systems become increasingly interconnected, however, potential hazards often arise not only from individual components but also from their interactions with surrounding structures and neighboring systems. In supersonic aircraft, fuel systems may be affected by thermal loads, environmental control systems, structural elements, and propulsion-related components. Detecting these interactions late in development can result in costly redesigns and extended development schedules. For this reason, there is growing interest in approaches that enable safety considerations to be incorporated earlier in the design process. 2. Linking System Architecture and Aircraft Geometry The framework proposed in this study combines two complementary engineering tools. CAD models provide detailed information about the physical arrangement of aircraft structures and subsystems, allowing engineers to evaluate component placement, spatial relationships, and potential thermal or structural concerns. MBSE, by contrast, focuses on system functionality and interactions. It provides a structured representation of how different subsystems communicate, exchange resources, and respond to failures. By integrating these two approaches, the framework links aircraft geometry with system architecture, enabling hazard analysis to be performed while the aircraft configuration is still evolving. Information from CAD models can inform system-level assessments, while the results of safety analyses can guide subsequent design modifications. This iterative process supports the refinement of both subsystem layouts and system architecture throughout conceptual development. 3. The SA-24 Phoenix Fuel System To demonstrate the framework, the researchers applied it to the fuel system of the conceptual supersonic aircraft SA-24 Phoenix. The study examined several hazards associated with fuel-system operation in a high-speed aircraft environment, including fuel vaporization caused by elevated temperatures, fuel tank over-pressurization, leakage scenarios, and structural fatigue resulting from thermal stresses. The analysis incorporated established safety assessment methods, including Functional Hazard Analysis (FHA), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), while also considering relevant certification requirements derived from EASA CS-25 standards. Using the integrated CAD–MBSE framework, the researchers were able to evaluate both the physical arrangement of system components and the functional relationships between subsystems, providing a more comprehensive view of potential risks during early design stages. 4. Hazard Pathways and Mitigation Measures The analysis identified several subsystem interactions that could contribute to safety risks. For example, heat generated by environmental control system ducting could influence fuel temperatures, while the proximity of fuel-system components to other aircraft systems created additional considerations for hazard management. The integrated framework also allowed potential mitigation measures to be evaluated during conceptual design. These included thermal insulation, thermal shielding, increased subsystem separation, redundant venting arrangements, and structural fire barriers. Because hazard analysis and design evaluation were conducted within a connected modeling environment, potential design changes could be assessed and incorporated earlier than would typically be possible using conventional document-based approaches. According to the study, the proposed framework resulted in an estimated reduction of up to 40% in Risk Priority Number (RPN) values for key thermal hazard pathways. The authors also report an approximately 25% reduction in conceptual design iteration time compared with traditional approaches. 5. Implications for Future Aircraft Programs Although demonstrated using a supersonic fuel system, the framework has potential applications beyond this specific case study. Many modern aircraft contain highly integrated subsystems whose interactions can be difficult to evaluate using conventional methods alone. The study reflects a broader shift toward digital engineering practices within aerospace development. By connecting geometric models, system architecture, and safety assessment activities, integrated digital frameworks can improve traceability between design decisions and safety requirements while supporting more informed engineering decisions throughout development. 6. Conclusion The study demonstrates how CAD and MBSE can be integrated to support zonal hazard analysis during the earliest stages of aircraft design. Using the SA-24 Phoenix fuel system as a case study, the authors show how linking physical and functional models can help identify potential hazards, evaluate mitigation strategies, and support safety-informed design decisions before detailed development begins. As aircraft systems continue to grow in complexity, approaches that enable earlier assessment of subsystem interactions may become increasingly valuable. While further refinement and validation are still needed, the framework presented in this work highlights the potential of digital engineering tools to support more efficient development processes and earlier identification of safety issues in future aircraft programs.
Blog 18 Jun 2026
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AI, Job Anxiety, and ESG: Insights from the Banking Sector
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly visible in the banking sector, including in activities related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. As financial institutions explore new ways to use AI in decision support, reporting, and operational processes, attention is also turning to how employees respond to these technological changes. While AI is often discussed in terms of efficiency and innovation, its growing presence in the workplace has also raised concerns about job security, changing work responsibilities, and future career prospects. A recent study published in Sustainability, titled "AI-Induced Job Anxiety and the Perceived Effectiveness of AI-Enabled ESG Initiatives: Evidence from Bank Employees", examines this human dimension of AI adoption. Rather than focusing on technological performance alone, the study investigates how AI-related job anxiety influences employees’ perceptions of AI-enabled ESG initiatives and explores the roles of motivation and knowledge development in this process. Figure 1. AI-Induced Job Anxiety and the Perceived Effectiveness of AI-Enabled ESG Initiatives: Evidence from Bank Employees. Produced by MDPI Academic Video Service (Source: https://encyclopedia.pub/video/1820). 1. AI Adoption and Employee Concerns As banks continue to invest in digital technologies, AI is increasingly being considered as a tool that can support ESG-related activities. At the same time, the expansion of AI in the workplace has generated concerns among employees regarding automation, changing job requirements, and the possibility of workforce displacement. These concerns have attracted growing attention from researchers, particularly as organizations seek to balance technological transformation with employee engagement and workforce development. Understanding how employees perceive AI-related change is becoming an important part of successful digital transformation strategies. 2. Can Job Anxiety Influence Perceptions? Job anxiety is often viewed as a negative consequence of technological change. Employees who worry about the impact of AI on their careers may be expected to resist new technologies or view organizational initiatives less favorably. However, the authors of this study propose a more nuanced perspective. Drawing on Challenge–Hindrance Stressor Theory and cognitive appraisal theory, they suggest that AI-related anxiety may not always function solely as a barrier. Under certain circumstances, anxiety may also influence how employees interpret and evaluate organizational initiatives associated with technological change. To explore this possibility, the researchers surveyed 858 employees from a major commercial bank. Using structural equation modeling, they examined the relationships among AI-induced job anxiety, employee motivation, AI knowledge, ESG knowledge, and perceptions of the effectiveness of AI-enabled ESG initiatives. 3. What the Study Found The results revealed an interesting pattern. Employees who reported higher levels of AI-related job anxiety tended to perceive AI-enabled ESG initiatives as more effective. This finding suggests that anxiety does not necessarily translate into negative evaluations of organizational innovation. Instead, employees who are more concerned about the impact of AI may pay closer attention to AI-related developments and their potential role within the organization. At the same time, the study found that AI-induced job anxiety did not significantly increase employee motivation, nor did it contribute directly to greater AI knowledge or ESG knowledge. In other words, concern about AI alone did not encourage employees to learn more about the technology or become more engaged in sustainability-related topics. 4. The Importance of Motivation and Knowledge While anxiety showed limited influence on learning outcomes, motivation emerged as a more important factor. The study found that motivated employees were more likely to develop knowledge related to both AI and ESG. In turn, knowledge development contributed positively to perceptions of the effectiveness of AI-enabled ESG initiatives. These findings suggest that organizations seeking to support AI adoption should focus not only on technological implementation but also on creating opportunities for employee learning and professional development. Building AI literacy and ESG-related knowledge may help employees better understand and engage with organizational initiatives involving emerging technologies. 5. Implications for Banks and Organizations The findings highlight the importance of considering employee experiences during digital transformation. AI adoption is often discussed from a technological or strategic perspective, yet employee perceptions can play a significant role in determining how organizational initiatives are received. For financial institutions pursuing AI-enabled ESG strategies, the study suggests that employee concerns should not automatically be interpreted as resistance. While anxiety may increase attention to technological change, it does not necessarily lead to the acquisition of new knowledge or skills. As AI becomes more deeply integrated into organizational processes, workforce development, communication, and training may become increasingly important components of successful implementation strategies. 6. Conclusion The study provides an interesting perspective on the relationship between technological change and employee perceptions. Rather than acting solely as an obstacle, AI-related job anxiety was associated with more positive evaluations of the effectiveness of AI-enabled ESG initiatives. However, anxiety alone did not enhance motivation or promote greater knowledge of AI and ESG topics. The findings suggest that successful AI adoption depends not only on technological capability but also on employee learning, engagement, and organizational support. As financial institutions continue to integrate AI into ESG-related activities, understanding these human factors may become increasingly important for achieving long-term organizational goals.
