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Parasitic infections pose a significant public health challenge, particularly in developing countries, and can lead to long-term illness, disability, and even death. This reprint focuses on parasitic diseases and how parasites respond to the oxidative and nitrosative stress generated by the host's immune system. The articles in this Special Issue cover various aspects of this topic, including the localization of parasites within the host, the impact of nutrition and drugs, and the role of the host's immune defense cells in the parasitic response to oxidative and nitrosative stress. Understanding the mechanisms underlying parasitic diseases is crucial for developing innovative treatments that can target parasites' defense against oxidative stress. This Special Issue serves as a valuable resource for researchers, students, and physicians interested in parasitic infections.

This reprint is a collection of the papers published in the Special Issue of Atmosphere entitled "Improving the Understanding, Diagnostics, and Prediction of Precipitation". It provides atmospheric researchers and operational meteorologists with an update on recent research and its applications on precipitation prediction.As a result of rigorous peer reviews, 14 papers have been accepted for publication in this Special Issue. These articles cover topics in (a) data assimilation such as assimilation of ground-based microwave radiometers [p. 1] and combined techniques of data assimilation [p. 15]; (b) microphysical parameterizations in NWP models [p. 41]; (c) analog ensemble post-processing [p. 61]; (d) deep learning based short-term intensive rainfall forecast [p. 85], nowcasting [p. 105], and monthly forecast [p. 121]; (e) trend and projection of the long-term spatial-temporal precipitation changes [p. 145]; (f) intercomparison of satellite-based and X-band radar rainfall products [p. 167]; (g) verification of various analyzed precipitation data with observations [p. 191]; (h) climatic patterns of Meiyu and its associated circulations [p. 207]; (i) composite analysis of warm-sector heavy rainfall and its association with large-scale circulations, pre-storm environments, and mesoscale convective systems [p. 221]; and (j) precipitation diurnal cycle [p. 245] and precipitation recycling and moisture sources [p. 263]. It should be noted that all viewpoints in the published papers merely represent those authors' viewpoints, and, certainly, they do not represent our and our organization's viewpoints.

Due to the high prevalence of Eating Disorders (ED) and obesity over the life-spam and the increasing comorbidity between both conditions, the goal of this Special Issue, "Eating Disorders and Obesity: Through the Life Course", is to approach that situation from a broader perspective. We would like to have multidisciplinary contributions, approaching ED and Obesity as potential continuum (eg. Anorexia nervosa and obesity as extreme dimensions), looking not only to shared and differential risk factors (environmental, temperamental, biological, nutritional and neuroendocrinological between ED and obesity), but also to epidemiological studies exploring transition from one to the other, through the life-course, and its impact on the treatment outcome. We are expecting to have systematic reviews and empirical studies (cross-sectional and longitudinal manuscripts), coming from all over the globe.

Advanced manufacturing technology and systems cover a broad scope involving manufacturing processes, machine tool design, system optimization, smart and flexible manufacturing, theoretical study and metrology. This reprint comprises 19 original papers concerning recent advances in the research and development of AMTSs. Specifically, there are many research fields that are covered: machining processes (six papers), micro-/nano-precision fabrication (four papers), and system optimization (eight papers), in addition to one review.

With the development of high-precision geological observation technology, in situ mineral microanalysis technology, isotope geochemical analysis technology, deep geophysical exploration technology, deep drilling, real-time mining, remote sensing highresolution hyperspectral image technology, and supercomputer and industrial intelligence, geoscience has entered an era of big data and artificial intelligence in the 21st century. Three-dimensional/four-dimensional (3D/4D) geoscience modeling with the multi-disciplinary intersection of geosciences has been used as the basis for mineral exploration and the extraction of geosciences information for mineral resource assessment.

This book focuses on challenging issues in the field of AI-based image and video processing and recognition, including the topics of AI-based image processing, understanding, recognition, compression, and reconstruction; AI-based video processing, understanding, recognition, compression, and reconstruction; computer vision based on AI; AI-based biometrics; AI-based object detection and tracking; approaches that combine AI techniques and conventional methods for image and video processing and recognition; explainable AI (XAI) for image and video processing and recognition; generative adversarial network (GAN)-based image and video processing and recognition; and approaches that combine AI techniques and blockchain methods for image and video processing and recognition.

