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This Reprint of this Special Issue addresses various aspects of technology development and enhancement of nuclear energy systems, including design, subsystems, operational safety, and efficiency improvement. Additionally, it contains research results in energy storage and controlling systems and technologies for solar power plants, reflecting the broader scope of innovation within the energy sector. High-quality articles were prepared by scientists working at universities from different countries, including China, Hungary, Russia, Japan, Korea, and the UK.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma is a common tumor in Western countries and an appropriate test subject for new therapies. This Special Issue highlights the most up-to-date research into clear cell renal cell carcinoma from different medical perspectives, including its diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

The analysis and modeling of time series has been an active research area for more than 100 years, with the main focus on time series having a continuous range consisting of real numbers or real vectors. It took until the 1980s for the first papers on discrete-valued time series to appear. In the 2000s, a rapid increase in research activity was noted, but only in the last few years was a certain maturity and consolidation of the area of discrete-valued time series observed. This reprint is a collection of articles on a wide range of topics on discrete-valued time series (especially count time series), covering stochastic models and methods for their analysis, univariate and multivariate time series, applications of time series methods to risk analysis, statistical process control, and many more. The proposed approaches and concepts are thoroughly discussed and illustrated with several real-world data examples.

The art and science of clinical outcome analysis, quality improvement, the perioperative management of surgical patients, and patient safety continue to evolve at an increasingly rapid pace. In fact, over the years, novel concepts have arisen (risk stratification, shared decision-making, interdisciplinary meetings, prehabilitation, etc.), new initiatives have taken shape (e.g., state/nation-wide or international clinical databases), and new technologies and methods have been adopted across all surgical specialties (e.g., minimally invasive or robotic approaches). In order to care for our patients, raise the standards of healthcare services, and be successful in today's and tomorrow's rapidly changing healthcare environment, understanding and developing these topics represents an essential duty of all surgeons, physicians, and professionals in relation to the care of surgical patients. In the present Special Issue, we provide the best currently available evidence on several aspects of this important topic, thus providing all of the necessary information to clinicians on core concepts in the perioperative management of surgical patients.

Phylogeny represents the historical pattern of relationships among organisms that have arisen in numerous evolutionary events. Breeding has a proven track record of increasing agricultural productivity with a wide range of technologies. In recent years, due to their commercial importance and increasing demand, research on genetics and the breeding of medicinal plants has gradually increased and made some progress. However, much work remains to be done to explore the functions of genes, regulatory mechanisms, and signaling pathways for stimulating the development of breeding technologies in order to improve traits.

Glutathione transferases are abundant enzymes in various aerobic organisms in which they provide cellular protection against reactive compounds that cause mutations and cancer. Their evolution may have been a response to oxidative stress caused by oxygen in the atmosphere. These enzymes also participate in steroid hormone synthesis in both mammals and insects and play important roles in the biotransformation of signaling substances. Their multiple roles also include the binding and transportation of molecules in cells.

In coastal areas, the groundwater level is relatively shallow and the strata are mostly saturated silt or soft soil. As such, it is difficult to carry out the construction of urban underground infrastructure in these strata, especially during the construction stage of deep excavations. Safety issues in terms of excavation deformation, continuous deformation of retaining structures, and settlement of surrounding buildings often occur, leading to an increasing risk of deep excavation constructions, which is concealed, continuous, disaster-prone, and rapid. This reprint reports many new advances in risk management technologies for deep excavations in water-rich areas and their applications.

Water contamination via heavy metal ions, organic pollutants, and pathogens is a severe threat worldwide, disturbing or threatening both human health and ecosystems even in very small concentrations. Thus, improving water quality is a crucial topic, with both social and economic benefits. In recent years, the use of nanostructured materials to improve water purification systems has been increasingly considered. Nanostructured materials are promising candidates since their nano-scaled nature has important features.

China faces the dual problem of transforming its economy while ensuring sustainable economic and environmental development. Hence, an unyielding demand for resources and resulting energy shortages are expected to foster restrictions on Chinese social development for some time. The impetus behind the development of marine resources has been increasing. Nevertheless, it remains difficult to meet the present resource consumption requirements. The traditional economic growth model in China, with high pollution, high consumption, and low profit, has caused significant damage to the environment (Song et al., 2013). Moreover, the low prices have meant that resources have been excessively exploited and wasted. If the exploitation and utilization of marine resources become as extensive, incontinent, and unsustainable as those of land resources, irreversible damage will occur. Presently, the exploitation and utilization of marine resources is at an early stage. Resource shortages can be overcome by enhancing the protection of marine resources and by nurturing mutual relationships.