Blog 10 Jun 2026
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Ongoing
Encyclopedia Journal Receives Its First CiteScore of 10.1
We are pleased to share that Encyclopedia has been assigned its first CiteScore of 10.1 in June 2026, following its inclusion in Scopus (Elsevier) in 2025. The CiteScore ranks the journal 20 out of 223 titles (Q1) in Multidisciplinary area, an impressive achievement for a journal running in Volume 6. You can find more statistics on our website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/encyclopedia/stats. The current CiteScores measure the average number of citations within a journal over a four-year window (2022–2025). The Scopus database provides a comprehensive suite of metrics that support informed publishing strategies, research evaluation and enable benchmarking of journal performance. This achievement reflects the collective efforts of our authors, reviewers, and editors. Together we will continue to track the progress of Encyclopedia and its growing impact in multidisciplinary research.
Announcement 04 Jun 2026
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AI vs AI: The Next Cybersecurity Battlefield
For years, cybersecurity has been a game of asymmetric warfare. Human defenders, outnumbered and outpaced, have fought against an endless tide of malware, phishing, and brute-force attacks. But the rules are changing. The rise of generative and autonomous artificial intelligence has turned this silent war into a lightning-fast duel of algorithms. Welcome to the next cybersecurity battlefield: AI versus AI. Attackers no longer need to write painstaking lines of exploit code. They now deploy Large Language Models (LLMs) to craft spear-phishing emails that perfectly mimic a boss’s tone, generate polymorphic malware that rewrites itself each time it infects a machine, and automate the discovery of zero-day vulnerabilities in hours instead of weeks. On the other side, defenders counter with AI-driven security orchestration, real-time anomaly detection, and adversarial training. The battlefield is no longer human versus machine; it is machine versus machine, with milliseconds determining the victor (Figure 1). Figure 1. Flowchart illustrating the evolving cybersecurity arms race between offensive and defensive AI systems. 1. The Rise of Offensive AI The democratization of AI models has lowered the barrier to cybercrime. Malicious actors now use AI to scale attacks that were once too labor-intensive. Consider the traditional phishing email: usually riddled with grammatical errors and suspicious links. Offensive AI changes that. By ingesting a target’s public social media data, an AI can generate a highly personalized message, referencing recent projects or inside jokes. According to a recent industry analysis, AI-generated phishing emails have click-through rates comparable to legitimate internal communications, making them nearly impossible for humans to spot [1]. Beyond deception, AI enables adaptive malware. Traditional signature-based antivirus fails against code that rewrites its own logic on every execution. Using generative adversarial networks (GANs), attackers can create malware variants that evade even behavior-based detection systems. A 2025 report noted that AI-driven ransomware can now identify high-value files, encrypt them, and negotiate ransom amounts dynamically based on the victim’s financial data scraped from compromised systems [2]. Worst of all is the automation of reconnaissance. AI agents can sweep through networks silently, learning patterns of legitimate traffic, mapping user behaviors, and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. This is not a future threat; it is already happening. 2. The Defensive Counter-Revolution In response, defenders are weaponizing AI as well. Modern Security Operations Centers (SOCs) are drowning in alerts, thousands per day, most of them false positives. AI-powered Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems now filter this noise, correlating events across endpoints, clouds, and identities. But the real game-changer is Autonomous Detection and Response (ADR). Unlike rule-based systems, ADR platforms use unsupervised learning to establish a baseline of “normal” activity across a network. When an offensive AI begins its reconnaissance, ADR spots the subtle statistical anomalies, a user account logging in from two continents within seconds, or a process writing encrypted data at an unusual speed, and triggers countermeasures before any damage is done. One of the most promising defensive techniques is adversarial machine learning. Here, defenders train their models on attacks generated by rival AIs. In effect, they create a "digital immune system" that has already seen millions of variations in AI-driven malware. These models can then predict and block mutations in real time [3]. Leading tech firms have deployed so-called “AI referees” that sit between networks and external traffic, analyzing every packet’s intent rather than just its signature. 3. The Cat-and-Mouse Game Accelerates What makes AI vs AI unique is the speed of the arms race. Human hackers need days or weeks to reverse-engineer a defense and craft a new exploit. An offensive AI can do it in seconds. For example, a defensive AI might learn to block a certain pattern of SQL injection attempts. Within minutes, an offensive AI can generate thousands of novel injection strings, test which one bypasses the filter, and launch a refined attack. This forces defenders to adopt real-time model updating, a practice known as "continuous learning" in cybersecurity. Yet this speed comes with a dangerous side effect: model poisoning. Attackers have learned to feed defensive AIs deliberately crafted false data, causing them to mislabel malicious activity as benign. Thus, the battle is not just about who has the smarter AI, but who can better protect the integrity of their AI’s training data. 4. The Human Element Remains Despite the machine-versus-machine frenzy, cybersecurity professionals are far from obsolete. Their role is shifting from front-line warrior to strategic commander. Humans now design the reward functions that guide defensive AI, investigate edge cases that confuse models, and make ethical judgments, like whether an automated counterattack is legal or proportionate. In fact, the most effective teams operate as "centaurs": humans and AI collaborating, each covering the other’s blind spots. AI provides speed and scale; humans provide context and creativity. Regulation is also entering the fray. Governments are debating rules for offensive AI use, especially for nation-state actors. The emerging consensus is that any AI used in active defense must have a "human-in-the-loop" for actions like isolating critical infrastructure or deploying counter-hacking measures. Without such safeguards, an autonomous AI war could spiral into chaos, two machine learning models recursively attacking each other, consuming bandwidth and compute, while real assets are left exposed. 5. The Future Battlefield Looking ahead three to five years, several scenarios are plausible. The first is a stalemate where offensive and defensive AI evolve in lockstep, forcing attackers to return to low-tech methods like social engineering. The second, more alarming scenario is the "AI breakout", when a single offensive AI discovers a novel exploit that renders all current defenses useless, leading to a wave of catastrophic breaches before a patch is developed. The third is a regulated equilibrium, where governments mandate AI safety standards for cybersecurity tools, much like they do for automobiles and medical devices. What is certain is that the era of purely human-led defense is over. Every enterprise, from local hospitals to global banks, must now invest in AI-driven security or be annihilated by AI-driven crime. The next great cybersecurity battlefield is not a place. It is a neural network versus another neural network, fighting silently in the cloud, with our digital lives as the prize. 