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Academic Video Service Update: Pricing Changes, Vouchers, and New Scholar Profile

Dear Valued Customers, We are writing to inform you of upcoming changes to our video services that will take effect on February 3, 2026, at 00:00 (Swiss time). 1. Price Adjustment We will be discontinuing the discounts previously offered for our video services, and prices will revert to their original rates. Video Abstract: 600 CHF Short Take: 500 CHF Scholar Interview: 400 CHF 2. Introduction of Vouchers We are excited to announce that we will now support the use of MDPI Reviewer Vouchers and Video Production Vouchers. The relevant usage rules are as follows: Each video may be redeemed using one Reviewer Voucher or one Video Production Voucher. MDPI Reviewer Vouchers can only be used by the voucher owner, while Video Production Vouchers have no user restriction. 3. New Scholar Profile We are introducing a new type of video product: the Scholar Profile. This creates a personalized showcase for scholars by documenting their academic journeys and highlighting their achievements. The price for this service is 500 CHF. We appreciate your understanding and continued support during this transition. If you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact our customer service team. Thank you for choosing our services. Sincerely, MDPI Author Services

Announcement 02 Feb 2026

Can Tree Sap Replace Plastic? The Story of Chañar Brea Gum Films

Modern society relies heavily on plastic packaging. It protects food, extends shelf life, reduces transportation losses, and supports global supply chains. Yet the very properties that make plastics useful—durability, resistance to moisture, and low cost—also make them persistent pollutants in ecosystems. Microplastics are now found in soil, oceans, and even human bodies. As a result, scientists and engineers are actively searching for alternatives that are not only functional but also biodegradable, renewable, and environmentally compatible. A recent study published in MDPI Processes entitled "Heat-Sealing Process for Chañar Brea Gum Films" explores exactly this connection between material properties, processing methods, and sustainability by investigating chañar brea gum as a potential biodegradable and heat-sealable packaging material. The research does not simply ask whether this natural gum can form films, but how its molecular structure, thermal behavior, mechanical performance, and barrier properties interact—and how these relationships ultimately shape its practical usability in packaging applications. 1. What is Chañar Brea Gum? Chañar brea gum is a natural exudate obtained from the Chañar brea tree (Parkinsonia praecox, also known as Cercidium praecox or “palo verde”). This tree thrives in the Chaco forest of Argentina, a semi-arid region where vegetation has adapted to withstand high temperatures and limited water availability. The gum is collected either from intentional superficial cuts or from naturally occurring wounds on the trunk and branches. Production is typically highest during spring and summer, when sap flow is most active. After harvesting, the raw gum undergoes purification: it is dissolved in water, filtered to remove impurities, and then dried and milled into a fine powder suitable for material processing. This purification step is essential, as natural gums often contain bark particles, dust, or microbial residues that could otherwise compromise film quality and consistency. 2. From Gum to Packaging Film To transform chañar brea gum into a functional packaging material, the purified powder was dissolved in distilled water to form a viscous solution. A plasticizer—commonly glycerol—was then added to improve flexibility and reduce brittleness; without this step, the resulting film tends to be rigid and prone to cracking. In the study, this solution was cast into a thin layer and dried under controlled conditions to form a film. In their experimental design, the researchers treated variables such as gum concentration, plasticizer content, and relative humidity during drying as critical parameters, since these factors influence film thickness, mechanical performance, and barrier properties. Close control of these processing conditions is therefore important for tailoring the properties of the final material. 3. Heat Sealing: Making Functional Packages Beyond simply forming films, the researchers examined whether chañar brea gum could be applied in practical packaging applications. By applying heat and pressure, they successfully bonded layers of 10% chañar brea gum film to form a rectangular container (18 × 12 cm). Because chañar brea gum behaves as a hydrocolloid, precise control of temperature and sealing time was required during heat sealing. Excessive heat could degrade the material, whereas insufficient heat would result in incomplete or weak bonding. To investigate sealing behavior in more detail, additional experiments were conducted on smaller strips (2 × 10 cm) oriented horizontally and vertically, and a joint determination method was applied to analyze bonding performance. 