In recent years, ironmaking and steelmaking have witnessed the incorporation of various new processes and technologies that can be operated and organized in different combinations depending on the properties of raw materials and the required quality of the final products. Indications from the steel industry and local and global government institutions suggest that the breakthrough technologies for decarbonization will be based on new fuels and energy vectors. For CO2-lean process routes, three major solutions have been identified: decarbonizing, whereby coal would be replaced by hydrogen or electricity in the hydrogen reduction or electrolysis of iron ore processes; the introduction of CCS technology; and the use of sustainable biomass.Today, hydrogen-based steelmaking is a potential low-carbon and economically attractive route, especially in countries where natural gas is cheap. By considering systems for increasing energy efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of steel production, CO2 emissions may be greatly reduced by hydrogen-based steel production if hydrogen is generated by means of carbon-free and renewable sources. Currently, the development of the hydrogen economy has received a great deal of attention in that H2 is considered a promising alternative to replace fossil fuels. Based on hydrogen, the "hydrogen economy" is a promising clean energy carrier for decarbonized energy systems if the hydrogen used is produced from renewable energy sources or coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS) or nuclear energy.

The Special Issue of Biomedicines, entitled "Advances in Pathogenesis and Therapeutics of Hepatobiliary Diseases," presents cutting-edge research findings, innovations, and insights into a wide range of topics related to the hepatobiliary system, such as the molecular mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis, diagnostic advancements, novel therapeutic approaches, and prevention strategies. The Special Issue comprises seven original articles and four review articles regarding NAFLD, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), hepatitis B and C, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

This book explores sustainable urban development, addressing the challenges and opportunities encountered in the 21st century. It addresses topics such as resilience, blockchain architecture, and green roofs, offering insights into urban challenges and opportunities. The research provides innovative strategies and best practices for sustainable, equitable, and resilient urban communities. The collection emphasizes stakeholder integration, community engagement, and the importance of addressing specific challenges faced by vulnerable populations. As a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and students, this publication aims to foster informed conversations about the future of urban planning and design, and inspire further research and dialogue on sustainable urban development, paving the way for more sustainable urban communities worldwide.

This reprint contains a series of articles and reviews that illustrate the state-of-the-art knowledge about Gamma Ray Bursts and provide deep insights on the challenges that will be faced in GRB physics in the next decade.

In the treatment of acute stroke, thrombolysis and thrombectomy have proven to be highly effective. Many patients have seen significant improvement after reperfusion therapy. This reprint aims to address current knowledge gaps and promote advancements in the use of thrombolysis and thrombectomy for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.

The remarkable explosion of wireless devices and bandwidth-consuming Internet applications has boosted the demand for wireless communications with ultra-high data rates. The wireless traffic volume is foreseen to match or even surpass the wired services by 2030, and high-precision wireless services will need to be guaranteed with a peak data rate of well beyond 100 Gbit/s, eventually reaching 1 Tbit/s. To meet the exponentially increasing traffic demand, new regions in the radio spectrum are being explored. The terahertz band, which is sandwiched between microwave frequencies and optical frequencies, is considered the next breakthrough point to revolutionize communication technology due to its rich spectrum resources. It is recognized as a promising candidate for future rate-greedy applications, such as 6G communications. At the World Radio Communication Conference 2019 (WRC-19), it was announced that the identification of frequency bands in the frequency range of 275 GHz-450 GHz is permitted for land-mobile and fixed service applications, indicating potential standardization of the low-frequency window of terahertz band for near-future wireless communications. Motivated by the potential of terahertz wireless communications, this reprint reports on recent critical technological breakthroughs in terms of broadband terahertz devices and communications, as well as novel technologies at other frequency bands that can also motivate terahertz research.