6. Conclusion AI vs AI is not a Hollywood fantasy; it is the new reality of cyber conflict. Offensive AI lowers the skill floor for attackers while raising the speed ceiling for everyone. Defensive AI offers the only hope of keeping pace. As we have seen, this cat-and-mouse game has become instantaneous, relentless, and unforgiving. For security professionals, the message is clear: learn to harness, trust, and verify your AI defenders, because on the other side of the firewall, another AI is already learning how to beat them. References Heiding, F.; Lermen, S.; Kao, A.; Schneier, B.; Vishwanath, A. Evaluating Large Language Models' Capability to Launch Fully Automated Spear Phishing Campaigns: Validated on Human Subjects. 2024, arXiv preprint arXiv:2412.00586. Faddom. AI and Ransomware: The Double-Edged Sword. Faddom Inc. 2025, Available online: https://faddom.com/ai-and-ransomware-the-double-edged-sword/ (Accessed on 29 April 2026). Huang, W.; Chu, D.-T.; Bai, L.-Y.; Kang, W.; Zhang, H.-T.; Li, B.; Han, Z.-M.; Ge, J.; et al. EvoMail: Self-Evolving Cognitive Agents for Adaptive Spam and Phishing Email Defense. 2025, arXiv preprint arXiv:2509.21129. Biography Dr. Hamed Taherdoost is an award-winning researcher, educator, and R&D leader with over two decades of international experience across academia and industry. He is a Professor at University Canada West and holds academic affiliations with Westcliff University (USA), GISMA University of Applied Sciences (Germany), and Victorian Institute of Technology (Australia). He is a GUS Institute Fellow (UK), a Westcliff Faculty Fellow, and a Fellow at the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan. His work spans digital transformation, cybersecurity, AI, and technology innovation, with hundreds of high-impact publications. Dr. Taherdoost serves as Book Series Editor for Routledge’s Mastering Academic Excellence and holds editorial roles with leading international journals.
Blog 03 Jun 2026
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European Maize Landraces and the Future of Crop Diversity
Traditional maize landraces have long been part of Europe’s agricultural history. Developed through centuries of farmer selection and local adaptation, these varieties reflect the environmental, cultural, and farming conditions of different regions across the continent. Although modern hybrid breeding has transformed maize production, many of these older landraces remain preserved in European genebanks, where they represent an important reservoir of genetic diversity. Today, this diversity is receiving renewed attention. As agriculture faces increasing pressure from climate change, environmental stress, and the demand for sustainable crop production, researchers are looking back to traditional genetic resources for traits that may support future crop improvement. A recent study published in Biology, titled “Genetic and Phenotypic Evaluation of European Maize Landraces as a Tool for Conservation and Valorization of Agrobiodiversity”, explores how large-scale genetic and field-based evaluation can help reveal the value of European maize landraces and support both their conservation and practical use. Figure 1. Genetic and Phenotypic Evaluation of European Maize Landraces. Produced by MDPI academic video service (Source: https://encyclopedia.pub/video/1816). 1. From Historical Cultivation to Modern Research Maize was introduced to Europe in the late fifteenth century following its arrival from the Americas. Over time, farmers selected and cultivated maize populations adapted to local climates, soils, and agricultural practices. This long process of adaptation generated a remarkable diversity of landraces across Europe. Unlike modern commercial hybrids, landraces are genetically heterogeneous populations. Their diversity may provide greater adaptability to changing environmental conditions, making them potentially valuable for breeding programs focused on resilience and sustainability. Despite the large number of maize landraces preserved in European genebanks, many remain insufficiently characterized, limiting their broader use in crop improvement programs. 2. The EVA Maize Network To better understand and utilize European maize diversity, the ECPGR European Evaluation Network (EVA) was established as a collaborative public–private initiative. The EVA Maize Network brings together genebanks, research institutes, and breeding companies across Europe with the shared goal of evaluating maize genetic resources conserved in European collections. In this study, 626 maize landraces from eight national collections were analyzed using high-throughput SNP genotyping. Because maize is naturally outcrossing and highly heterogeneous, multiple plants were sampled from each landrace and their DNA was pooled before genotyping. The analysis applied allele-frequency prediction models with statistical assignment thresholds to classify landraces into different genetic groups and investigate patterns of diversity across Europe. 3. Genetic Diversity Patterns The genetic analysis separated the maize landraces into nine major genetic groups. These clusters reflected both geographic origins and historical patterns of maize introduction and diversification across Europe. The findings illustrate how maize diversified after arriving on the continent, with local adaptation and historical breeding practices contributing to the formation of distinct regional populations. The study also showed that some breeding materials originated from combinations of different genetic groups, highlighting the historical exchange of germplasm across European agriculture. Importantly, the results demonstrate that European genebank collections preserve substantial genetic diversity with significant potential for future breeding applications. 4. Genetic Structure of European Maize Landraces To complement the molecular analysis, the researchers also conducted large-scale field evaluations. A total of 588 landraces were tested in multi-location field trials conducted across eleven European sites over three years. Five commercial hybrid varieties were included as reference standards to support comparisons between locations and growing seasons. The experiments evaluated key agronomic traits, including flowering time, plant height, and ear height. The results revealed substantial variability in agronomic performance among the evaluated landraces. However, the phenotypic groupings only partially matched the genetic clusters identified through SNP analysis. This finding suggests that environmental adaptation and complex trait interactions play important roles in shaping maize performance under field conditions. 5. Implications for Breeding and Conservation The study highlights the importance of combining molecular characterization with large-scale phenotypic evaluation when assessing crop genetic resources. European maize landraces may contain traits associated with stress tolerance and local adaptation that could be valuable for future breeding programs. These characteristics may help support the development of maize varieties better suited to changing environmental conditions and more sustainable agricultural systems. At the same time, the research demonstrates the value of collaborative evaluation networks such as EVA. By integrating genebank resources, genetic analysis, and field testing across multiple countries, the project provides a more systematic framework for identifying useful breeding material. This approach may help bridge the gap between conservation and agricultural application. Rather than serving only as historical collections, maize landraces can become active genetic resources for crop improvement and food security. 6. Looking Forward As climate variability continues to challenge agricultural systems worldwide, maintaining crop genetic diversity is becoming increasingly important. Modern breeding depends heavily on access to diverse genetic resources capable of supporting resilience, productivity, and environmental adaptation. The combination of high-throughput genotyping and multi-environment field trials presented in this study offers a valuable strategy for unlocking the potential of European maize collections. Beyond maize itself, the work also provides a broader framework for evaluating and conserving agrobiodiversity in other crop species. Ultimately, the study reinforces the importance of preserving traditional landraces not only as part of agricultural heritage, but also as valuable resources for the future of sustainable agriculture.
