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This reprint collected the cutting-edge developments of CFD in the area of marine science and technology. CFD methods including novel numerical algorithms, advanced treatments of solving procedures, parallel acceleration techniques, and the utilization of CFD for fluid-structure interaction, wave modeling, ship dynamics, etc., are included. The audience of this reprint can be researchers and engineers in the area of marine science and technology.

This reprint book is a compilation of the articles and reviews published in the Special issue entitled "Controversies and Recent Advances in Senescence and Aging" in Cells. The Editorial summarises and highlights the contents of the published articles. Aging is the leading predictive factor of many chronic diseases that account for most of the morbidity and mortality worldwide, i.e., neurodegeneration, cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, and bone diseases, as well as cancers. Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species generation, the over-production of inflammatory cytokines, the activation of oncogenes, DNA damage, telomere shortening, and the accumulation of senescent cells are all widely accepted mechanisms contributing to aging. Senescence is mainly thought to be provoked by negative cellular stress but might also be induced by physiological developmental stimuli. Senescence is characterized by irreversible cell cycle arrest independent of quiescence and terminal differentiation. The Special Issue entitled "Controversies and Recent Advances in Senescence and Aging", which is contained in this reprint, comprises an excellent collection of original articles and reviews highlighting different novel aspects in the fields of senescence and aging research. They will hopefully stimulate discussions and further research in these fields, which are extremely important in a constantly aging human population.

This reprint focuses on research and practice concerning assessment and evaluation in higher education, crucial processes for the advancement of higher education. The different dimensions and forms of assessment within higher education, the impact of assessment methods on students' learning processes and approaches to learning are of particular interest. Special attention is given to assessment methods and purposes, assessment rubrics and the assessment of learning outcomes (knowledge and skills). Research on the challenges, strengths, and opportunities of online and virtual assessment, active learning approaches and new pedagogical methodologies, based on student-centred assessment practices, is also explored and discussed in this reprint.

Europe's zero-pollution agenda should depart from an understanding of how the European citizens' bodies are polluted by synthetic chemicals and prioritize the reduction of the chemical body burden and associated health impacts. In this context, Human Biomonitoring (HBM) is an important and valuable tool for assessing the internal exposure of humans resulting from aggregated exposure to chemicals. Though many obstacles still hinder the use of HBM data, the growing availability of HBM data offers an opportunity for improving and refining Human Risk Assessment. This Special Issue intends to illustrate, using case studies, how HBM data could be used to better estimate internal exposure and resulting risks. Case studies on exposure from consumer products (cosmetic products, non-food products, etc.) or exposures via food or water in the general population or among workers contributed to better identifying the obstacles hindering a broader use of HBM data in RA. A better understanding of population exposure and the exposure of vulnerable groups against health-based human biomonitoring guidance values also provides the basis for effective risk management to reduce impacts on health. I would like to thank all the authors for submitting their original contributions to this Special Issue. We greatly appreciate the support of all the reviewers who spent time evaluating and improving the quality of the manuscripts. I would also like to thank the editors of Toxics for their kind invitation and Selena Li of the Toxics Editorial Office for her invaluable support.

Adaptation to external changes is necessary for all cells to survive and thrive in diverse environments. Key to these responses are the MAPK-mediated signaling pathways, intracellular communication routes that sense stimuli at the cell surface, and are ubiquitous in all eukaryotic organisms. In the case of fungi, MAPKs mediate essential processes, such as adaptation to environmental stresses, morphology regulation, or developmental processes. First studied in the early nineties in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the fungal cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway has proven to be a central MAPK-mediated signaling cascade conserved in the fungal kingdom. Cells need to sense cell wall-perturbing conditions and mount the appropriate salvage response. Understanding this CWI pathway-mediated compensatory mechanism is key for the development of cell wall-targeted antifungal therapies. Moreover, its functional roles go beyond the maintenance of this essential structure, reaching many other physiological aspects that have major implications in development or virulence.In this Special Issue, expert researchers in this relevant subject have contributed with seven reviews and eleven original articles to advance our understanding of the CWI pathway by covering different structural, regulatory, and functional aspects in distinct yeasts and filamentous fungi.