This reprint aims to immerse the reader in the latest research and applications of deep learning and neural networks in image recognition. Deep learning algorithms are the major driving force behind recent advances in image classification. The success of deep learning is powered by two crucial issues: large-scale training datasets and powerful computational platforms. In most cases, the performances obtained by deep neural networks are much better than those of hand-crafted delicate image features. Yet, despite the great success of deep learning in image recognition, numerous challenges remain. This Special Issue aims to present new solutions to these challenging problems.

This compendium illuminates the path to a circular economy, spotlighting innovative research across diverse domains. Key themes include the plastics economy, energy recovery, and emissions reduction. Chapters delve into monomer recovery, hydrogen energy systems, and feedstock recycling, offering a comprehensive view of sustainable material processing. Technological advancements feature prominently, covering thermal and mechanical degradation of recycled materials, upcycling of pine branches, and the thermocatalytic conversion of plastics into liquid fuels. The multidisciplinary exploration extends from fabricating recycled polycarbonate fibers for thermal signature reduction to the valorization of waste subproducts in composite materials. The compendium serves as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, providing insights into the intricate landscape of circular economy endeavors.

This Special Issue aims to showcase innovative approaches and applications in sustainable modeling and processes contributing to societal development. Focusing on these advancements aims to bridge the gaps between societies, foster global harmony, and enrich the natural environment. Accordingly, the Special Issue includes research articles and reviews that demonstrate how sustainable modeling and processes can positively impact society. For instance, there are studies on sustainable energy production, eco-friendly manufacturing processes, and waste reduction and management via sustainable conversion. The ultimate aim is to highlight how these approaches can lead to a more harmonious global community while benefiting the environment.

In today's rapidly changing environment, where climate change poses significant challenges to food security, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of billions around the globe, the need for sustainable agricultural practices has never been more pressing. As we stand at the intersection of agricultural innovation and environmental stewardship, this textbook is a comprehensive guide to understanding and implementing sustainable practices that foster resilience in the face of climate variability.In recent decades, there has been a paradigm shift towards more sustainable approaches; however, sustainable agriculture is still intensely debated. This textbook explores studies that underpin sustainable agriculture and climate resilience because they are multifaceted subjects requiring transdisciplinary collaboration and a holistic understanding of agrosystems. The purpose is to offer practical insights and evidence-based strategies for farmers, policymakers, students, and researchers alike.As Guest Editors of this textbook, we are passionate about the potential of sustainable agriculture to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. We hope that this reprint will inspire readers to embrace a more sustainable approach to agriculture and contribute to building a more resilient and equitable food system for future generations.

Updated knowledge about innate immunity and viral infections, including but not limited to interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs), IFN signaling pathways, antiviral immunity, inflammation, immunometabolism, vaccine-related innate immunity, and broadly antiviral drugs.

Urbanization challenges cities with traffic, pollution, and reduced public spaces, affecting life quality. Traffic calming measures address these, focusing on safety and environmental improvement. Beyond regulating car traffic, they create pedestrian zones, promote cycling, and enforce speed limits, aiming to achieve a safe, sustainable, and comfortable environment, especially for vulnerable people, such as children and the elderly.These measures impact more than road safety, influencing public health, social cohesion, and urban life. They encourage healthier lifestyles and community connections. They contribute to liveable cities, not just limiting traffic but nurturing urban life.Implementing these measures requires collaboration among local authorities, citizens, and private sectors. Despite challenges, their long-term benefits in revitalizing cities and responding to modern challenges are significant. They promote city sustainability, health, and vitality, integrating road safety into enriching lifestyles.This Special Issue examines strategies for urban traffic safety and sustainability. It covers pedestrian safety, speed control, infrastructure and traffic interaction, and the effectiveness of traffic circles and roundabouts in residential areas. It advocates for holistic urban designs for safety, efficiency, and enhancement, including sustainable streets, shared spaces, and connected vehicles, reflecting a forward-thinking urban planning approach.

Globally distributed plants occupy a large proportion of the biodiversity on our planet, and the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that determine plant diversity are incredibly successful. We are now living in times of dramatic environmental change triggered by human activities and climate changes. Increased pressure from both humans and the environment is accelerating biodiversity loss and changing biodiversity patterns. In this context, work aiming to understand the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that drive plant diversity is important and interesting.

Adolescent and young adult oncology is an emerging topic. This population has specific needs that differ from cancer in children and older adults. This Special Issue provides an overview of the challenges incurred in the oncological treatment of this population.