4. A Comprehensive Materials Study Rather than focusing on a single property, the study took a holistic approach to characterizing chañar brea gum films. The researchers employed a suite of analytical techniques, including: Proximate analysis to determine composition. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to examine molecular structure. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) to analyze thermal transitions. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA–DTG) to assess thermal stability. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) to investigate molecular arrangement. In addition, mechanical testing was used to evaluate strength and flexibility, while measurements of antioxidant capacity, water vapor permeability, water sorption, and biodegradability were conducted to assess functional performance. By integrating these results, the study sought to clarify how molecular structure, composition, thermal behavior, and mechanical properties interact—and how these factors ultimately govern heat sealability. 5. What the Results Revealed The findings demonstrate several notable characteristics of chañar brea gum films: Thermal stability: Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the material remained stable up to approximately 200 °C, with an onset of melting behavior near 152.48 °C, suggesting compatibility with typical food packaging processing conditions. Structural consistency: X-ray diffraction indicated similar interstrand spacing in the polymer network for untreated CBG (4.88 nm) and heat-treated CBG-H (4.66 nm), reflecting overall structural consistency. Microstructure: Scanning electron microscopy of heat-sealed joints revealed rounded surface features, and cross-sectional imaging showed a homogeneous internal structure with minimal gaps—both indicative of strong bonding. Barrier performance: Water vapor permeability decreased markedly from roughly 1.7 g·mm/m²·day·kPa for untreated films to 0.37 g·mm/m²·day·kPa after heat treatment, demonstrating improved moisture barrier performance. Mechanical properties: Mechanical testing showed that Young’s modulus decreased from about 132 MPa to 96.5 MPa after heat treatment, indicating a modest increase in flexibility—an advantageous change for packaging applications. Heat sealability: The ability to form reliable seals was quantified at approximately 656 N/m, a competitive value for biodegradable films. Biodegradability: Most notably, biodegradability testing indicated that the material degraded fully in about four days under the study conditions, underscoring its environmental compatibility. Overall, heat treatment tended to enhance barrier properties while slightly reducing stiffness, highlighting a favorable trade-off for practical packaging use. 6. Why This Matters for Sustainable Packaging Conventional plastics can persist in the environment for decades or even centuries. In contrast, the biodegradable nature of chañar brea gum films means they break down rapidly under natural conditions, significantly reducing long-term ecological impact. Because the material is plant-derived, biodegradable, and potentially edible, it could be particularly valuable for food packaging applications, reducing reliance on synthetic coatings or chemical additives. Its ability to be heat-sealed also suggests compatibility with existing industrial packaging processes, which could make large-scale adoption more feasible. 7. Challenges, Future Directions, and Overall Significance Despite its promise, several challenges remain before chañar brea gum films can be widely commercialized. Scaling up sustainable gum production, ensuring consistent film quality across batches, evaluating long-term storage stability, and assessing cost competitiveness compared with conventional plastics are all important issues that require further investigation. Nevertheless, the current study provides a robust scientific foundation for future development and optimization by clarifying how processing conditions, material structure, and performance are interrelated in this novel biopolymer-based film. Overall, this research demonstrates that chañar brea gum is more than a natural tree exudate: it is a functional material with real potential for sustainable packaging. By systematically examining its thermal, mechanical, barrier, and heat-sealing properties, the study offers valuable insights for the design of next-generation biodegradable packaging systems. As industries continue to seek alternatives to conventional plastics, materials such as chañar brea gum represent an important step toward a more sustainable and circular packaging future. For more information about topic, you can view the online video entitled "Heat-Sealing Process for Chañar Brea Gum Films".

Blog 19 Jan 2026

How Do You Promote Your Research After Publication?