Tackling inequalities in health and healthcare is more important than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic starkly illustrated the disproportional impact of the virus on those who already faced disadvantage and discrimination. Moreover, there is evidence that the public health measures taken to contain the virus are likely to have longstanding differential impacts across populations. Numerous studies have documented avoidable differences in health, within and between populations. Similarly, studies have consistently shown inequalities in access, use, experience and outcomes from healthcare and public health programmes. The focus has often been on individual determinants, such as gender, age and ethnicity. Less attention has been paid to structural or contextual determinants, except for area-level socioeconomic conditions. In addition, to tackle inequalities, there is a need to move beyond measuring; to understand why inequalities arise and how they can be addressed. This Special Issue sought to extend the parameters of inequalities research in health and healthcare beyond measuring and documenting inequalities. Reviews, observational studies, and quasi-experimental and other evaluation designs (using quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods), focusing on the following were welcomed: ¿ understanding inequalities across health and care systems; ¿ methodological developments to understand drivers of inequalities; ¿ efforts to reduce inequalities, particularly in evidence-based healthcare or public health policy and practice; ¿ understanding and mitigating the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on inequalities.

The goal of this Special Issue is to disseminate emerging techniques and innovative solutions that comprehensively address unmet needs in cardiovascular disease and can be rapidly translated into the clinical arena in order to significantly improve diagnostic accuracy and precision in treatment delivery, as well as to enhance therapy guidance and procedural success. The volume includes research contributions from cross-disciplinary scientists and professionals who work in the cardiovascular field at the interface of basic and translational research, clinical practice, medical (bio)physics, engineering, mathematics, and computer science. Several compelling contributions are focused on the development of advanced techniques in cardiovascular imaging (MRI, CT, ultrasound, optics) to investigate structure-function interaction and identify pathology, image analysis (e.g. registration, segmentation, visualization), deep-learning/AI classification methods to better characterize tissue and physiological signals, novel preclinical experimental models and clinical approaches employed in electro-anatomical mapping and image-aided therapies (e.g., cardiac ablation, resynchronization), as well as innovative interventional procedures for vascular applications.

Two-dimensional bearing-only filtering (BOF) arises in many real-world tracking problems, including underwater tracking using a passive sonar, aircraft surveillance using a passive radar, navigation of a robot using a passive sonar, and undersea exploration of natural resources using sonar. BOF using a single sensor is also a challenging nonlinear filtering problem due to poor observability and the nonlinear measurement model. This filtering problem and associated tracking problem have been studied extensively.Three-dimensional angle-only filtering (AOF) is a two-dimensional counterpart of BOF . Real-world AOF problems include passive ranging using an infrared search and track (IRST) sensor, passive sonar, passive radar in the presence of jamming, ballistic missile and satellite tacking using a telescope, satellite to satellite passive tracking, and missile guidance using bearing-only seekers. The number of publications in the AOF and angle-only tracking in 3D is rather limited compared with the corresponding problems in 2D.

Based on this evidence, a deep understanding of the immunological status and biological targets modulating immunological microenvironments should be quite informative for the development of future immunotherapy in HCC. From this point of view, this Special Issue will highlight the current state of the art in the immunotherapy of HCC from both the basic and clinical perspectives, and outline future perspectives for improving therapies.

This Special Issue reprint covers the synthesis of luminescent nanomaterials, applications for in vitro and in vivo imaging, detection based on fluorescence resonance energy, and the applications of luminescent nanoparticles for photodynamic activation and solid-state displays, as well as new materials and structures, such as perovskite quantum dots, and novel phenomena, such as aggregation-induced emissions. In total, there are 15 papers (2 reviews and 13 research articles) in this Special Issue consisting of the major areas of upconversion of luminescent nanomaterials; luminescent nanomaterials for solid-state lighting, displays, and anti-counterfeiting; particle-based sensing technology; particle-based therapeutics; and new materials and structures. This Issue represents new developments in luminescence nanotechnology.

