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This Special Issue was developed to provide a platform for lectures in higher education to showcase innovative pedagogical approaches that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic thrust learning and teaching into the online space. These challenges, however, have also stimulated creative solutions. Innovative pedagogical approaches were used to minimize disruptions in the absence of face-to-face contact. Courses were delivered via online and alternative means, even in universities operating with the most traditional mode of delivery. Many Western countries, including Australia, have further developed their courses through existing learning management systems. In some Asian countries, we saw the adoption of diverse online delivery tools, such as Zoom and Tencent Classroom, and other alternative solutions in rural and regional areas that require fewer technological or financial resources. Online learning and teaching have become the "new normal", and there has been a continuation of online and blended courses, even post-COVID-19. In a sense, the pandemic has set a milestone in the evolution of higher education. This Special Issue was developed to capture this changing moment. It is hoped that the papers in this Special Issue can be used to inform course developers and higher education institutions in future decision and policy making, and ultimately lead to better student support, experiences, and outcomes in future online and blended courses.

Heritage sites and objects are continually shaped by their environment. Investigating the interactions between heritage and its surroundings is important in understanding change, which may represent a threat to long-term preservation. Process-based models can provide tools for exploring the effects of environmental change. However, these models have been under-utilized in heritage science even though they can help inform management decisions that lead to better practice in heritage conservation and science. This Special Issue, entitled "Effective Models in Heritage Science", seeks to increase the use and application of models within the field and optimally encourage a two-way exchange of understanding between research and practice. The volume should be of interest to those who use models to explore change in objects and sites. However, it may be particularly useful for those concerned with the practical applications of models to the strategic and local management of heritage. In this Special Issue, we present a range of process-based models applied to tangible heritage objects and sites that have substantial uses or implications for heritage practice. The contributions illustrate how the gap between heritage science and practice can be successfully bridged.

This Special Issue of Agronomy was dedicated to publishing original research or review papers dedicated to the study of the diversity of crop genetic resources and genetics of cultivated plant species relevant to agriculture worldwide. Plant genetic resources are the basic element of the genetic study of crops and allow for the genetic improvement of crops for agriculture. Likewise, the interactions of plants with their agrosystems, the relevance of the different cropping systems, the resistance of crops to biotic and abiotic stresses, and the interactions with the soil microbiota are relevant aspects, as well as the adaptation of the plants to different environmental conditions under the current climate changing conditions.

The Special Issue "Feature Papers in Neglected and Emerging Tropical Disease" represents a collection of research and review papers covering numerous aspects of modern parasitology. The variety of research models (from dengue to neodermata) and experimental approaches (from computational in silico analyses to population studies) makes this collection truly unique.

This Special Issue presents methods and possibilities of reducing emissions of harmful exhaust components and greenhouse gases via CI. To this end, experimental research and theoretical analyses were carried out, resulting in the following measurable effects: Experimentally validated an innovative CNG (compressed natural gas supply system with a high degree of substitution of up to 95%, whereas typical substitution in commercial engine installations oscillates around 55%); Experimentally verified the methodology for optimising the CNG fueling system controller software using the developed chassis dynamometer; the influence of the dynamometer's operating parameters on the results obtained was evaluated; Gaseous fuel exchange limits in a dual-fuel CI engine were determined; the effect of the Diesel/CNG exchange ratio on the energy parameters of engine operation and the emission of exhaust gas components was evaluated; The effect of changing the air filter pressure drop in the inlet system of a modern truck engine on the energy parameters of engine operation and changes in the emission of individual components of the exhaust gas and smoke were determined experimentally; The values of the dust absorption coefficient of filter beds made of highly absorptive filtration materials, including the "PowerCore" bed, limited by the achievement of acceptable flow resistance, were determined experimentally with the use of a test dust and particle counter; The range of values of geometrical and flow parameters of the cyclone for which it achieves minimum pressure drop, maximum efficiency and filtration accuracy was determined.

The reprint covers some recent advances in active and passive flow control applications. The reader should consider that the present reprint aims to simply introduce some of the many existing flow control applications. In fact, the goal of the editors is to open a door to this rather novel technology and highlight the importance of optimization techniques in AFC applications.

This Special Issue has been developed to collect and promote the work of different researchers and to present new insights into raptor research and management techniques. The published material consists of twelve papers reviewing different topics related to this subject from Europe and the Middle East. Four of the papers deal with diet and related adaptations, while the other four papers reveal turnover rates, dispersal, and prey species richness of raptors and their diet. In conclusion, the collected papers offer a great insight into raptor ecology and management and will surely bring attention to these topics in the future.