Blog 28 May 2026
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Why Phosphorus Management Matters in Kidney Failure
Phosphorus plays an essential role in the human body, supporting bone health, energy production, and many cellular processes. Under normal conditions, the kidneys maintain phosphate balance by removing excess phosphorus through urine. However, as kidney function declines, this balance becomes increasingly difficult to maintain, allowing phosphate to accumulate in the bloodstream. This condition, known as hyperphosphatemia, has become an important concern in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure because of its close relationship with cardiovascular complications, bone disorders, and poorer clinical outcomes. A recent review published in Nutrients, titled “Hyperphosphatemia in Kidney Failure: Pathophysiology, Challenges, and Critical Role of Phosphorus Management”, discusses the biological mechanisms behind phosphate imbalance and the ongoing challenges of phosphorus control in clinical care. Figure 1. Hyperphosphatemia in Kidney Failure. Produced by MDPI academic video service (source: https://encyclopedia.pub/video/1810). 1. How Kidney Disease Disrupts Phosphate Balance In healthy individuals, phosphate levels are regulated through interactions between the kidneys, intestines, bones, and several hormones, including parathyroid hormone (PTH), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), and vitamin D. Among these systems, the kidneys play the primary role by filtering and excreting excess phosphate. As kidney function gradually declines, the body initially attempts to compensate. Levels of FGF-23 and PTH rise in order to increase phosphate excretion and maintain normal serum phosphate levels. Over time, however, these compensatory mechanisms become less effective, leading to phosphate retention and eventually hyperphosphatemia. The review also highlights the role of αKlotho, a protein involved in FGF-23 signaling. Reduced αKlotho expression in CKD appears to further impair phosphate regulation and may also contribute to cardiovascular complications and disease progression. 2. Why High Phosphate Levels Are a Concern One of the most significant concerns surrounding hyperphosphatemia is its association with cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death in patients with kidney failure. Elevated phosphate levels can contribute to vascular calcification, a process in which calcium-phosphate deposits accumulate within blood vessel walls. This gradually increases arterial stiffness and places additional strain on the cardiovascular system. Phosphate imbalance is also closely linked to chronic kidney disease–mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). Elevated phosphate and PTH levels disrupt normal bone remodeling, increasing the risk of fractures and other skeletal complications. In addition, the review notes that elevated FGF-23 levels have been associated with left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, and increased mortality risk in CKD patients, further illustrating the broad systemic effects of phosphate dysregulation. 3. The Difficulty of Managing Hyperphosphatemia Although several treatment strategies are available, phosphorus management remains challenging in clinical practice. Dialysis can remove phosphate from the bloodstream, but conventional dialysis is often unable to fully control phosphate balance because much of the body’s phosphate is stored in bone and tissues rather than circulating in blood. As a result, phosphate levels can rise again relatively quickly after treatment. Dietary phosphate restriction is another key strategy, but maintaining adequate nutrition while limiting phosphorus intake is not always straightforward. Many protein-rich foods naturally contain phosphate, and processed foods frequently include phosphate additives that are highly absorbable. Phosphate binders are commonly prescribed to reduce intestinal phosphate absorption, but these medications can add substantially to pill burden and may affect long-term treatment adherence. The review also discusses newer therapeutic approaches, including intestinal phosphate transport inhibitors such as tenapanor, which may offer additional options for phosphate control. 4. Looking Forward While phosphorus management is widely considered an important component of CKD care, several questions remain unresolved. The optimal target range for serum phosphate is still debated, and evidence demonstrating that aggressive phosphate lowering directly improves long-term survival remains limited. Future research will likely focus on improving understanding of phosphate-related hormonal pathways, including FGF-23 and Klotho signaling, while also exploring treatment strategies that better balance phosphate control, nutritional needs, and quality of life. 5. Conclusion Hyperphosphatemia is more than a simple laboratory abnormality in kidney disease. It reflects a complex disruption of mineral metabolism that is closely associated with cardiovascular disease, bone complications, and increased mortality risk in patients with CKD and kidney failure. As research continues to evolve, a deeper understanding of phosphate biology may help support more individualized and effective treatment strategies for patients living with kidney disease.
