Books published by Mdpi AG

Passive vibration control plays a crucial role in structural engineering. Common solutions include seismic isolation and damping systems with various kinds of devices, such as viscous, viscoelastic, hysteretic, and friction dampers. These strategies have been widely utilized in engineering practice, and their efficacy has been demonstrated in mitigating damage and preventing the collapse of buildings, bridges, and industrial facilities. However, there is a need for more sophisticated analytical and numerical tools to design structures equipped with optimally configured devices. On the other hand, the family of devices and dissipative elements used for structural protection keeps evolving, because of growing performance demands and new progress achieved in materials science and mechanical engineering. This Special Issue collects 13 contributions related to the development and application of passive vibration control strategies for structures, covering both traditional and innovative devices. In particular, the contributions concern experimental and theoretical investigations of high-efficiency dampers and isolation bearings; optimization of conventional and innovative energy dissipation devices; performance-based and probability-based design of damped structures; application of nonlinear dynamics, random vibration theory, and modern control theory to the design of structures with passive energy dissipation systems; and critical discussion of implemented isolation/damping technologies in significant or emblematic engineering projects.

The world''s energy demand is still growing, partly due to the rising population, partly to increasing personal needs. This growing demand has to be met without increasing (or preferably, by decreasing) the environmental impact. One of the ways to do so is the use of existing low-temperature heat sources for producing electricity, such as using power plants based on the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) . In ORC power plants, instead of the traditional steam, the vapor of organic materials (with low boiling points) is used to turn heat to work and subsequently to electricity. These units are usually less efficient than steam-based plants; therefore, they should be optimized to be technically and economically feasible. The selection of working fluid for a given heat source is crucial; a particular working fluid might be suitable to harvest energy from a 90 Γäâ geothermal well but would show disappointing performance for well with a 80 Γäâ head temperature. The ORC working fluid for a given heat source is usually selected from a handful of existing fluids by trial-and-error methods; in this collection, we demonstrate a more systematic method based on physical and chemical criteria.

The important advances achieved over the past years in all technological directions (industry, energy, and health) contributing to human well-being are unfortunately, in many cases, accompanied by a threat to the environment, with photochemical smog, stratospheric ozone depletion, acid rain, global warming, and finally climate change being the most well-known major issues. These are the results of a variety of pollutants emitted through these human activities. The indications show that we are already at a tipping point that might lead to non-linear and sudden environmental change on a global scale. Aiming to tackle these adverse effects in an attempt to mitigate any damage that has already occurred and to ensure that we are heading toward a cleaner (green) and sustainable future, scientists around the world are developing tools and techniques to understand, monitor, protect, and improve the environment. Emissions control catalysis is continuously advancing, providing novel, multifunctional, and optimally promoted using a variety of methods, nano-structured catalytic materials, and strategies (e.g., energy chemicals recycling, cyclic economy) that enable us to effectively control emissions, either of mobile or stationary sources, improving the quality of air (outdoor and indoor) and water and the energy economy. Representative cases include the abatement and/or recycling of CO2, CO, NOx, N2O, NH3, CH4, higher hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter, and specific industrial emissions (e.g., SOx, H2S, dioxins aromatics, and biogas). The "Emissions Control Catalysis" Special Issue has succeeded in collecting 22 high-quality contributions, included in this MDPI open access book, covering recent research progress in a variety of fields relevant to the above topics and/or applications, mainly on: (i) NOx catalytic reduction from cars (i.e., TWC) and industry (SCR) emissions; (ii) CO, CH4, and other hydrocarbons removal, and (iii) CO2 capture/recirculation combining emissions control with added-value chemicals production.

In a world dominated by uncertainty, modeling and understanding the optimal behavior of agents is of the utmost importance. Many problems in economics, finance, and actuarial science naturally require decision makers to undertake choices in stochastic environments. Examples include optimal individual consumption and retirement choices, optimal management of portfolios and risk, hedging, optimal timing issues in pricing American options, and investment decisions. Stochastic control theory provides the methods and results to tackle all such problems.This book is a collection of the papers published in the Special Issue "Applications of Stochastic Optimal Control to Economics and Finance", which appeared in the open access journal Risks in 2019. It contains seven peer-reviewed papers dealing with stochastic control models motivated by important questions in economics and finance. Each model is rigorously mathematically funded and treated, and the numerical methods are employed to derive the optimal solution. The topics of the book''s chapters range from optimal public debt management to optimal reinsurance, real options in energy markets, and optimal portfolio choice in partial and complete information settings. From a mathematical point of view, techniques and arguments of dynamic programming theory, filtering theory, optimal stopping, one-dimensional diffusions and multi-dimensional jump processes are used.