This Special Issue contains 18 original papers presenting recent advances in thin film growth and characterizations, aiming to enhance the film's functional properties and applications. Various thin film growth methods, such as pulsed laser deposition, sputtering, electron-beam evaporation, chemical vapor deposition, anodization, etc., are employed to develop a wide range of thin film materials (i.e., Bi1¿xGdxFeO3, Bi2Te3, Bi2Se3, NdNiO3, Ti-B-N, Bi-FeNi, p-CuInOx, Sb0.14GaN, Zr-based metallic glass, GaN, TiO2, ZnO, Zn(O;OH)S, carbon nanotube, etc.). The studied thin films were developed by controlling the key deposition conditions, doping or surface/interface engineering. The studied properties of the thin films included structures, morphologies, compositions, (nano)mechanical properties (e.g., hardness, Young's modulus, pop-in phenomena, surface energy), multiferroics, photoconductivity, electrical conductivity, optical giant magnetoresistance, photoelectrochemical water splitting, photocatalytic and electrocatalytic activities. This series of publications provides a fundamental understanding of thin film growths and the resulting film properties for some applications. We are pleased to introduce this Special Issue to all interested readers. Hopefully, this reprint will serve as valuable support for students, engineers and researchers in the field of thin film technology to obtain new ideas for further developments with great significance and impact from both scientific and applicative/industrial points of view. We wish you a pleasant read.

The reprint deals with different aspects related to sustainability and new technologies in coastal engineering, including innovation topics. Coastal engineering is a discipline in continuous evolution, where it is essential to seek a balance between the natural character of the coastal zone and the integration, to a greater or lesser extent, of human activities in that space. The present Special Issue had the objective of gathering scientific articles dealing with any aspect of coastal engineering related to sustainability or the use of new technologies. Manuscripts could have been focused on the past, the present, or what is expected in the future (short, medium, and long term). The manuscripts should have in some way shown concepts related to sustainability or the use of new technologies. Examples of topics that were welcomed in the Special Issue were environmental aspects related to maritime works (coastal, port, and offshore activities), coastal evolution, climate change, sea level rise and its influence in the design, construction, and/or maintenance of maritime infrastructures, sustainability aspects in the sea, marine renewable energies, including offshore wind, and novel aspects such as the use of new materials, the calculation of the carbon footprint, the use of neural networks, the use of BIM, etc.

The effective management of nuclear waste is crucial to ensure the safe sustainable usage of nuclear energy in power generation, and numerous applications in medicine, industry, agriculture, and scientific research. Nuclear waste generated in these applications must be treated and conditioned for safe handling, transportation, storage, and ultimate disposal. Nuclear waste should be disposed of aiming for the permanent protection of hazardous radioactive materials from humans and the biosphere. Both processing and disposal activities of the waste encompass the utilisation of advanced technologies and materials aiming to ensure the reliability of the waste's long-term isolation. Cements, geopolymers, glasses, glass composite materials, ceramics, and metals are the materials analysed for expected performance in the envisaged disposal environment. Natural analogue systems and materials proven for their long-term stability and durability are investigated to ensure confidence in the multi-scale approaches currently used to predict the behaviour of waste disposal systems on geological timescales. This reprint provides analysis of nuclear waste management systems and activities being practiced aiming to provide a sustainable utilisation of nuclear energy. It is focused on the assessment of technological aspects of processing and disposal systems, materials performance in the storage facilities and disposal environment, and analysis of natural analogues to provide environmentally safe and sustainable employment and development of nuclear applications.

Food inspection is the primary method employed in order to ensure the quality and safety of food. There are some hazard factors, such as pesticide residue, veterinary drug residue, heavy metals, biotoxins, and illegal additives, that represent a great threat to the quality and safety of food. Immunoassay is a rapid detection method with high efficiency and accuracy, and is the mainstream rapid detection method in food inspection. The syntheses of hapten, the development of antibodies, immunoassay methods including colloidal gold immunochromatography, enzyme-linked immunoassay, fluorescence immunoassay, chemiluminescence immunoassay, and bio-barcode immunoassay have been research hotspots in recent years.The aim of this Special Issue is to provide an overview of the latest research in the following fields: i) the design and synthesis of hapten for key hazard factors; ii) the development of monoclonal antibodies, nanobodies, etc,. for pesticide residue, veterinary drug residue, heavy metals, biotoxins, and illegal additives; iii) structure-activity relationship between hapten and antibody properties; iv) the development of novel immunoassay detection methods in food inspection. Additionally, we welcomed reviews addressing the field of immunoassay application in food inspection.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is one of the major environmental concerns in mining activity that often causes the complete degradation of ecosystems during and/or after mine closure. AMD is a peculiar research focus because it involves the assessment of various pollutants' presence, reactivity, and biogeochemical behaviors. Also, the properties of these polluted mine waters restrict monitoring plans and the environmental remediation approaches.This reprint includes a wide range of topics, such as the source and nature of pollutants and the speciation, mobilization/precipitation, and toxicity of trace elements. The modeling of processes, innovative techniques for removing hazardous elements, and advanced monitoring techniques are also included, with the aim of increasing the base knowledge about pollutants in AMD. Therefore, the reprint presents the latest advancements in the (bio)geochemistry and mineralogy of AMD and of wastes from which AMD develops. The reprint contains 19 studies that provide examples of methodological approaches, as well as tools and solutions for the monitoring, treatment, and remediation of AMD systems.