This book is devoted to fundamental and applied research in the field of implementing the principles of the circular economy in energy transition, and it substantiates the need for its transformation in the context of sustainable development. Of particular interest are promising areas for the use of secondary energy resources in the economy to create closed production cycles. Specific technologies are considered, and their environmental and economic assessments of scenarios for the introduction of low-carbon technologies in the circular economy, the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through the introduction of a circular economy, and the development of regional cooperation are given. Particular attention is paid to the possibility of using eco-innovations for the national transition to decarbonization in the integrated European energy system, Green intellectual capital as a support for corporate environmental development, a sustainable value chain for the industrial consumption of biocomposites, and various options for programs to reduce CO2 emissions.

Energy transitions and environmental sustainability does not occur overnight as it may take years of policy debates both from within domestic jurisdictions and from international organisations. It often requires energy saving technology innovations to drive appropriate investment decisions that can then allow energy transition to occur. There is no one global solution. Countries progress in their energy transition goals by taking small steps as demonstrated in this special issue, "Energy Transition and Environmental Sustainability". This Special Issue provides thirteen interesting papers showing examples of projects undertaken or challenges encountered in various countries, such as: Legal reforms for energy transition in Taiwan and Japan; Transition towards solar PV in South Korea; Transition to electricity driven buses in Central Europe; Vehicle transition and the development of electric car production in the United States, the European Union and Japan; Cooling solutions for buildings in Pakistan; Projects in Ecuador to replace fossil fuel use with Hydropower; The Role of Electrification in the Decarbonization of Central-Western Europe; Energy technology innovation through the application of new technologies in oil resource development; Wastewater treatment challenges in Poland; Increased climate change litigation facing Australian Energy Companies; Renewable energy solution to a Childcare facility in Tokyo; and Canadian policies to support renewable gas production from organic waste. This Special Issue provides global perspectives and uncertainties on energy transition and will appeal to all levels of readers.

This book focuses on the rapid development of the social economy which is accompanied by the continuous growth of energy demand, such as in the heavy industry, agriculture sector, and tourism sector. Meanwhile, large-scale energy consumption in the short term has increased the risk to the energy supply and ecological safety. This has contributed to the exploration and exploitation of energy supply risk management, carbon emission reduction, and renewable energy technological innovation, aiming to solve the bottlenecks in energy and environmental economics. Thus, this book aims to present and disseminate the most recent advances related to the theory, design, modelling, and application of all types of energy and environmental economics.

Over the past decade, the field of robotics has become increasingly popular among educators and researchers alike as a powerful tool for enhancing learning experiences. From preschool to high school students, educational robotics has shown the potential to improve cognitive and social skills, while facilitating interdisciplinary learning activities in various subjects such as science, mathematics, technology, and computer science. This reprint explores the emerging field of educational robotics, focusing on its creation, implementation, improvement, and validation of pedagogical activities, tools, and technologies. Our goal is to provide an overview of the latest research, trends, and best practices in the field, particularly emphasizing how educational robotics can enhance students' learning experiences in an engaging and interactive environment. Moreover, drawing on a literature review, this book explores the growing field of educational robotics and its potential to revolutionize science and technology education at all levels. Through hands-on, fun activities and an attractive learning environment, educational robotics can spark students' interest and curiosity, making learning a more enjoyable and rewarding experience. We hope this reprint will serve as a valuable resource for educators, researchers, and students alike, inspiring them to explore the exciting world of educational robotics and its potential to transform how we teach and learn.