For many researchers, the acceptance and publication of a paper feels like the culmination of their work. However, this often leads to a critical oversight: failing to ensure the research reaches and resonates with its intended audience. The post-publication phase plays a critical role in increasing the visibility of research, improving accessibility for diverse audiences, facilitating understanding across disciplines, and extending influence beyond traditional citations to societal and interdisciplinary domains. Post-publication promotion is not simply an optional addition to the researcher's toolkit; it is a fundamental component of their scholarly responsibility and a critical driver of their work’s ultimate significance and reach 1. Here are practical tips and ideas for effectively promoting your article: 1. Multimedia and Visual Communication Multimedia formats lower cognitive barriers and make research more engaging, memorable, and widely shareable across both academic and public channels. Create a Video Abstract A video abstract is a short, two-to-five-minute visual summary of your paper that introduces the background, methods, key findings, and implications using narration, imagery, and simple text 2. User-behavior research on YouTube indicates that although Entertainment and Music dominate overall searches, Science and Technology content remains among the top trending categories 3, suggesting strong public interest in science delivered through video. Evidence also shows that papers accompanied by video abstracts tend to perform better: citation rates may increase by around 15%, article views by about 35%, and Altmetric Attention Scores by roughly 25% 4. These improvements reflect how much easier it is for broader audiences to discover, understand, and share research when a video version is available. What's more, animated video abstracts can extend this impact even further, helping authors increase visibility and reach wider communities on social media 5. Source: Encyclopedia Academic Video Service (https://encyclopedia.pub/video/1623) Develop Infographics Infographics provide clear, visual summaries of complex findings, enabling quick comprehension and making them ideal for academic communication, public outreach, presentations, and social media. Research shows that infographic articles generate significantly greater social media attention and achieve higher Altmetric scores than standard original research articles, underscoring their value in enhancing research visibility 6. Encyclopedia has launched the Scientific Infographic Service to support researchers in presenting complex scientific findings through clear and professionally prepared visual summaries. The service is now open for applications and is provided free of charge. Source: Encyclopedia Scientific Inforgraphic (https://encyclopedia.pub/image/3584) 2. Scholarly Platform Dissemination Leveraging academic platforms strengthens the discoverability, traceability, and early visibility of your research within global scholarly ecosystems. Maintaining an active, well-curated presence across these channels ensures that your work is easy to find, share, and cite. Maintain academic profiles on platforms such as SciProfiles, ResearchGate, Academia, Google Scholar, Kudos, The Conversation, and Researchmap. These profiles allow you to upload your article or accepted manuscript and provide concise, accessible summaries that broaden academic reach and engagement. Register for an ORCID iD and link your publications to ensure accurate author identification and consistent visibility across publishers, indexing services, and research databases. Release a preprint on platforms such as Preprints to accelerate dissemination and invite early community engagement. Releasing a preprint is associated with a significant positive citation advantage of approximately 20.2% 7. Create a scientific entry on the Encyclopedia platform to present your findings in an authoritative, structured format that enhances clarity, accessibility, and long-term discoverability. 3. Social and Public Engagement Public and social networks extend your research reach beyond traditional academic communities, enabling broader conversations and greater societal impact. Share your work on social platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook, WeChat, and Weibo. These channels help spark discussion, increase awareness, and attract attention from journalists, policymakers, practitioners, and interdisciplinary audiences. Make access easy by providing shareable links. Send your article directly to colleagues, add the link to your email signature, and update personal, laboratory, or institutional webpages with the article title and permanent link. Write blog posts that highlight your key findings, explain their significance, and discuss broader implications. Blogs make your research accessible to non-experts and support broader engagement. Including a link to your published article further enhances visibility and citation potential. You can also publish blog posts on the Encyclopedia platform to reach an even wider readership. 4. Conferences and Scholarly Exchange Active participation in academic conferences broadens your research visibility and helps you establish meaningful professional connections. Presenting your work—whether at in-person meetings or online sessions—allows you to share findings with informed audiences, receive constructive feedback, and spark new collaborations. Joining international events, including those hosted on platforms such as Sciforum, further expands your reach across regions and disciplines. These interactions often lead to new partnerships, fresh research ideas, and additional academic opportunities. References 1. Ratten, V.; Lux, A.; Merkle, T. Tips from management editors: Managing your academic reputation, post-publication promotion and building your network. J. Manag. Organ. 2025, 31, 1-6. 2. Spicer, S. Exploring Video Abstracts in Science Journals: An Overview and Case Study. J. Librariansh. Sch. Commun. 2014, 2, eP1110. 3. Dubovi, I.; Tabak, I. Interactions between emotional and cognitive engagement with science on YouTube. Public Underst Sci. 2021, 30, 759-776. 4. Bonnevie, T.; Repel, A.; Gravier, F.E.; et al. Video abstracts are associated with an increase in research reports citations, views and social attention: a cross-sectional study. Scientometrics 2023, 128, 3001–3015. 5. Erskine, N.; Hendricks, S. What is the effect of posting video abstracts on journal article impact? J. Vis. Commun. Med. 2024, 47, 47–55. 6. Kunze, K.N.; Vadhera, A.; Purbey, R.; Singh, H.; Kazarian, G.S.; Chahla, J. Infographics Are More Effective at Increasing Social Media Attention in Comparison With Original Research Articles: An Altmetrics-Based Analysis. Arthroscopy 2021, 37, 2591-2597. 7. Colavizza, G.; Cadwallader, L.; LaFlamme, M,; Dozot, G.; Lecorney, S.; Rappo, D. Hrynaszkiewicz I. An analysis of the effects of sharing research data, code, and preprints on citations. PLoS One. 2024, 19, e0311493.