Blog 20 May 2026
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From Hype to Value: Bridging the Reality Gap in AI Deployment
Last year, a mid-sized European retailer unveiled an AI-powered demand-forecasting engine with palpable excitement. The board had seen the dazzling demos, the promise of 20% stock-out reduction, and a sleek dashboard pulsing with predictive insight. Eight months later, the system was quietly shelved. It turned out the data lakes were full of inconsistent product codes, store managers did not trust the recommendations, and no one had defined how a forecast should actually change a replenishment order. The algorithm, brilliant in a sandbox, met a messy, human organization and lost. This story is far from unique. Across industries, the chasm between a compelling proof-of-concept and sustained, scaled value remains stubbornly wide. Research firm Gartner captured the zeitgeist bluntly, predicting that by 2025 at least 30% of generative AI projects would be abandoned after the pilot phase, not because the technology failed, but because of poor data quality, escalating costs, and unclear business value 1. The question for leaders today is no longer “Can we build it?” but “How do we bridge the reality gap and turn AI hype into durable returns?” (Figure 1). Figure 1. A visual flowchart showing how organizations move from AI hype to sustained value by building four bridges: business alignment, data readiness, last‑mile adoption, and governance. 1. The Hype Machine Artificial intelligence is enjoying its latest and loudest moment in the sun. From boardroom mandates to government task forces, the narrative is one of inevitability: automate everything, personalize every interaction, predict every failure. A McKinsey global survey found that 65% of organizations are now regularly using generative AI, nearly double the figure from just ten months prior 2. Venture capital pours billions into AI startups, and conference halls echo with tales of autonomous enterprises. Yet behind the curtain, the same survey revealed that fewer than a third of companies have managed to shrink the gap between experimentation and enterprise-wide deployment. Most are stuck in “pilot purgatory”, running dozens of small experiments that never accumulate into a meaningful bottom-line shift. The hype has outpaced the operational muscle needed to digest it. 2. The Reality Gap: Where AI Stumbles The reality gap is not a single fault line; it is a collection of cracks that widen under pressure. Firstly, many projects start with technology in search of a problem. An IT team acquires a state-of-the-art model, only to discover that the business team needed a simple rules-based automation. Secondly, data, the lifeblood of any AI system, is often fragmented, biased, or locked in legacy systems. A model trained on pristine historical data can produce nonsense when fed real-time, noisy operational feeds. Thirdly, the human element, the “last mile” of AI deployment, is routinely underestimated. Employees revert to gut instinct if they do not understand why a recommendation was made, or if it threatens their expertise. Finally, governance and ethical safeguards arrive as an afterthought, triggering regulatory or reputational fire alarms that freeze adoption. 3. Bridge #1: Anchor in Business Problems, Not Technology The first bridge back to reality is a disciplined refusal to start with the algorithm. High-performing organizations begin with a sharp, measurable business problem: reducing customer churn in a specific segment, cutting energy consumption on a particular production line, or slashing invoice-processing time by 50%. They then identify the minimum viable prediction, classification, or generation task that would materially move that metric. This demand-led approach forces the team to articulate the expected ROI before a single line of code is written, and it creates a natural scorecard for the project’s success. Equally importantly, it clarifies whether AI is even the right tool. In many cases, a well-designed business rule or a process simplification delivers most of the benefit with zero model risk. By anchoring in value, companies avoid the siren song of “AI for AI’s sake” and preserve credibility with stakeholders who will ultimately fund the next, more ambitious project. 4. Bridge #2: Data, The Unsexy Bedrock If business alignment is the compass, data readiness is the terrain. Bridging the gap requires an honest reckoning with what data actually exists, what state it is in, and who owns it. A model trained on a perfectly curated dataset in a cloud sandbox will fail the moment it encounters a misspelled product entry or a date field typed in three different formats. The unglamorous work of data engineering, building reliable pipelines, establishing master data management, and embedding real-time quality checks, is the single biggest determinant of whether an AI system will survive contact with reality. Forward-thinking companies appoint “data product” owners who are accountable for the availability, accuracy, and accessibility of critical data assets, treating them with the same rigor as physical products. They also invest in robust data labeling and feedback loops, ensuring that the model continues to learn from operational ground truth rather than drifting into irrelevance. 5. Bridge #3: People, Process, and the Last Mile Even a technically perfect model is worthless if a frontline worker ignores its output. The last mile of AI deployment is profoundly human. This necessitates designing an interface that makes the recommendation interpretable, explaining, for example, that the forecast suggests ordering 200 units because the upcoming holiday plus a competitor’s stock-out raises demand probability to 85%. It also means co-creating the system with the people who will use it, not tossing it over a wall from the data science lab. Additionally, it means redesigning the corresponding workflows so that the insight translates seamlessly into action: an alert that triggers an automated purchase order, a suggested next-best-offer that appears inside the customer-relationship-management tool a salesperson already uses. Change management is not a soft accessory; it is the engine of adoption. Davenport and Ronanki 3 emphasized that companies capturing real ROI from cognitive technologies had “redesigned the processes to take advantage of machine learning’s speed and scale, rather than simply overlaying AI on existing workflows”. That redesign often requires a new breed of “translator”, someone who speaks both business and data science, to bridge the two worlds continuously. 6. Bridge #4: Govern for Trust and Scale Without trust, AI stalls. Trust is built on transparency, fairness, and reliability. A governance framework that clearly defines data usage policies, model validation protocols, and human-in-the-loop oversight is not a bureaucratic drag; it is the scaffolding that allows AI to scale safely. When a bank’s credit model exhibits bias, or a hospital’s triage algorithm makes an inexplicable recommendation, the entire program can be mothballed overnight. Organizations that embed ethics and compliance from the outset, through impact assessments, bias audits, and explainability dashboards, avoid the costly stop–start cycles that doom so many initiatives. Moreover, governance includes financial discipline. Tracking actual costs versus benefits, and being willing to kill a project that does not meet its pre-agreed thresholds, keeps the portfolio healthy. McKinsey’s research shows that the organizations deriving the most value from AI are those that have moved beyond ad hoc experimentation to a factory model, where projects are run through a standardized “AI product lifecycle” with clear stage gates 2. 7. From Pilots to Platforms: A New Mindset Ultimately, bridging the reality gap demands a shift in mindset: AI is not a magic box but an operational capability that must be industrialized. That means adopting platforms, reusable components, and MLOps practices that bring the same rigor to machine learning that DevOps brought to software. It means celebrating not just the brilliance of a model’s accuracy, but the grit of making it run reliably at 2 a.m., and the discipline of measuring whether it actually saved money or grew revenue. The retailer that shelved its demand-forecasting engine eventually found its footing, not by building a better algorithm but by fixing product master data, involving store managers in feature selection, and starting with a single product category where the link between forecast and order was unambiguous. The pilot worked, and the proof was in the profit margin, not the PowerPoint slide. The path from hype to value is rarely a straight line. It is a deliberate journey of problem-first thinking, data discipline, human-centric design, and unwavering governance. The organizations that walk it will stop asking rhetorical questions about AI’s potential and start pointing to earnings statements. The gap is real, but so is the bridge. References Gartner. Gartner Predicts 30% of Generative AI Projects Will Be Abandoned After Proof of Concept By End of 2025.Gartner Press Release 2024. Available online: https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-07-29-gartner-predicts-30-percent-of-generative-ai-projects-will-be-abandoned-after-proof-of-concept-by-end-of-2025 (Accessed on 29 April 2026). McKinsey & Company. The state of AI in early 2024: Gen AI adoption spikes and starts to generate value. McKinsey Digital Available online: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/the-state-of-ai (Accessed on 29 April 2026). Davenport, T.H.; Ronanki, R. Artificial Intelligence for the Real World. Harv. Bus. Rev. 2018, 96, 108–116. Biography Dr. Hamed Taherdoost is an award-winning researcher, educator, and R&D leader with over two decades of international experience across academia and industry. He is a Professor at University Canada West and holds academic affiliations with Westcliff University (USA), GISMA University of Applied Sciences (Germany), and Victorian Institute of Technology (Australia). He is a GUS Institute Fellow (UK), a Westcliff Faculty Fellow, and a Fellow at the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan. His work spans digital transformation, cybersecurity, AI, and technology innovation, with hundreds of high-impact publications. Dr. Taherdoost serves as Book Series Editor for Routledge’s Mastering Academic Excellence and holds editorial roles with leading international journals.