Tryptophan is a rate-limiting essential amino acid and a unique building block of peptides and proteins. This largest amino acid serves as the precursor for the important endogenous indoleamines serotonin, N-acetylserotonin, and melatonin that act as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and neurohormones. Kynurenic acid is the most potent endogenous antiexitotoxic agent. Other highly relevant pathways of tryptophan are the reversible transamination to indole-3-pyruvate with formation related indolic acids that act as potent antioxidant agents. Tryptophan metabolites, such as melatonin, and structurally related agents, such as indole-3-propionic acid, act as potent catalytic antioxidants and bioenergetic agents that facilitate regeneration and protection against stress and aging. Several indole compounds act as uremic toxins since these agents can induce radical formation that is associated with enhanced oxidative stress and damage. The exploration of the effects of these protective and toxic tryptophan derived agents has revealed important molecular mechanisms and mediators of adaptation and aging. Research on tryptophan in nutrition and health can facilitate the development of new approaches to extend human health and life span. Amino acids are the building blocks of life that enable repair, as well as recycling and regeneration. Research on nutrients like amino acids, such as tryptophan and its metabolites, as well as peptides and proteins, or extracts containing this molecular metabolism modifiers can improve health. Research into the indololome is a new emerging and rapidly growing field of utmost relevance to science and society.

Many existing and newly constructed bridges are composed of reinforced and prestressed concrete. Advanced concrete materials play an increasingly important role in concrete bridges to facilitate the strengthening and repair of existing bridges, to facilitate a (fast) replacement solution for (part of) an existing bridge, and for the design of new challenging bridge projects. The development of advanced concrete materials and their structural applications is thus an important topic in the built environment.This reprint brings together research and practical applications from the perspective of material scientists and bridge engineers for applications to new and existing bridges.

Remote sensing is developing rapidly due to progress in many interconnected fields. It includes the emergence of new sensors, development of sophisticated platforms for those sensors, and advances in signal and data processing. The progress in the fields of radar, optoelectronic, acoustic, magnetic, chemical, and other sensors is stunning. Whereas the mentioned sensors are currently more sensitive and accurate, have improved resolutions, data rates, and dynamical ranges, they still have their limitations. The utilization of multi-sensor systems and joint processing of their signals or data has long been considered an effective solution for reducing the disadvantages and best utilizing their strengths. The emergence of new types of sensors creates an opportunity for scientists and engineers to develop new and more capable integrated multi-sensor systems. It is necessary to mention that the users' expectations with respect to the size of the observed area or volume, data resolution, accuracy, speed of operation, and functionality of remote sensing systems are still increasing. Extended frequency bands, improved resolutions, and data rates of the new sensors as well as the common use of distributed sensors increase the influx of data in contemporary multi-sensor systems. These facts pose new challenges for the data fusion algorithms that must often employ the newest achievements from the areas of big data mining, statistical estimation, artificial intelligence, etc. This book contains a collection of papers that provide a fresh insight into the newest developments in the fields of multi-sensor systems and data fusion.

Papers collected in the present Special Issue relate to the field of sericulture. They cover different aspects based on a very ancient human agricultural activity, taking into consideration classical agronomic aspects, such as the impact of feeding on silk quality and sericulture in different parts of the world. Nonetheless, cutting edge topics are addressed as well, with papers studying silk as a biomaterial, the silkworm as a model organism, and the possibility of exploring its physiology and the molecular mechanisms that stand behind it with the aid of modern tools such as gene profiling, the CRISPR/Cas-9 system, and -omics sciences.

Novel Anticancer Strategies (Volume II) reviews important findings and updates within the cancer therapy field of great interest to those in academic research studying the development and validation of novel anticancer approaches. The Editor invited preeminent specialists to contribute to original and review articles devoted to key areas of major progress and expectations. Key Features:Nanoparticle-based drug delivery in cancer therapy;Nanoerythrosomes;Cancer immunotherapy;Therapeutic vaccines;Oncogenic and tumor suppressive components of the cell cycle;Antimitotics in cancer clinical trials;Multifunctional enzymes as anti-cancer drug targets;Targeting undruggable proteins and non-coding RNAs;Cell-penetrating peptides;Repurposed cancer drugs in clinical trials;Circulating tumour cells.