Over the past decade, it has become increasingly evident that several diseases cause patient-specific pathological features, which are at the root of the response variability observed with generic treatments. This has led to the emergence of precision and personalized medicine, in which therapy selection is tailored to each specific individual. To achieve this goal, a treatment can be carried out through various strategies. Tailored nano/microsystems can be obtained via functionalization with molecules that can recognize specific molecular markers and then are internalized into pathological cells. Systems loaded with both imaging contrast agents and drugs can be used simultaneously in therapy and diagnosis (theranostics). Moreover, certain materials can be engineered to achieve controlled or conditional drug release in situ, or can even be externally navigated and delivered to the diseased region. In this regard, magnetic systems stand as extremely potent and versatile tools since they can be easily modified on the surface, and thus allow for specific cell targeting and imaging via multiple techniques. In addition, they can destroy target cells via a hyperthermic effect, as well as affect the behavior of the cells and lead to spatial translocation under the guidance of externally applied magnetic forces.

"Advancements in Energy Technologies: Optimizing Efficiency, Control, and Sustainability" is a comprehensive collection of selected papers that highlight the latest research and innovations in the field of energy technologies. This reprint showcases cutting-edge advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence, optimization techniques, control systems, and renewable energy. With a focus on improving efficiency, enhancing control strategies, and promoting sustainable practices, it provides valuable insights for researchers, academics, and professionals. Covering a wide range of topics, this collection presents a glimpse into the future of energy systems and offers solutions to address the challenges of a rapidly changing energy landscape.

Gait analysis has been traditionally conducted in laboratory settings and, therefore, has required specific conditions and expensive equipment. The emergence of wearable sensors has solved the lack of ecology for these measurements and offers a more economical and easier-to-use option to perform gait analysis. Lately, such sensors have allowed the quantification of performance and workload by providing mechanical and physiological parameters, and their popularity has grown exponentially. In this context, more and more wearable sensors are commercially available and, when applied to gait analysis (either walking or running), these devices are able to provide both kinetic and kinematic variables, consequently improving the feasibility and testing time of such assessments and, therefore, becoming a real alternative for clinicians, researchers, and sport practitioners. The incremental growth in big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence makes these sensors suitable to connect gait biomechanics with real-life and real-time analysis. All these benefits broaden the possibilities, among others, to provide real-time biofeedback while walking and running, or to integrate sensors with cloud platforms or mobile apps to improve health and/or performance. This Special Issue collected research and contributions on the use and application of wearable sensors for gait assessment and analysis.

Although the biosafety of genetically engineered crops has been debated for the past three decades among scientific communities, regulators, and the public, controversy is still strong regarding human health and environmental safety. While food safety remains a critical concern for the general public, the ecological consequences may have long-lasting effects on natural/agricultural ecosystems. Increased scientific understanding and strategies are thus needed to cope with any environmental risks caused by or related to the release of engineered crops, especially regarding new emerging technology. For instance, past experiences with genetically engineered plants may provide valuable expertise for the assessment of new gene-edited crops.This compendium contains four review papers and 12 case study papers. These articles address a broad range of topics in biosafety and environmental assessment of the genetically engineered and edited crops, covering the impacts of genetically engineered crops on arthropod species, soil microbes, animals, metabolic and proteomic effects, gene flow mitigation of genetically engineered crops, and regulatory and governance perspectives of gene-edited plants. This special issue provides important inputs and references for the scientific research and governmental governance of crops derived by genetic breeding biotechnology.

In order to make quantum information science applicable to the real world, it is necessary to change direction to focus on engineering technology based on quantum communication theory. Consequently, we can expect the following abilities: the possibilities of ultrahigh-speed optical communication, the feasibility of all-weather sensors, and enhancing the security of the physical layer of current optical networks. In addition, clarifying decoherence properties of quantum processors in the sense of noise analysis is important for real applications of quantum technology. The aim of Special Issue was to consolidate and publish the latest research trends by researchers who are conducting research toward the above goals.

In recent years we all faced a large number of new and challenging economic problems (including the financial crisis, the COVID pandemic, energy shortage due to the war in the Ukraine, and a comeback of inflation). Economists contribute to the analysis of these and many other problems by using elaborate econometric methods and newly available data, often collected at the micro level of the economic agents (firms and households). This special issue of Economies collected applied economic papers with a focus on Germany, one of the leading economies in Europe. Both original research articles and reviews are welcomed. Research areas may include (but are in no way limited to) the following: labour market, industrial relations, migration, health, innovation, digitalization, international firm activities, firm behaviour and performance.