Inland lakes are indicators of climate change and environmental deterioration. As a unique ecosystem unit, an inland lake is one of the basic locations for human survival and development. In recent years, with the rapid development of regional society and economy, the ecological environment of inland lakes has been continuously disturbed by human activities under the influence of large-scale water and soil exploitation activities, which have affected the ecological environment of lakes. Therefore, lake ecological restoration and water quality monitoring under the coupled effect of climate change and human activities are the key to lake protection and management. In recent years, remote sensing has played an increasingly important role in the monitoring of the terrestrial water cycle. Remote sensing technology has been applied in many fields, such as water storage, water quality, water level, and hydrodynamics. Furthermore, the explosive growth of remote sensing data applications is driven by the coupling of multisource remote sensing data and the expansion of new modeling technology.

The relationship between human beings and the ecological environment poses a significant global challenge for the present and the future. As human-environment interactions become more complex, it is essential to measure and understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of coupled human-environment systems and how they are influenced by social and ecological factors. This book offers twenty original research articles that explore the latest developments in monitoring and projecting the spatiotemporal changes of the coupled system, examining the responses of the coupled system to socio-ecological drivers and processes, and discussing the implications for the sustainable management of the coupled system.

This MDPI booklet lists the articles published in three Special Issues of the journal Mathematics devoted to special functions with applications in mathematical physics in the years 2020-2021.The call for papers considered theories and applications of high transcendental functions, including topics found mainly in the list of keywords:- Mittag-Leffler and related functions, and their applications in mathematical physics;- Wright and related functions and their applications in mathematical physics;- exponential integrals and their extensions with applications in mathematical physics;- generalized hypergeometric functions and their extensions with applicationsHowever, the Special Issues were not limited to the above list, for example, when the content of a paper was clearly related to some high transcendental functions and their applications.Special attention was reserved for distinct functions exhibiting some relevance in the framework of the theories and applications of the fractional calculus and in their visualization through illuminating plots.Both research and survey articles were included in this booklet, according to the content list.

Major concerns regarding health and the environment are at the heart of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Sustainable Development Goals. Now more than ever, humanity is called upon to take action to protect the environment and public health. The environment in which we live is the most vital factor for our health and well-being. Human activities have significant impacts on the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and even outer space. Biological, chemical, and physical risk factors are part of our everyday lives, and scientific research continuously faces challenges to understand and mitigate these interactions to make life on Earth more sustainable. The sustainability of human societies and the biodiversity that supports them requires the responsible supervision of natural resources, including the development of technologies and regulations.

The Special Issue "Fatigue and Fracture of Metals and Alloys: Numerical and Experimental Study" includes 19 articles covering problems in fatigue and fracture mechanics from different parts of the scientific world. The issue includes articles presenting theoretical, numerical, statistical and experimental approaches to fatigue life estimation. The influence of technological processes, state of stress, or the environment on steel and aluminum alloys is presented. The subjects of the articles of interest, as they present solutions to common practical problems in the industry.

It is currently apparent that extracellular ATP's physiological effect is mediated by its interaction with specific purinergic receptors. All purinergic receptors are divided into P1-purinoreceptors and P2-purinoreceptors. Each of the subtypes is divided into a number of families. For instance, P2 receptors are divided into P2X and P2Y receptors according to the mechanism by which their effect is realized: P2Y are G-protein-coupled receptors, while P2X receptors are ligand-operated ion channels. P2X receptors are important molecular therapeutic targets, the malfunctioning of which leads to severe complications in the physiology of humans and animals and causes dangerous diseases. The search for compounds that can modulate the function of purinergic receptors can lead to the creation of new drugs that are effective in central and peripheral nervous system and immune system disease treatment, including neuroinflammation, hypoxia/ischemia, epilepsy and neuropathic pain. In this Special Issue, we wish to offer a platform for high-quality publications on the latest advances in the identification of P2X/Y- and P1-receptor blockers, functions and regulation by them; the characterization of these receptor signaling networks and crosstalk; mechanisms underlying the role of purinoceptors in neurodegenerative illnesses as well as chronic neuronal changes following acute noxious damage and therapeutic opportunities associated with regulation of purinergic receptor activity.