Great strides have been made in the area of hydrogel science since the first hydrogels were described in the 1960s. Hydrogels usually consist of three-dimensional matrices of hydrophilic polymers, held together by chemical or physical crosslinks, or supramolecular assemblies of small amphiphilic molecules. The gelation process occurs in response to a physical or chemical stimulus, such as temperature, pH, electric or magnetic field, enzymatic modification, light, and others. Consisting of mainly water molecules, they represent a unique class of materials, with many applications such as cell therapeutics, cartilage/bone regeneration, sustained drug release and drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, and 3D bioprinting. Despite these great strides, there is still much more to discover in this area. This Special Issue is focused on the use of hydrogels in tissue and bone regeneration. Hydrogels are particularly suited for this purpose as their physical characteristics resemble that of the extracellular matrix; as such, they have found applications as an extracellular medium for cancer cells, stem cells, and neuronal cells. This Special Issue also includes research papers on the other biomedical applications of hydrogels.

This reprint covers topics on geographical scale of glacier and lake ice variations, as well as the engineering scale of ice properties and their practical applications via laboratory tests and numerical modeling.

The effects of nutrition on chronic conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and stroke, continue to generate interest among researchers. This is because diet is a modifiable risk factor. The composition of diet, including the proportions and types of macronutrients and micronutrients, is a major contributor to chronic diseases. The beneficial effects of nutritional interventions on chronic conditions have been well documented, although differences remain among researchers concerning their overall impact. The evaluations of the role of nutrition in chronic conditions draw on diet's effects on body weight, body composition, glycemic, and insulin excursions, and vascular remodeling. The effect of diet in modulating gut microbiota dysbiosis is also an evolving area of research.This Book, entitled "Nutrition in Chronic Conditions", aims to examine the effect of nutrition in the development, care, and management of chronic conditions. This Book includes 11 original studies conducted in high- and middle-income countries, 3 systematic reviews with meta-analysis, and 3 literature reviews.The topics covered in the Book include: the effects of diet on (1) insulin and glucose metabolism; (2) gut health; (3) brain and cognitive impairment; (4) infections, chronic conditions, malnutrition, and all-cause mortality; (5) obesity and dietary variables in post-menopausal women; (6) non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice, specifically with the consumption of coffee; and (7) chronic conditions and COVID-19 infection.

Anti-cancer immunotherapies have generated spectacular outcomes in the clinical environment and changed treatment schemes for cancer patients. Adoptive cell therapies (ACTs), including using autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, and checkpoint blockades have emerged as the most effective treatments for certain cancers. The current challenge for cancer immunotherapies is that although some patients have benefited from the treatments, a number of cancers are resistant. The purpose of this Special Issue is to understand anti-cancer immunotherapy treatment resistance mechanisms and explore new options to provide opportunities for effective treatments.

This Special Issue focuses on feeding and feed technology advances and challenges in aquaculture. These are of particular interest since aquaculture and fisheries are considered crucial sources of animal protein in human diets, providing around 17% of global edible animal protein. Special attention is given to alternative sources of fish meal and how substitutions can influence the metabolism, immune response, and disease resistance of the targeted species. Moreover, the impact of plant extracts on growth performances, physiological responses, immunity, and intestinal health is addressed.

Roads, bridges, airports, and ports are multirole transportation infrastructure assets, which rely heavily on asphalt, cement, and aggregates in traditional civil engineering. Multirole transportation infrastructures should be resistant enough against structural loads and vehicle loads. Further, multirole transportation infrastructures are greatly affected by climate change, which has the potential to impact both long- and short-term infrastructure performance. Recent developments in materials science, especially polymers, have brought new perspectives in the modification of civil engineering materials and consequent improvements. Being both strong and lightweight, polymer composites have already found wide-ranging uses in civil engineering. The application of various types of polymers includes admixtures and additives (e.g., alternative binders, polymer fibers) for enhanced mechanical performances and enhanced functional properties such as self-healing and self-cleaning. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze advanced functional polymer composites sitting at the intersection of physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering. This Special Issue is concerned with the possible applications of polymeric composites to develop new technologies in road and bridge engineering, which will focus on current and future research toward characterization techniques, evaluation tools, and the production of advanced functional polymer composites.