Blog 12 Jan 2026

When Behavior Speaks: Tracking Dairy Cow Behavior on Farms

Cows communicate a great deal through their behavior. Subtle changes in standing, lying, feeding, or social interactions often provide early indicators of health status, stress levels, or reproductive activity. In modern dairy systems, where herd sizes continue to increase, continuous manual observation is neither efficient nor reliable. Consequently, automated behavior monitoring has become a key component of precision livestock farming. Vision-based behavior recognition offers a non-invasive and scalable solution; however, its practical implementation remains challenging. Variability in posture, lighting conditions, background complexity, and animal density can significantly affect detection performance. A recent study published in MDPI Animals entitled "CAMLLA-YOLOv8n: Cow Behavior Recognition Based on Improved YOLOv8n" addresses these challenges by proposing an improved YOLOv8-based framework for recognizing Holstein cow behaviors in real farm environments. By refining feature representation, attention mechanisms, and localization strategies, the study aims to enhance robustness under practical on-farm conditions. 1. Visual Challenges in On-Farm Cow Behavior Recognition Recognizing cow behavior from visual data in real farm environments is inherently complex. Multiple cows frequently appear within the same field of view, leading to overlap and occlusion that obscure key anatomical features. In addition, behaviors are associated with distinct postural patterns, yet substantial variability exists within each behavior category due to individual differences and environmental influences. Detection is further complicated by changes in apparent cow size caused by varying camera distances, as well as fluctuations in lighting and background elements throughout the day. In many cases, behavior-related visual cues are small, subtle, or only partially visible, particularly during brief interactions or transitional movements. Together, these factors limit the effectiveness of standard object detection architectures when applied directly to farm imagery. 2. Model Design and Methodological Improvements To address these challenges, the study introduces a series of targeted architectural and methodological refinements to the YOLOv8n model. Rather than increasing model complexity, the proposed approach focuses on enhancing feature discrimination, strengthening multi-scale representation, and improving bounding box regression. This design strategy maintains computational efficiency while improving suitability for real-world deployment. 3. Data Augmentation Strategy A hybrid data augmentation strategy was applied to increase the diversity of training samples. Variations in posture, scale, orientation, and environmental conditions were introduced to better reflect the visual complexity of real farm scenes. This approach improves generalization and reduces sensitivity to changes in camera placement, barn layout, and herd composition. 4. C2f-CA Module with Coordinate Attention Within the backbone network, a Coordinate Attention mechanism was integrated into the C2f module, forming the C2f-CA structure. This mechanism encodes spatial position information alongside channel-wise dependencies, allowing the model to retain location awareness while emphasizing behavior-relevant features. As a result, the model more effectively distinguishes individual cows in crowded scenes and suppresses background interference. This is particularly beneficial in multi-cow environments where visual overlap is common. 5. MLLAttention in the Neck for Multi-Scale Feature Fusion To address scale variation among detected targets, the MLLAttention mechanism was introduced into the P3, P4, and P5 layers of the Neck component. These layers integrate features across multiple spatial resolutions. By improving attention-driven feature fusion, the model maintains consistent recognition performance for cows appearing at different distances from the camera, which is a common scenario in open or semi-open farm settings. 