MEMS devices are found in many of today''s electronic devices and systems, from air-bag sensors in cars to smart phones, embedded systems, etc. Increasingly, the reduction in dimensions has led to nanometer-scale devices, called NEMS. The plethora of applications on the commercial market speaks for itself, and especially for the highly precise manufacturing of silicon-based MEMS and NEMS. While this is a tremendous achievement, silicon as a material has some drawbacks, mainly in the area of mechanical fatigue and thermal properties. Silicon carbide (SiC), a well-known wide-bandgap semiconductor whose adoption in commercial products is experiening exponential growth, especially in the power electronics arena. While SiC MEMS have been around for decades, in this Special Issue we seek to capture both an overview of the devices that have been demonstrated to date, as well as bring new technologies and progress in the MEMS processing area to the forefront. Thus, this Special Issue seeks to showcase research papers, short communications, and review articles that focus on: (1) novel designs, fabrication, control, and modeling of SiC MEMS and NEMS based on all kinds of actuation mechanisms; and (2) new developments in applying SiC MEMS and NEMS in consumer electronics, optical communications, industry, medicine, agriculture, space, and defense.

This book is the result of a Special Issue of the journal Resources. The Special Issue was initiated to identify promising solutions and specific challenges in the context of underused resources in urban environments. Authors focus on two main areas: the establishment of circular economy schemes based on valorizing wastes that occur in urban areas and the exploitation of renewable energies. The circular economy and renewable resources hold key potential for increasing the sustainability of cities, and the presented studies enhance our understanding of how to unlock this potential. Effective regulatory frameworks and policymaking processes that balance the power between stakeholders are required to successfully manage energy transition and the transition to more circular economies. The positive role of community engagement merits high attention. To recover valuable resources from household waste, a focus on technology and infrastructure is required but is insufficient; motivational factors and knowledge of citizens are the most essential elements. The need to more reliably quantify and better characterize recyclable material streams also evidently remains, especially where population numbers are further growing. This book provides a rich source to explore promising solutions, challenges, and research needed for the sound management of resources in urban settings.

Renewable energy is electricity generated by fuel sources that restore themselves over a short period of time and do not diminish. Although some renewable energy technologies impact the environment, renewables are considered environmentally preferable to conventional sources and, when replacing fossil fuels, have significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This book focuses on the environmental and economic benefits of using renewable energy, which include: (i) generating energy that produces no greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and reduces some types of air pollution, (ii) diversifying energy supply and reducing dependence on imported fuels, and (iii) creating economic development and jobs in manufacturing, installation, and more. Local governments can dramatically reduce their carbon footprint by purchasing or directly generating electricity from clean and renewable sources. The most common renewable power technologies include: solar (photovoltaic (PV), solar thermal), wind, biogas (e.g., landfill gas, wastewater treatment digester gas), geothermal, biomass, low-impact hydroelectricity, and emerging technologies such as wave and tidal power. Local governments can lead by example by generating energy on site, purchasing green power, or purchasing renewable energy. Using a combination of renewable energy options can help to meet local government goals, especially in some regions where availability and quality of renewable resources vary. Options for using renewable energy include: generating renewable energy on site, using a system or device at the location where the power is used (e.g., PV panels on a state building, geothermal heat pumps, biomass-fueled combined heat and power), and purchasing renewable energy from an electric utility through a green pricing or green marketing program, where buyers pay a small premium in exchange for electricity generated locally from green power resources.

Due to properties differing from those of larger materials, nanomaterials have been extensively used in different areas including nanomedicine, drug delivery, theragnosis, and bioimaging in recent years. Evaluating the toxicity profile (i.e., biocompatibility) of nanomaterials and their impact on health is essential to support the potential biomedical applications. This book deals with the two faces of nanomaterials, toxicity and bioactivity, hoping to aid with their development for clinical applications, reducing the possible risks associated with their use.