The aim of this reprint is to capture some of the current trends in nanoparticle research focused on the correlation between nanoparticle morphology and function. For instance, the asymmetry of Janus nanoparticles gives them amphiphilic properties and the ability to partition at interfaces, self-assemble into superstructures, emulsify, or act as unidirectional nanomotors, among other things. However, there are countless other examples of functionality that stem from the morphological design of the nanoparticles, such as in nanoparticle catalysis, in drug delivery systems, or for nanoparticles used as technology facilitators for designing nanostructured materials, interfaces, and composites. This compilation of articles, bound in the book titled "Morphological Design and Synthesis of Nanoparticles," aims to provide a snapshot of the latest developments in the synthetic strategies of nanoparticles with unique morphologies that grant them special functions, covering a wide range of applications, from biology to catalysis, optoelectronics, and beyond. This collection of articles is committed to advancing the synthetic strategies of uniquely shaped nanoparticles, the design of materials derived from the use of functional nanoparticles, the physicochemical investigation of phenomena resulting from such nanoparticles, devices incorporating these nanoparticles as active components, and new applications.

The XXXI JIEE-2023 was a space for collaboration between the academic community and the energy, telecommunications, and automation sectors, where the EPN shows the technological advances and challenges that the community tackled in several research related to telecommunications, electronics, information technologies and electrical engineering. Among the main topics faced in the Conference were: i) smart grids, ii) modeling and simulation of power systems, iii) deployment of novel technologies for planning and operating power systems, iv) renewable energy and storage, v) automation, vi) robotics, vii) power electronics, viii) control, ix) wireless technologies, x) radio frequency, xi) radar applications, xii) mobile communications. In addition, this was a space to share with the academic and industry community, the novel researchers worldwide in topics related to power systems, telecommunications, control, and information technology. For this aim, special key notes from international experts were organized as part of special tutorials. This reprint contains the scientific papers presented in the XXXI JIEE-2023, which summarizes the results of important research projects performed at Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito - Ecuador as well as other universities and industries, related to power systems, telecommunications, electronics, control, and information technology.

This Special Issue of Religions analyzes the concept of charisma in the Middle Ages based on St. Paul's original use of the term in the first century, freeing it from its anachronistic Weberian and post-Weberian definitions. Though governed by medievalists, this collection comprises a solid interdisciplinary group of historians, art historians, classicists, literary critics, and political philosophers. It examines the concept, theory, practice, and representations of charisma in the Middle Ages, including its institutional developments such as kingship and Franciscans, its religious dimension such as miracles, its political implications such as crusades, its forms of ritualization, its doctrinal presumptions, its iconographic representations, its scientific dimension such as surgery, its projection to the objects such as relics, and its paradoxical relationship with authority and law. It also provides a space for interdisciplinary dialogue between history, theology, canon law, art history, political philosophy, and symbolic anthropology, prioritizing examination of the transferences between the spiritual and the temporal, the sacred and the profane, the political and the religious under the methodology of political theology.

Foodborne pathogenic microorganisms, as the culprits of various food borne diseases, can be found in natural environment such as water, soil, air and in food chain and manufacturing process of food products. The pathogenic microorganisms found in food contamination include bacteria, yeasts, molds, and viruses, which can cause food spoilage or colonize the gastrointestinal tract by secreting corresponding toxins, leading to foodborne illnesses such as stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and even fatality. Foodborne illnesses have become more common over time, posing a major threat to human health around the world. Public health issues caused by pathogenic microorganisms have attracted people 's attention, which are more harmful to the healthcare system and the global economy, raising public awareness of food safety. Therefore, it is necessary to study risk identification, rapid detection, prevention and control of foodborne pathogenic microorganisms. Based on the increasing consumer demand for healthy and safe, it would be interesting to report the latest research on the risk identification, detection, prevention and control of foodborne pathogenic microorganisms. The Special Issue of the journal Foods established a collection of recent research on "Risk Identification, Rapid Detection, Prevention and Control of Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms". We cordially invited scientists, researchers, and other food professionals to submit the original reviews/research articles related to this special issue.

Different populations of Stem Cells present significant promise for their use in future therapeutic applications, with both advantages and concerns. The development of such Stem Cell therapies requires an in-depth knowledge of their identity, immune biology and technical culture and manipulation. It is also important that we understand the mechanisms regulating their maintenance, expansion and functions for issues relating to safety and efficiency. Finally, in order to improve the therapeutic use of Stem Cells within clinical practice we must characterize the micro-environment in which they exist (e.g., hypoxia), their fate and properties. By including a number of different types of manuscripts in this Special Issue, we have facilitated a discussion about recent fundamental and applied advances that will help the scientific community to develop new therapeutic strategies based on the use of Stem Cells.

Metal hydrides are a continuously expanding and diverse class of materials with a variety of properties. This reprint presents selected, original, and recent research within advanced studies and the utilisation of metal-hydrogen systems. Novel metal hydrides are presented along with nanocomposites systems, which have been investigated as solid-state hydrogen storage materials. Some metal hydrides have demonstrated fast cationic conductivity and can act as promising battery materials and as novel types of solid-state ionic conductors. A wide range of metallic hydrides have also been investigated for hydrogen purification and compression. Detailed investigations of their physical properties quickly move the research towards demonstration and industrial utilisation. This reprint supports the development of hydrogen as a clean energy solution, including stationary and portable storage, along with a variety of related technologies.