Blog 13 May 2026
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How Scholars Access Knowledge Today
Accessing academic knowledge today is easier than ever. Yet as the volume of scholarly information continues to grow, locating, interpreting, and connecting relevant knowledge remains a complex task. From research articles and databases to emerging platforms and structured knowledge resources, scholars rely on multiple approaches to navigate this evolving landscape. 1. Knowledge Access as a Foundation of Scholarly Work Access to academic knowledge involves more than the availability of information. While scholarly content is increasingly accessible through digital platforms, it is often distributed across different systems and presented within highly specialized contexts. As a result, engaging with academic knowledge typically requires navigating multiple sources and connecting insights across publications. This process involves not only locating information, but also interpreting and integrating it within a broader conceptual framework. 2. How Scholars Access Academic Knowledge Scholars access academic knowledge through a range of interconnected systems, each supporting different functions within the research and learning process. These systems can be broadly understood in terms of how they produce, organize, and disseminate knowledge. Peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers remain the primary sources of original research, presenting new findings and advancing knowledge within specific fields. Review articles provide synthesis of existing research, helping to contextualize individual studies and identify broader trends within a discipline. Citation databases and academic search tools such as Scilit, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus support the discovery and retrieval of scholarly literature, enabling users to locate relevant publications efficiently. Academic networking and profiling platforms, including SciProfiles and ResearchGate, facilitate visibility, interaction, and the sharing of research outputs within scholarly communities. Preprint servers such as Preprints.org and arXiv enable the early dissemination of research findings prior to formal peer review, supporting more rapid communication of emerging work. In addition, encyclopedias provide a structured way of accessing established knowledge, supporting topic-level understanding and conceptual orientation. Taken together, these systems form a complementary ecosystem, in which different approaches support different stages of knowledge production, discovery, and understanding. 3. Encyclopedias in Knowledge Access Among these approaches, encyclopedias are characterized by their emphasis on the structured organization and synthesis of knowledge. They present information in a concise and accessible form, helping users grasp key concepts, understand relationships between topics, and navigate broader knowledge domains. In practice, encyclopedias can be broadly divided into general and academic forms. General encyclopedias are typically designed to support broad exploration and initial understanding of unfamiliar topics, while academic encyclopedias are more specialized and support engagement with scholarly knowledge at a deeper level. From an information science perspective, encyclopedias are generally classified as tertiary sources. In academic library and information literacy frameworks, tertiary sources are defined as resources that summarize and synthesize information from primary and secondary sources to provide background understanding of a topic. Encyclopedias are widely recognized as representative examples of this category, as they organize existing knowledge rather than present original research. As part of the broader knowledge ecosystem, encyclopedias contribute to knowledge access by offering structured and synthesized representations of existing knowledge.
Blog 06 May 2026
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How Artificial Intelligence Could Improve Prognosis in Neuroendocrine Tumors
Gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms are among the most biologically diverse tumors in oncology. These rare cancers arise throughout the digestive system and pancreas, and their clinical behavior can vary widely from one patient to another. Some tumors grow slowly over many years, while others progress much more aggressively. This variability makes prognosis particularly difficult, as patients with apparently similar diagnoses can experience very different clinical outcomes. Against this background, a recent review published in Cancers, titled "Artificial Intelligence for Prognosis of Gastro-Entero-Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms", examines how artificial intelligence may help improve prognostic assessment in this complex disease. By analyzing clinical, imaging, and pathological information together, AI-based models could eventually support more individualized management for patients with these uncommon tumors. Figure 1. Artificial Intelligence for Prognosis of Gastro-Entero-Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms. Produced by MDPI academic video service (source: https://encyclopedia.pub/video/1796). 1. Why Prognosis Remains Challenging The difficulty in managing GEP-NENs lies largely in their heterogeneity. Tumors can differ not only in anatomical location but also in biological behavior. A lesion in the pancreas may behave very differently from one in the small intestine, even when the two appear similar under standard pathological evaluation. Current prognosis usually depends on factors such as tumor grade, disease stage, primary site, and the Ki-67 proliferation index. These markers remain essential, but they do not always explain the full clinical picture. In practice, physicians often see patients whose disease behaves differently from what standard classifications would predict. Because treatment decisions often depend on expected disease course, improving prognostic accuracy remains an important goal. 2. The Limits of Traditional Models Traditional prognostic models are generally based on statistical methods that examine a limited number of variables at a time. While these tools provide useful clinical guidance, they can struggle to capture the complex interactions that influence tumor progression. Clinical outcomes in GEP-NENs may be shaped by multiple factors simultaneously, including imaging characteristics, molecular markers, prior treatments, and patient-specific health conditions. These relationships are rarely simple or linear. As a result, conventional prediction models may not fully reflect the biological complexity of the disease, which has encouraged interest in more advanced analytical approaches. 3. What Artificial Intelligence Can Add Artificial intelligence offers a different way to examine medical data. Instead of evaluating isolated variables, machine learning models can process large datasets and identify patterns across multiple sources of information at the same time. For neuroendocrine tumors, this may include: clinical history radiological imaging pathological findings molecular data By combining these data types, AI models may detect relationships that would be difficult to recognize using conventional analysis alone. This could help generate more refined estimates of disease progression and survival. Importantly, the goal is not to replace clinical judgment, but to provide additional information that may assist physicians in making more informed decisions. 4. Early Results from Prognostic Studies Several studies discussed in the review suggest that machine learning models may improve prognostic prediction in selected patient groups. Some early investigations found that machine learning approaches, including random survival forest models and neural networks, showed stronger predictive performance than conventional staging systems within specific datasets. These models were better able to account for non-linear relationships between clinical variables and patient outcomes. Although these findings are encouraging, the authors also emphasize that most available studies remain limited by: retrospective study design small patient cohorts single-center datasets lack of external validation Because of these limitations, AI-based models should still be considered investigational rather than established clinical tools. 5. Imaging as a Source of Hidden Information Medical imaging may become one of the most valuable areas for AI in GEP-NEN research. Patients often undergo CT, MRI, and PET imaging during diagnosis and follow-up, and these scans contain more information than can be captured through visual interpretation alone. Artificial intelligence can analyze subtle imaging features through radiomics, extracting quantitative data that may correlate with tumor aggressiveness or likely response to treatment. Rather than simply showing where a tumor is located, future AI-enhanced imaging may help reveal how the tumor is likely to behave. 6. A Possible Role in Digital Pathology Pathology remains central to the diagnosis of neuroendocrine neoplasms, but interpretation can sometimes vary among specialists, especially in rare tumor types. AI-assisted digital pathology may help improve consistency by identifying microscopic features associated with prognosis. By analyzing tissue patterns at high resolution, machine learning systems may uncover additional prognostic signals that are not always evident through routine examination. At present, these tools are still developing, but they may eventually complement standard pathological assessment. 7. The Challenges Still Ahead Despite the growing interest in AI, important barriers remain before these systems can be used routinely in clinical care. One major challenge is data quality. Because GEP-NENs are rare tumors, many institutions do not have enough patients to build large training datasets. Small datasets can limit the reliability of machine learning models. Another concern is transparency. Some AI systems can produce predictions without clearly showing how those predictions were generated. In medicine, this raises concerns because clinicians need to understand and trust the tools they use in patient care. The review also notes that ethical issues, including data privacy and algorithmic bias, must be addressed before AI can be more widely integrated into oncology practice. 8. Moving Toward More Personalized Care The long-term potential of artificial intelligence lies in personalization. Rather than relying only on broad disease categories, future models may help estimate prognosis at the level of the individual patient. With better validation, AI could eventually assist clinicians when considering: surveillance strategies surgical timing systemic therapy selection treatment sequencing For patients with neuroendocrine tumors, where clinical behavior can be highly unpredictable, more individualized prognostic tools could help improve decision-making throughout the course of care. 9. Conclusion Gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms remain difficult to predict because of their biological diversity and variable clinical behavior. Traditional prognostic tools provide important information, but they do not always capture the full complexity of these tumors. Artificial intelligence offers a promising new direction by identifying patterns across clinical, imaging, and pathological data that may not be visible through conventional analysis. Although current evidence is still limited and further validation is needed, AI may eventually become a valuable decision-support tool in the management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors.