Recently, great attention has been paid to materials that can be used in the human body to prepare parts that replace failed bone structures. Of all materials, Ti-based materials are the most desirable, because they provide an optimum combination of mechanical, chemical, and biological properties. The successful application of Ti biomaterials has been confirmed mainly in dentistry, orthopedics, and traumatology. Titanium biocompatibility is practically the highest of all metallic biomaterials; however, new solutions are being sought to continuously improve their biocompatibility and osseointegration. Thus, the chemical modification of Ti results in the formation of new alloys or composites, which provide new perspectives for Ti biomaterials applications. This book covers broad aspects of Ti-based biomaterials concerning the design of their structure, mechanical, and biological properties. This book demonstrates that the new Ti-based compounds and their surface treatment provide the best properties for biomedical applications.

Antimicrobial packaging has recently attracted a great deal of interest from the food industry due to the boost in consumer demand for minimally-processed, preservative-free products. Antimicrobial polymeric packaging systems can be considered an emerging technology that could have an important impact on shelf life extension and food safety. Novel polymeric-based packaging materials are continually being developed. This book collects carefully chosen examples of the most recent and relevant advances in the preparation and characterization of antimicrobial composites for food packaging applications. Different polymer nanocomposites with improved packaging properties are discussed along with their mechanisms of action. Further, future perspectives for antimicrobial polymeric nanomaterials are provided.

As it is a goal to eliminate human African trypanosomiasis (HAT; sleeping sickness) as a public health problem by 2020 and interrupt transmission by 2030, this is a good moment to reflect on what we have achieved, what we want to achieve, and what could get in our way. HAT has a reputation for spectacular reappearances, and the latest peak of 40,000 reported and over 300,000 estimated cases only dates back to 1998. Efforts of the WHO and partners as well as the development of simpler and much better-tolerated treatments, improved diagnostics, and vector control tools made it possible to reduce this number by 95%. Case identification and confirmation remain complex and require specific skills, treatment remains error-prone and reports on long-term survivors have emerged, and the relevance of the animal reservoir for T. b. gambiense HAT needs clarification. In addition, to win the "end game" against this massively stigmatized disease, the human factor will play a key role. This Special Issue addresses many of the burning topics about disease elimination in its 12 research and 7 review articles and one case study. The papers critically reflect the approaches used, investigate the mentioned challenges, and propose novel approaches and interventions from various points of view.

Semi-solid metal (SSM) processing, as a viable alternative manufacturing route to those of conventional casting and forging, has not yet been fully exploited despite nearly half a century since its introduction to the metal industry. The slow pace of adopting SSM routes may be due to various reasons, including capital costs, profit margins, and, most importantly, the lack of detailed analysis of various SSM processes in open literature to confidently establish their advantages over more conventional routes. Therefore, the SSM community must disseminate their findings more effectively to generate increased confidence in SSM processes in the eyes of our industrial leaders. As such, we have embarked on the task to invite the leaders in SSM research to share their findings in a Special Issue dedicated to semi-solid processing of metals and composites.          SSM processing takes advantage of both forming and shaping characteristics usually employed for liquid and solid materials. In the absence of shear forces, the semi-solid metal has similar characteristics to solids, i.e., easily transferred and shaped; by applying a defined force, the viscosity is reduced and the material flows like a liquid. These unique dual characteristics have made SSM routes attractive alternatives to conventional casting on an industrial scale.                       With the intention of taking full advantage of SSM characteristics, it is crucial to understand SSM processing, including topics such as solidification and structural evolution, flow behavior through modelling and rheology, new processes and process control, alloy development, and properties in general.               This Special Issue focuses on the recent research and findings in the field with the aim of filling the gap between industry and academia, and to shed light on some of the fundamentals of science and technology of semi-solid processing.

The 5th IEEE International Conference on Applied System Innovation 2019 (IEEE ICASI 2019, https://2019.icasi-conf.net/), which was held in Fukuoka, Japan, on 11-15 April, 2019, provided a unified communication platform for a wide range of topics. This Special Issue entitled "Selected Papers from IEEE ICASI 2019" collected nine excellent papers presented on the applied sciences topic during the conference. Mechanical engineering and design innovations are academic and practical engineering fields that involve systematic technological materialization through scientific principles and engineering designs. Technological innovation by mechanical engineering includes information technology (IT)-based intelligent mechanical systems, mechanics and design innovations, and applied materials in nanoscience and nanotechnology. These new technologies that implant intelligence in machine systems represent an interdisciplinary area that combines conventional mechanical technology and new IT. The main goal of this Special Issue is to provide new scientific knowledge relevant to IT-based intelligent mechanical systems, mechanics and design innovations, and applied materials in nanoscience and nanotechnology.