The aim of this second Eng Special Issue is to collect experimental and theoretical re-search relating to engineering science and technology. The general topics of Eng are as follows: electrical, electronic and information engineering; chemical and materials engineering; energy engineering; mechanical and automotive engineering; industrial and manufacturing engineering; civil and structural engineering; aerospace engineering; biomedical engineering; geotechnical engineering and engineering geology; and ocean and environmental engineering. Therefore, the following editorial is a selection of representative works of these topics.

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

Transcriptional regulation is a critical biological process that allows the cell or an organism to respond to a variety of intra- and extracellular signals, to define cell identity during development, to maintain it throughout its lifetime, and to coordinate cellular activity. This control involves multiple temporal and functional steps as well as innumerable molecules including transcription factors, cofactors, and chromatin regulators. It is well known that many human disorders are characterized by global transcriptional dysregulation because most of the signaling pathways ultimately target transcription machinery. Indeed, many syndromes and genetic and complex diseases-cancer, autoimmunity, neurological and developmental disorders, and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases-can be caused by mutations/alterations in regulatory sequences, transcription factors, splicing regulators, cofactors, chromatin regulators, ncRNAs, and other components of transcription apparatus. It is worth noting that advances in our understanding of molecules and mechanisms involved in the transcriptional circuitry and apparatus lead to new insights into the pathogenetic mechanisms of various human diseases and disorders. Thus, this Special Issue is focused on molecular genetics and genomics studies exploring the effects of transcriptional misregulation on human diseases.

Rapid advances in modelling research have created new challenges and opportunities for statisticians. Statistical inference in observational studies and many other emerging fields have motivated statisticians worldwide to develop cutting-edge methods and analytical strategies.The aim of this book is to showcase the applications and methodological research in all fields of computational statistics. This book will provide a forum for computer scientists, mathematicians, and statisticians working in a variety of areas in statistics, including biometrics, econometrics, data analysis, graphics, and simulation.

Existing competitiveness between companies in the global market requires a high degree of proactivity, with an aim of reducing costs, increasing quality, and providing the market with innovative products that are in line with the natural evolution of customer demands. The concepts of the Toyota Production System, which have led to the adoption of lean manufacturing, have helped industrial managers to implement tools and practices that eliminate or substantially reduce wastes that normally exist in conventional production lines. However, the need for successive increase in flexibility necessitates a more favorable evolution with technological advancements in the programming of equipment and devices, along with the use of robotics and the integration of information throughout the product manufacturing cycle using the IoT or powerful networks. This concept, usually referred to as Industry 4.0, is in line with the principles of lean manufacturing, although it can only be supported by a true technological revolution involving remote programming of machines, integration of manufacturing processes, and real-time control of the work performed through an entire production cycle. This Special Issue showcases important contributions in the area of lean manufacturing and Industry 4.0, with innovative concepts that will certainly enthuse and strengthen readers' knowledge.

Growing evidence supports the important role of nutrition in health and performance. Nutritional interventions, alone or in combination with physical exercise, have proven effective for reducing the incidence of different chronic diseases and their associated risk factors (e.g., obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia). A healthy diet also seems to prevent many of the detrimental consequences of aging, notably sarcopenia and frailty. On the other hand, diet has been reported to influence physical performance, with nutrition, including nutritional supplements, being a cornerstone in the armamentarium of athletes. The role of nutrition seems, therefore, wide; however, although research is rapidly growing, controversy and debate still exists as to the optimal nutritional strategies for disease prevention and sports performance enhancement. The present Special Issue aimed to report recent findings on the role of nutrition in disease prevention and sports performance enhancement, as well as to summarize current evidence on these topics.

This Special Issue on the "Dynamic Behavior of Materials" collected recent research findings on the dynamic behavior of various materials. A collection of fifteen peer-reviewed research articles were included in this Special Issue. The main topics covered include processing technology, state-of-the-art characterization, testing, theoretic modeling, and simulation. We hope that this Special Issue will be interesting for the academic community, and also hope that it will shed light on future research activities in this field.