Blog 28 Apr 2026
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Breaking Out of the Database: How Video Abstracts Amplify Research Impact
In recent years, when browsing major academic journal websites, one may notice that many articles are accompanied by a playable video. This is not merely a superficial enrichment of format, but rather signals a shift in scholarly communication from static text to dynamic, interactive visual presentation. As a key medium in this transformation, video abstracts expand the communicative dimension of traditional text through visual storytelling. They not only present research innovations but also reshape how academic outputs connect with readers, the public, and future scholars. Understanding video abstracts has therefore become an essential part of grasping contemporary scholarly communication practices. 1. Why Video Abstracts Are Taking Off in Academic Communication The evolution of scholarly communication has always been closely aligned with the development of digital media ecosystems. Today, there are over 5.3 billion internet users worldwide, with more than 5 billion active social media users [1]. Video platforms such as YouTube and Instagram attract billions of monthly users. Cisco’s Visual Networking Index predicted that video would account for over 82% of global internet traffic [2]. Against this backdrop, traditional text-based formats alone can no longer fully meet the needs of research dissemination. With the widespread adoption of social media and video platforms, academic communication relying solely on text is no longer sufficient to reach broader audiences, including researchers, policymakers, and the general public. The popularity of official video channels such as Nature Video and Science Magazine, which have hundreds of thousands of subscribers, demonstrates the strong public engagement potential of video-based scientific communication [3]. Video abstracts have emerged in response to this trend. They transform structured research findings into shareable visual narratives, acting as an interface between academia and the broader digital space. The International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM), in its outlook on 2024 publishing technology trends, emphasizes the importance of user-centered innovation and the need to provide “digital natives” with more mobile, visual, and multimedia-rich forms of scholarly communication. This highlights a clear direction at the industry level. 2. Evidence Matters: Do Video Abstracts Really Enhance Research Impact? The core value of video abstracts lies in their ability to significantly improve visibility, reader engagement, and citation impact. A growing body of empirical research supports this claim. 2.1. The Metrics That Prove It In terms of increasing article attention, early studies have demonstrated a strong positive correlation between video abstracts and visibility. Spicer’s analysis found that among the top 25 and top 100 most-read articles, those with video abstracts were significantly overrepresented [4]. Regarding communication effectiveness, experimental research by Bredbenner et al. showed that, compared with graphical and traditional text abstracts, video abstracts ranked highest in terms of comprehension, user enjoyment, and willingness to follow future research updates. This indicates their effectiveness in improving both understanding and engagement [5]. In terms of measurable academic impact, a study by Zong et al. published in Scientometrics found that articles with video abstracts had an expected citation count 1.206 times higher than those without, representing an increase of approximately 20.6% [6]. Another cross-sectional study by Bonnevie et al. reported that articles with video abstracts showed an average increase of about 15% in citations, 35% in views, and 25% in Altmetric scores [7]. Publishing practice data further supports these findings. Wiley reports that articles with video abstracts achieve an 80% increase in full-text views on Wiley Online Library and a 10% higher Altmetric score. MDPI’s video service impact report also indicates that articles with video abstracts show increased views, downloads, and citations compared with those without. For example, Remote Sensing experienced the highest increase in views (up to 112.25%), while Journal of Clinical Medicine (JCM) showed the highest growth in downloads (47.19%) and citations (201.2%). Figure 1. MDPI video abstract impact report. Comparison of the effects of video abstracts on article views, downloads, and citations across four journals: JCM, Agronomy, Remote Sensing, and Nutrients. The analysis covers all articles published between 1 January 2023 and 31 October 2025. In this study, 30 articles accompanied by video abstracts produced by the MDPI Academic Video Service were included as the video abstract group, while the remaining 24,906 articles published during the same period without video abstracts were used as the control group [8]. These findings collectively demonstrate that video abstracts enhance both the academic depth and societal reach of research, achieving a dual impact on influence. 2.2. From Journals to Social Platforms Compared with traditional academic papers, video abstracts are more easily integrated into the dissemination mechanisms of social media and video platforms. This advantage is driven by both algorithmic preferences for video content and human cognitive processes. According to Mayer’s multimedia learning theory, combining text with images or video improves comprehension and memory retention. Research by Guo et al. further shows that shorter videos, especially those under six minutes, achieve significantly higher completion rates [9]. Video abstracts, typically 3–5 minutes in length, effectively present core research findings within a limited timeframe while avoiding cognitive overload. This format aligns well with contemporary patterns of fragmented information consumption, enabling broader dissemination of research outcomes. Moreover, a study in the European Journal of Sport Science found that professionally produced animated video abstracts significantly outperform text-based or author-produced videos in terms of attention, reach, and engagement on the X platform [10]. Leading institutions such as the University of Cambridge, Duke University, and the University of Hong Kong also recommend the use of video abstracts to enhance research visibility and impact, providing clear guidance for researchers, particularly early-career scholars. 3. Where Video Abstracts Make the Biggest Difference With increasing adoption, video abstracts are now applied across multiple stages of academic activities, all aimed at improving communication efficiency: Journal and database platforms: As supplementary materials, video abstracts help users quickly assess relevant information during literature searches. Academic conferences and seminars: They enable audiences to grasp key findings rapidly, allowing discussions to focus on substantive issues. Grant applications and research reporting: They provide intuitive presentations of innovation and methodology within limited evaluation time. Interdisciplinary collaboration: They offer a more accessible communication tool, reducing barriers between researchers from different fields. Teaching and science communication: They help non-specialist audiences understand complex research topics. The practical value of video abstracts is becoming increasingly evident. Through diverse application scenarios, they promote academic exchange and collaboration while demonstrating unique advantages across multiple domains. 