This special volume offers a snapshot of the latest developments in mineral exploration, in particular, geophysical, geochemical, and computational methods. It reflects the cutting-edge applications of geophysics and geochemistry, as well as novel technologies, such as in artificial intelligence and hyperspectral exploration, methods that have profoundly changed how exploration is conducted. This special volume is a representation of these cutting-edge and pioneering methods to consider and conduct exploration, and should serve both as a valuable compendium of the most innovative exploration methodologies available and as a foreshadowing of the form of future exploration. As such, this volume is of significant importance and would be useful to any exploration geologist and company

With pore sizes up to 100 nm, the term "nanoporous" covers a wide range of material classes. A broad field of applications has arisen from the diversity of unique structures and properties of nanoporous materials. Recent research spans the range from fundamental studies of the behavior of atoms and molecules in confined space, creative synthetic pathways for novel materials, to applications in high-performance technologies. This Special Issue collects current studies about the progress in the development, characterization, and application of nanoporous materials, including (but not restricted to) mesoporous silica, carbon and metal oxides, porous coordination polymers, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), as well as materials exhibiting hierarchical porosity. Their functionalities show promise for fields such as energy storage/conversion (e.g., photocatalysis and battery electrodes), sensing, catalysis, and their sorption properties for N2, CO2, NOx, or H2O, to name just a few.

Global crop production must substantially increase to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population. This is constrained by the availability of nutrients, water, and land. There is also an urgent need to reduce the negative environmental impacts of crop production. Collectively, these issues represent one of the greatest challenges of the twenty-first century. Sustainable cropping systems based on ecological principles are the core of integrated approaches to solve this critical challenge. This special issue provides an international basis for revealing the underlying mechanisms of sustainable cropping systems to drive agronomic innovations. It includes review and original research articles that report novel scientific findings on improvement in cropping systems related to crop yields and their resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors, resource use efficiency, environmental impact, sustainability, and ecosystem services.

This Special Issue collects the latest results on differential/difference equations, the mathematics of networks, and their applications to engineering and physical phenomena. It features nine high-quality papers that were published with original research results. The Special Issue brings together mathematicians with physicists, engineers, as well as other scientists.

The Special Issue "Nanostructured Materials Based on Noble Metals for Advanced Biological Applications" highlights the recent progress in gold and silver nanomaterials preparation/synthesis as well as their innovative applications in advanced applications, such as in nanomedicine and nanosensors. It is nowadays generally accepted that nanostructured noble metals allow the production of highly competitive materials. In fact, a specific design and rather simple and reliable preparation techniques can be used to obtain optimized material uses and possibilities for their reusability. One expects amazing future developments for these nanotechnologies from research laboratories to key industrial areas. The Guest Editor and the MDPI staff are therefore pleased to offer this Special Issue to interested readers, including researchers, graduate and PhD students as well as postdoctoral researchers, but also to the entire community interested in the wide world of nanomaterials.

The advent of graphene and, more recently, two-dimensional materials has opened new perspectives in electronics, optoelectronics, energy harvesting, and sensing applications. This book, based on a Special Issue published in Nanomaterials - MDPI covers experimental, simulation, and theoretical research on 2D materials and their van der Waals heterojunctions. The emphasis is the physical properties and the applications of 2D materials in state-of-the-art sensors and electronic or optoelectronic devices.

The mechanics of fracture and fatigue have produced a huge body of research work in relation to applications to metal materials and structures. However, a variety of non-metallic materials (e.g., concrete and cementitious composites, rocks, glass, ceramics, bituminous mixtures, composites, polymers, rubber and soft matter, bones and biological materials, and advanced and multifunctional materials) have received relatively less attention, despite their attractiveness for a large spectrum of applications related to the components and structures of diverse engineering branches, applied sciences and architecture, and to the load-carrying systems of biological organisms. This book covers the broad topic of structural integrity of non-metallic materials, considering the modelling, assessment, and reliability of structural elements of any scale. Original contributions from engineers, mechanical materials scientists, computer scientists, physicists, chemists, and mathematicians are presented, applying both experimental and theoretical approaches.