The non-ionizing nature of microwave radiation and low-cost microwave electronics offer innovative solutions for medical diagnoses, treatment, and health monitoring. Researchers of antennas, microwave electronics, computational electromagnetics, imaging, and signal processing are working collaboratively with medical practitioners, aiming at enhancing our lives through developing next-generation healthcare technologies. Together with the recent boom in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), they open new avenues that accelerate technical development in microwave-based techniques for medical applications. In this Special Issue, we present a comprehensive exploration of microwave and antenna systems, showcasing their transformative impact on diverse medical applications, including medical diagnoses, treatment, and patient monitoring. The collection features nine cutting-edge original research articles followed by two insightful reviews incorporating microwave imaging and sensing into digital pulmonology and digital gastroenterology.

This reprint explores the intersection of technology and sustainability in urban spaces. It compiles pioneering research that addresses the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals through the lens of smart technology. Covering topics from AI and big data to participatory governance and green AI, this collection aims to inspire actionable insights for urban planners, policymakers, and community leaders. It serves as a comprehensive guide for creating resilient, equitable, and sustainable urban environments, highlighting the collaborative efforts of scholars and the importance of innovation in driving sustainable urban futures.

This Special Issue of Applied Sciences, titled "Advances in Endodontics and Periodontics", aims to improve the state of the art in relation to the most relevant advances in Endodontics and Periodontics. Topics addressed in this Special Issue include alternative treatment strategies such as "green" antimicrobials, the relationship with systemic diseases, new devices and materials which enable a reduction in therapy failures, as well as updating evidence-based knowledge pertaining to endodontics and periodontics.

This reprint of a Special Issue of the Journal of Clinical Medicine includes a submission-motivating editorial, eleven clinical research papers (including a meta-analysis), six narrative reviews and a survey-based study, focusing on a wide variety of aspects of intensive care. Five studies pertain to coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) assess intermittent vs. prolonged prone ventilation and the interaction between early pressure-supported ventilation and kidney injury, as well as the clinical significance of biomarkers (pro-adrenomedullin and heparinase) and of an impaired antibody response. The COVID-19 narrative reviews analyze published evidence on therapeutic interventions in COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and invasive fungal infections. The remaining six studies assess the Norwegian version of the Chelsea physical assessment tool, the interaction of base excess and lactate in outcome prediction, left ventricular dysfunction in ARDS, respiratory drive after isoflurane sedation, renal preplacement therapy as a prognostic factor and diaphragmatic dysfunction in severe trauma patients. The remaining four narrative reviews analyze published evidence on immunoglobulins in sepsis, treatments for post-cardiac arrest syndrome, blood purification in sepsis and the management of traumatic brain injury. Lastly, the survey-based study explores the temporal evolution of European resuscitation and end-of-life practices. The Special Issue primarily aims to publish both innovative research findings and comprehensive reviews of existing scientific knowledge on acute and life-threatening disease.

The agricultural sector uses the largest share of freshwater of any industry, and contributes greatly to global food security. However, the water available for agriculture and natural ecosystems has been decreasing in most parts of the world due to the increasing water demands of domestic and industrial activities. A systemic study on hydrology and water resources in terms of agriculture and ecology will provide a basis for food security and ecosystem security. This preprint explores the recent advancements in the areas of hydrology and water resources in agriculture and ecology. It covers a wide range of topics, including crop water requirements, drought assessment, ecohydrology and environmental hydrology, river hydrology, forest hydrology, groundwater, soil water, channel leakage, cropland hydrology, drainage, hydrodynamics, hydropedology, nutrient loss, soil physics, water balance, and water footprints. With its multidisciplinary approach and comprehensive coverage, this reprint serves as a valuable resource for researchers, scientists, and engineers working in the fields of agricultural hydrology, ecohydrology, and water resources.

The methods utilized to process and store food in order to increase its safety and shelf life involve different practices and actions that affect the physicochemical, nutritional, and sensory properties of the final products. The processing and storage of food needs to be optimized in order to promote positive effects and to prevent undesired consequences. This reprint contains various studies regarding new advances in and approaches to food processing and storage, the optimization of processes, and the incorporation of new components that allow the valorization of materials and the production of new foods, therefore adding value to the food industry

This reprint encompasses articles that were accepted and published as part of the Special Issue entitled "Advanced Mathematical Modeling and Numerical Solutions in Applied Mechanics and Engineering." This Special Issue delves into the theory and application of mathematical models across various disciplines. We hope that these publications can inspire researchers in relevant communities. It is our aim that these papers will not only stimulate future research in mathematical models and numerical methods but also encourage the exploration of their potential applications.