6. SPPF-GPE Module for Small Target Enhancement The standard SPPF module was further refined into the SPPF-GPE module by combining global average pooling and global maximum pooling. This modification enhances the extraction of both global context and localized salient features. Improved sensitivity to small or partially occluded targets supports more reliable detection of subtle behavioral cues, which are often critical for early behavioral assessment. 7. Shape-IoU Loss for Improved Localization Accuracy For bounding box regression, the study replaces CIoU loss with Shape-IoU loss, placing greater emphasis on matching the shape and scale of predicted and ground-truth bounding boxes. This adjustment improves localization accuracy in crowded scenes and reduces errors caused by overlapping targets, thereby supporting more reliable behavior recognition. 8. Experimental Validation The proposed CAMLLA-YOLOv8n model was evaluated using a self-constructed dataset comprising 23,073 annotated instances of Holstein cow behaviors. Experimental results show that the improved model achieves higher Precision than earlier YOLO-based approaches. These findings demonstrate that the combined use of attention mechanisms, improved feature fusion, and optimized loss design can enhance detection performance under realistic farm conditions without substantially increasing computational cost. 9. Implications for Precision Livestock Farming The study highlights the practical value of advanced vision-based behavior recognition systems in dairy farming. Improved detection accuracy enables earlier identification of health-related behavioral changes, more reliable monitoring of estrus and reproductive activity, and reduced reliance on manual observation. Such systems support data-driven herd management, contribute to improved animal welfare, and promote more efficient and sustainable farming practices. 10. Conclusion Accurate recognition of cow behavior is essential for modern precision livestock farming. By introducing targeted structural improvements to the YOLOv8n framework, this study provides an effective and application-oriented solution for behavior detection in complex agricultural environments. As visual monitoring technologies continue to evolve, approaches that balance methodological rigor, robustness, and practical deployability will play an increasingly important role in the digital transformation of animal husbandry. For more information about topic, you can view the online video entitled "CAMLLA-YOLOv8n: Cow Behavior Recognition Based on Improved YOLOv8n".

Blog 06 Jan 2026

Encyclopedia Journal Accepted for Coverage in Scopus

We are pleased to announce that in August 2025, Encyclopedia (ISSN 2673-8392) has been selected for coverage in the Scopus indexing database. We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all the authors, reviewers, and editors who have contributed to this journal and made this achievement possible. Encyclopedia is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal that mainly publishes high-quality entries, field guides, reviews, and systematic reviews in all scientific areas. Original research articles in the area of Encyclopedia Studies are also welcome. Our goal is to form a comprehensive record of scientific development and provide reference information not only for researchers but also for the general public interested in accurate and advanced knowledge on specific topics. To make the most of this opportunity, we would like to invite you to submit your research to the journal. We warmly welcome you to consider Encyclopedia as a platform for publishing your work. If you have a paper concerning any topic within the scope of the journal, please submit it via the journal’s website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/encyclopedia.

Announcement 28 Aug 2025

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Shlomi Agmon

Encyclopedia Video provides potential readers with a tool to quickly understand what the work is about. That is important for casualreaders, whose time is thus spared, and for investedreaders, for whom it makes the decision to say "yes, I want to read the paper" much simpler.

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