Geothermal energy is the thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth's core, mantle, and crust. Geothermal technologies are used to generate electricity and to heat and cool buildings. To develop accurate models for heat and mass transfer applications involving fluid flow in geothermal applications or reservoir engineering and petroleum industries, a basic knowledge of the rheological and transport properties of the materials involved (drilling fluid, rock properties, etc.)—especially in high-temperature and high-pressure environments—are needed. This Special Issue considers all aspects of fluid flow and heat transfer in geothermal applications, including the ground heat exchanger, conduction and convection in porous media. The emphasis here is on mathematical and computational aspects of fluid flow in conventional and unconventional reservoirs, geothermal engineering, fluid flow, and heat transfer in drilling engineering and enhanced oil recovery (hydraulic fracturing, CO2 injection, etc.) applications.

Natural products hold a prominent position in the current discovery and development of drugs and have diverse indications for both human and animal health. Plants, in particular, play a leading role as a source of specialized metabolites with medical effects. Other organisms, such as marine and terrestrial animals and microorganisms, produce very important drug candidate molecules. Specialized metabolites from these varied natural sources can be used directly as bioactive compounds or drug precursors. In addition, due to their broad chemical diversity, they can act as drug prototypes and/or be used as pharmacological tools for different targets. Some examples of natural metabolites that have been developed into useful medical drug are cardiotonic digoxin from Digitalis sp., antimalarial artemisinin from Artemisia annua, anti-cancer taxol from Taxus sp., or podophyllotoxin from Podophyllum peltatum, which served as a synthetic model for the anti-cancer etoposide. The study of natural products is still attracting great scientific attention and their current importance, as a valuable lead for drug discovery, is undebatable. I cordially invite authors to contribute original articles, as well as survey articles, that give the readers of Molecules **MOLECULES NEEDS TO BE ITALICIZED** updated and new perspectives on natural products in drug discovery, including but not limited to natural sources, identification and separation of bioactive phytochemicals, standardization, new biological targets, pre-clinical and clinical trials, pharmacological effects/side effects, and bioassays.

This edited collection explores the linkages between adoption and genealogy. With its inevitable genealogical disruptions, adoption offers many interesting avenues to explore a range of psychosocial phenomena. Through both conventional research and means such as creative writing, literary criticism, and media analysis, contributors offer wide ranging perspectives on the key questions of genealogy in adoption. They do this in varied ways, reflecting different theoretical approaches and focal points on those impacted by adoption. Core issues include those of kinship, identity, and belonging. Within adoption, these link not only to personal and interpersonal experiences and relationships, but also to intersections with the workings of class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and nation (the latter two are often captured in debates regarding transracial and international adoption). Many important sites and modes of practice are highlighted, such as adoption searches and reunions, openness, access to records, and the community activism that is related to these activities. Although these have long histories, they have also been evolving with the growing importance of social media, online genealogical tools, and DNA testing. Reproductive technologies have similarly evolved, and questions relating to genealogy in adoption are mirrored in relation to donor-assisted conceptions. All these important and intriguing issues are addressed in this volume.

A virus is considered a nanoscale organic material that can infect and replicate only inside the living cells of other organisms, ranging from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea. The structure of viruses consists of two main parts: the genetic material from either DNA or RNA that carries genetic information, and a protein coat, called the capsid, which surrounds and protects the genetic material. By inserting the gene encoding functional proteins into the viral genome, the functional proteins can be genetically displayed on the protein coat to form bioengineered viruses. Therefore, viruses can be considered biological nanoparticles with genetically tunable surface chemistry and can serve as models for developing virus-like nanoparticles and even nanostructures. Via this process of viral display, bioengineered viruses can be mass-produced with lower cost and potentially used for energy and biomedical applications. This book highlights the recent developments and future directions of virus-based nanomaterials and nanostructures. The virus-based biomimetic materials formulated using innovative ideas were characterized for the applications of biosensors and nanocarriers. The research contributions and trends on virus-based materials covering energy harvesting devices to tissue regeneration in the last two decades are discussed.