4. What’s Next for Video in Research Communication The rise in video abstracts is not accidental but reflects the combined evolution of open science, digital publishing, and diversified communication formats. As research dissemination expands across platforms and multimedia environments, text-centered formats alone are no longer sufficient. Major academic publishers—including MDPI, Springer Nature, Elsevier, Wiley, and Taylor & Francis—have already incorporated video abstracts into journal platforms and author guidelines, recognizing them as an important tool for enhancing visibility and dissemination. In this context, MDPI’s Academic Video Service provides comprehensive support centered on video abstracts, including scriptwriting, animation design, professional voiceover, and multi-platform promotion. These videos can be directly embedded into article pages, improving dissemination efficiency while enhancing the traceability and long-term visibility of academic outputs. Figure 2. MDPI academic video service. References [1] Digital 2024: Global Overview Report. Available online: https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2024-global-overview-report (accessed on 15 January 2026) [2] Cisco Predicts More IP Traffic in the Next Five Years Than in the History of the Internet. Available online: https://newsroom.cisco.com/c/r/newsroom/en/us/a/y2018/m11/cisco-predicts-more-ip-traffic-in-the-next-five-years-than-in-the-history-of-the-internet.html?utm_source.com (accessed on 15 January 2026) [3] Huang, S.; Weng, Y.; Yang, Q. Current Status and Development Strategies of Science Journal Video Channels on WeChat: A Case Study of Chinese Academy of Sciences Journals. Chin. J. Sci. Tech. Period. Res. 2023, 34, 1392–1398. [4] Spicer, S. Exploring Video Abstracts in Science Journals: An Overview and Case Study. J. Librariansh. Sch. Commun. 2014, 2, eP1110. [5] Bredbenner K.; Simon S.M. Video abstracts and plain language summaries are more effective than graphical abstracts and published abstracts. PLOS ONE 2019, 14, e0224697. [6] Zong, Q.; Xie, Y.; Tuo, R.; Huang, J.; Yang, Y. The impact of video abstract on citation counts: evidence from a retrospective cohort study of New Journal of Physics. Scientometrics 2019, 119, 1715–1727. [7] Bonnevie, T.; Repel, A.; Gravier, F.E.; Ladner, J.; Sibert, L.; Muir, J.F.; Cuvelier, A.; Fischer, M.O. Video abstracts are associated with an increase in research reports citations, views and social attention: a cross-sectional study. Scientometrics 2023, 128, 3001–3015. [8] MDPI Video Abstract Impact Report 2025. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/insights/impact-report-2025-how-mdpi-video-abstracts-enhance-research-visibility(accessed on 15 January 2026) [9] Guo, P.J.; Kim, J.; Robin, R. How video production affects student engagement: an empirical study of MOOC videos. Proceedings of the first ACM conference on Learning @ scale conference; Association for Computing Machinery: New York, USA. 2014, 41–50. 10.1145/2556325.2566239. [10] Erskine, N.; Hendricks, S. What is the effect of posting video abstracts on journal article impact? J. Vis. Commun. Med. 2024, 47, 47-55. doi: 10.1080/17453054.2024.2423087.
Blog 20 Apr 2026
encyclopedia>
Ongoing
MDPI Academic Video Service: Advancing Visual Scholarly Communication
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. 1. Highlights of the Upgrades to the Service Although 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 guidance Personalized assistance to ensure your needs are fully met. Scriptwriting and English editing Expertly crafted narratives and professional English editing to ensure your research is presented clearly, accurately, and with impact. High-quality animations Visually 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 voiceover Native 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 promotion Expanding your research's visibility and impact. 2. Why Choose Us? The Proven Impact of Video Abstracts Research 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 Research Backed 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 Journals We have partnered with over 60 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, Cancers, etc., have helped authors achieve greater visibility and recognition for their work. Global visibility The videos are linked to your paper's DOI for maximum exposure. Available Video Services and Their Pricing Video Abstract (up to 5 minutes long): Summarizes the key findings, methodology, and significance of your research paper. Regular Price: 600 CHF Short Take (up to 2 minutes long): Uses original animations to explain the specific aspects of your research. Regular Price: 500 CHF Scholar Interview: A face-to-face discussion offering deeper insights into your publication. Regular Price: 400 CHF Scholar Profile: A brief overview of a scholar’s career, highlighting education, research focus, and key achievements. Regular Price: 500 CHF 3. Video Production Service If 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. 4. Others If you have any other questions, please contact office@encyclopedia.pub.
Announcement 14 Apr 2026
encyclopedia>
Ongoing
Enhancing Scholarly Visibility: DOI Registration for MDPI Video Service
To further enhance academic value and global dissemination, DOI registration is now supported for videos produced through MDPI Video Service. By assigning a DOI to video materials, authors can benefit from: Persistent, long-term access through stable and resolvable links Standardized citation and improved discoverability across academic platforms Strengthened credibility and increased scholarly visibility Broader integration into the scholarly communication ecosystem If you would like to register a DOI for your video, please contact us at office@encyclopedia.pub, and our team will assist you with the application and review process. Kind regards,Encyclopedia Editorial Office
Announcement 13 Apr 2026
encyclopedia>
Ongoing
Encyclopedia 2026 Outstanding Contributor Award
We are pleased to announce that the “Encyclopedia Outstanding Contributor Award” 2026 is now open for applications. We will award two outstanding contributors to the Encyclopedia platform (https://encyclopedia.pub/) and the Encyclopedia journal in 2026. After a thorough evaluation, the journal award committee, led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Raffaele Barretta, will select all eligible contributors. The winners will be announced in March 2027. The Prize:–CHF 300;–An opportunity to publish one paper free of charge in the Encyclopedia journal before 31 December 2027, following peer review for each winner;–An electronic certificate. Application Deadline:15 January 2027. Document for Application:–Curriculum vitae/resume (please contact our office if you require a template of the form). Please send your curriculum vitae to our office before the deadline (encyclopedia@mdpi.com). The winners will be announced on the journal website in March 2027. Kind regards, Encyclopedia Editorial Office
Announcement 07 Apr 2026
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