This special issue focuses on energy and the environment, including the latest research results and prospects. The special issue contains eleven original articles and two review articles. Most of the works focused on the synthesis and related mechanisms of photocatalytic nanomaterials. Photocatalysis technology has great potential to solve energy shortages and environmental pollution. Improving the sunlight utilization efficiency and catalytic activity of photocatalytic nanomaterials is the key problem that restricts the large-scale application of photocatalytic technology. This special issue details the internal mechanism of enhancing photocatalytic activity from element doping, constructing composite heterogeneous structures, introducing organic photosensitive materials, morphology control, and so on. These contributions provide various approaches to designing and establishing efficient photocatalytic nanomaterials.

Concrete, one of the most often-used building materials today, is the cornerstone of modern buildings all over the world, being used for foundations, pavements, building walls, architectural structures, highways, bridges, overpasses, and so on. Because of its adaptability, concrete may be found in practically every construction, in some form or another. Yet, the diverse nature of its components, their combinations, and their doses result in a very wide range of concrete kinds with varying properties. As a result, concrete is a material that is always evolving and is popular even now, especially when it comes to circular economy.Other ways of concrete manufacturing are now being researched to lessen or remove the limits of this material, which are connected to its brittleness and poor environmental effects. As a result, the development of engineering cementitious composites has resulted in a significant reduction in flexibility issues, while the introduction of new additives and the optimization of the manufacturing process has resulted in a significant reduction in the negative effects of virgin raw material exploitation. In-depth research is still required to optimize and increase the sustainability of these advanced engineering cementitious composites or alternative concretes.In this Special Issue (SI), state-of-the-art research and review articles on the emerging material systems for AM are collected, with a focus on the process-structure-properties relationships. In total, eleven research papers and six reviews have been collected.

There is growing evidence that among persons with disordered eating behavior, the identification of an "addictive-like eating" phenotype for some persons could be relevant and improve our ability to design better tailored interventions. This "addictive-like eating behavior" phenotype encompasses different terms or concepts, including "food addiction", "eating addiction", "compulsive eating behavior", and "food craving", but also applies to some persons with binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, or binge eating symptoms. Although these terms may theoretically refer to different underlying causes or conceptualizations of addictive-like eating, all agree on the complex and multifaceted public health problem it represents and on the similarities it shares with other addictive disorders in terms of etiology, epidemiology, and treatment.Addictive-like eating behavior can deleteriously impact the patient's outcome and may lead to poorer weight loss evolution, increased prevalence of co-occurring medical and/or psychiatric disorders, and/or lower quality of life. One of the key challenges for the present and future research is to better identify this subpopulation of patients exhibiting this addictive-like eating phenotype, and to identify the psychological/psychiatric factors and biological mechanisms underlying this increased vulnerability to addictive-like eating. Such preliminary knowledge is crucial for enabling the development of interventions targeting these vulnerability risk factors and, ultimately, improving patient outcomes.

The present reprint contains the 11 papers that were accepted and published in the Special Issue "Applied and Computational Mathematics for Digital Environments" of the MDPI Mathematics journal. The topics of interest include, among others, scientific research, applied tasks, and problems in the following areas:The construction of mathematical and information models of intelligent computer systems for monitoring and controlling the parameters of digital environments;The development of intelligent optimization algorithms that search for optimal parameter values of mathematical and information models in digital environments;Software and mathematical technologies in the implementation of intelligent monitoring and computer control of the parameters of digital environments;The development and application of mathematical and information models, machine learning methods, and artificial intelligence for the analysis and processing of big data in digital environments.I hope that this reprint will be useful to those who are interested in the real-world applications of applied and computational mathematics for digital environments in terms of solving actual, practical problems in all spheres of human life and activity.

Discover the complexities of pediatric orthopedics in this comprehensive reprint book. Pediatric orthopedics present unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment, necessitating the expertise of skilled specialists. Congenital, developmental, and acquired orthopedic issues, including infectious, neuromuscular, nutritional, neoplastic, psychogenic, and traumatic conditions, are explored. With a focus on evidence-based recommendations, this book addresses the management of orthopedic deformities in children by considering different clinical scenarios. From upper and lower limb injuries to severe trauma, readers will gain insights into decision-making processes for reconstruction or amputation. As a valuable resource for orthopedic surgeons, pediatricians, and healthcare professionals, this reprint fills knowledge gaps to optimize patient care.