Buildings are one of the main causes of the emission of greenhouse gases in the world. Europe alone is responsible for more than 30% of emissions, or about 900 million tons of CO2 per year. Heating and air conditioning are the main cause of greenhouse gas emissions in buildings. Most buildings currently in use were built with poor energy efficiency criteria or, depending on the country and the date of construction, none at all. Therefore, regardless of whether construction regulations are becoming stricter, the real challenge nowadays is the energy rehabilitation of existing buildings. It is currently a priority to reduce (or, ideally, eliminate) the waste of energy in buildings and, at the same time, supply the necessary energy through renewable sources. The first can be achieved by improving the architectural design, construction methods, and materials used, as well as the efficiency of the facilities and systems; the second can be achieved through the integration of renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal, etc.) in buildings. In any case, regardless of whether the energy used is renewable or not, the efficiency must always be taken into account. The most profitable and clean energy is that which is not consumed.

This book provides an overview of the design and physico-chemical properties of nanoparticles developed for biomedical applications such as targeting and detection of pathologies, nanovectorization of drugs, radiosensitization, metal detection, and nanocomposite implants. The considerations necessary when developing a new nanomedicine are also developed, including toxicological investigation, biodistribution, and efficacy. This book provides an accurate and current representation of the field by addressing the promises and hurdles of nanomedicine via 20 different pertinent studies. Covering a wide range of areas, this book is an excellent partner for physico-chemists, doctors, pharmacologists, and biochemists working on nanosciences dedicated to medicine, both in industry and in academia.

This Special Issue gathers research from different branches of science and engineering disciplines working on experiments and modelling of nanocomposites into one volume. The Guest Editor welcomes papers dedicated to experimental, computational, and theoretical aspects dealing with many important state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies regarding the synthesis, fabrication, characterization, properties, design, and applications, and both finite element analysis and molecular dynamic simulations, of nanocomposite materials and structures. Full papers covering novel topics, extending the frontiers of the science and technology of nanoreinforced composites are encouraged. Reviews covering topics of major interest will be also considered.

This book covers a wide range of topics in the orthopaedic fields and can be used as a textbook for the final undergraduate engineering course or as a topic on tribology at the postgraduate level. This book can serve as a useful reference for academics, tribology, and materials researchers; mechanical, materials, and physics engineers; biomedical scientists and professionals in tribology; and related industries. The scientific interest in this book will be evident for many important centres of research, including laboratories and universities throughout the world.

Since the turn of the last century when the field of catalysis was born, iron and cobalt have been key players in numerous catalysis processes. These metals, due to their ability to activate CO and CH, have a major economic impact worldwide. Several industrial processes and synthetic routes use these metals: biomass-to-liquids (BTL), coal-to-liquids (CTL), natural gas-to-liquids (GTL), water-gas-shift, alcohol synthesis, alcohol steam reforming, polymerization processes, cross-coupling reactions, and photocatalyst activated reactions. A vast number of materials are produced from these processes, including oil, lubricants, waxes, diesel and jet fuels, hydrogen (e.g., fuel cell applications), gasoline, rubbers, plastics, alcohols, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, feed-stock chemicals, and other alternative materials. However, given the true complexities of the variables involved in these processes, many key mechanistic issues are still not fully defined or understood. This Special Issue of Catalysis will be a collaborative effort to combine current catalysis research on these metals from experimental and theoretical perspectives on both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts. We welcome contributions from the catalysis community on catalyst characterization, kinetics, reaction mechanism, reactor development, theoretical modeling, and surface science.

This volume draws together a diverse array of scholars from across the humanities to formulate and address the question of "ethics and literary practice" for a new decade. In taking up a conjunction whose terms remain productively open to question, fifteen essays survey a range of approaches and topics including genre and disciplinary rhetoric, emergence theory and literary signification, the ethics of alterity, of attention, and of aesthetics, the decolonial and the paracritical, neorealism and contingency, analogy and affect, scripture and national literature. From Seamus Heaney to Hannah Arendt, Teresa Brennan to Stanley Cavell, Ronit Matalon to ├ëdouard Glissant, Uwe Timm to Katherena Vermette, Notes for Echo Lake to the Gospel of St. Matthew, these contributions demonstrate how broadly and fruitfully ramifying its organizing inquiry can be. Bringing such multifarious perspectives to the topic feels only more urgent as language, meaning, and expression enter the crucible of a "post-truth" era.