This book focuses on applied technologies on biowaste treatment with the aim to minimize its environmental impact and to recover resources in the form of energy, nutrients, and other valuable products. As a result of this, the book has collected the latest research on mature, conventional, and innovative technologies used to address the challenging issues with the treatment and valorization of different flows of biowaste.

Encyclopedia of Engineering aims at providing a collection of entries concerning several fields of Engineering Sciences. The reprint provides a historical overview, starting from the investigation of Mechanics and Science in Ancient Greece and showing their evolution over time. The topical collection focuses on Civil, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering providing basic concepts as well as novel trends in modeling, design and construction of engineering systems, structures, and materials. Special attention is also given to the recent developments and achievements in the framework of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

Computational Intelligence (CI) is the theory, design, application, and development of biologically and linguistically motivated computational paradigms. Traditionally, the three main pillars of CI have been neural networks, fuzzy systems, and evolutionary computation. However, in time, many nature-inspired computing paradigms have evolved. Thus, CI is an evolving field, and, at present, in addition to the three main constituents, it encompasses computing paradigms such as ambient intelligence, artificial life, cultural learning, artificial endocrine networks, social reasoning, and artificial hormone networks. CI plays a major role in developing successful intelligent systems, including games and cognitive developmental systems. Over the last few years, there has been an explosion of research on deep learning, specifically deep convolutional neural networks, and deep learning has become the core method for artificial intelligence. In fact, some of the most successful AI systems today are based on CI. Therefore, this book focuses on the theoretical study of computational intelligence and its applications.

Billions of people suffer from dental problems. Paradoxically, the deteriorating state of teeth is accompanied by the ever-increasing desire to preserve the best facial appearance, which is significantly influenced by teeth aesthetics. This favors the development of dental materials and manufacturing technologies for dental prosthetics, needed to achieve expected effects of clinical treatment.This reprint focus on enhancing antimicrobial and mechanical properties of polymeric materials and composites for dentistry. In recent years, special attention has been focused on the possibility of giving materials new or improved properties by the introduction of nano or submicron size additives, fibers or whiskers. Using agents such as natural oils to enhance antimicrobial properties remains an exciting idea. Another area of research is the application of antibacterial monomers, which can be copolymerized in resins to kill oral pathogenic microflora. The use of new monomers or new compilations of various monomers to improve mechanical properties has also aroused interest. In addition, we are currently looking for new data regarding colonization of dental materials by pathogenic microbes and their influence on the other properties. Further, there are many new commercially available materials which should be investigated to verify their properties, which is important from the point of view of clinical practice. Original new research and reviews related to any of the topics mentioned above indicate the current directions of development of dental materials. We hope that the presented work will be of interest to readers.

The Special Issue "Focus on Antibiotics - New Challenges and Steps Forward in Discovery and Development" addresses the latest efforts towards discovering new antibiotics. The articles in this Special Issue cover various topics concerning antibacterial drugs. They provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the field of antibiotic research and offer innovative solutions to tackle the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. The content of this Special Issue addresses antibacterial quinolones of the latest generation, new tetracyclines (such as glycylcyclines, aminomethylcyclines, and fluorocyclines), metal complexes (Ru (II/III) frameworks and Co(III) complexes with diamine chelate ligands), various nanoparticles (gold, silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles), bioactive compounds produced by Mixobacterials species, anti-mycobacterial compounds acting as phosphopantetheinyl transferase inhibitors. The research in this Special Issue will contribute to pharmaceutics and ultimately contribute to developing new and effective antibiotics. We are grateful to the authors for their contributions and hope this Special Issue will stimulate further research and discussion on antibiotics. We also thank the reviewers for their time and expertise, and the editorial team for supporting this Special Issue. Finally, we hope this Special Issue will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers working towards a future where antibiotics remain vital in our fight against infectious diseases.