This reprint focuses on marine nearshore biodiversity, a most significant portion of the total biodiversity of the marine biome and critical to overall global biodiversity. Collected research papers represent the major themes of biodiversity, biogeography, and species distributions, linked by the topics of species discovery, species loss, and habitat monitoring. The subjects of fisheries management, coral reef biodiversity, and extinction focus on some of the societal impacts on marine nearshore biodiversity. Biodiversity is surveyed using traditional methods and the innovative molecular tools evolving from the field of metagenomics. Besides being of interest to researchers, the vital information contained in this publication around the changing seascape of marine nearshore biodiversity will engage students, university teachers, and policy makers.

The human brain has hundreds of billions of neurons, and at least 7 million dendrites have been hypothesized to exist for each neuron, with over 100 trillion neuron-neuron, neuron-muscle, and neuron-endocrine cell synapses [1,2]. Our body continually receives stimuli from the outer environment, and our brain's ability to respond to these stimuli is ensured through synaptic processes, motivating the foundations of this Special Issue.This reprint aims to underline the role of synaptic plasticity phenomena in our body and clarify the mechanism operated by neurons to guarantee these phenomena. The collection in the Issue comprises 14 papers, including 8 reviews and 6 original works, one of which is a protocol for differentiating neurons from human stem cells, and 5 are preclinical works.

"Green chemistry", as a rather novel field of chemistry and chemical engineering, is one of the key routes to assist researchers in sustainable development. Among the most valuable assets of green chemistry, "green solvents" are primary candidates to replace the industry workhorses, i.e., conventional harmful solvents.

This Topic, "Sustainability in Buildings: New trends in the management of construction and demolition waste", collected works related to the use of new sustainable building materials, new trends in the recycling of materials for their application in construction, and the application of new techniques and measurement processes that favour the development of sustainable construction.This printed work contains some of the most cutting-edge research carried out by leading international researchers in the field of building engineering. In this way, the work complements the existing literature on construction and demolition waste management from a multidisciplinary perspective, which encourages the exchange of ideas and points of view.

The current UN report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services depicts an alarming and shocking picture of the Earth. With accelerating rates of species extinction, our environment is declining globally at an unprecedented rate. Transformative economic and societal change is necessary, and will involve far-reaching alterations in perceptions and actions at both local and global levels. To cope with the pace of global change, a rapid increase in knowledge regarding species numbers, compositions, and conditions is required, as well as species interactions and environments. Remote sensing provides the only feasible way to cost-effectively and repeatedly measure and monitor these changes. Today's satellite, aircraft, and UAV instruments provide a wide range of observational capabilities in terms of spatial, temporal, and spectral resolutions. Machine learning approaches and computational capacities are improving quickly, offering great potential for enhanced data analysis, including "big data", and the development of powerful monitoring systems. This reprint focuses on the remote assessment of tree species diversity using various sensor modalities and platforms. It provides an overview of state-of-the art remote sensing solutions and highlights their high potential for distinguishing tree species.

We live in an unprecedently globalized multicultural world in the 21st century. Christian churches and worship leaders are challenged to be conscious of the significant impact of multiculturalism within and beyond the church and provide worshipers with theologically faithful and culturally appropriate worship services. As a response to these challenges, this Special Issue deals with various multicultural issues emerging from contemporary liturgical contexts: What is multicultural worship? Why should Christian worship be multicultural? How can multicultural worship be designed to be relevant to a particular liturgical context? How can liturgical elements (e.g., worship space, symbols, language, sermons, prayers, music, and sacraments) be prepared from the multicultural perspective? This Special Issue provides worship leaders with theological and liturgical insights into exploring these questions and developing their theology and method of multicultural worship. In addition, sample liturgies and case studies with annotations offer concrete examples of multicultural worship. The scope of this Special Issue includes five areas: (1) multicultural worship in multiracial or multiethnic contexts; (2) multicultural worship in monoracial or monoethnic contexts; (3) multicultural worship in multigenerational contexts; (4) multicultural worship in ecumenical contexts; and (5) multicultural worship in multireligious contexts. While there are some resources available for studying multicultural worship, this volume uniquely contributes with diverse cultural approaches to various liturgical contexts.

The assessment of semen quality is used to identify factors that influence sperm performance and diagnose male infertility. From the earliest works to the present day, a considerable number of analytical techniques have been developed. These tests study many aspects of the morphology and physiology of the spermatozoan; however, their ability to predict male fertility remains low. Some of these techniques have been automated, which can make the test results more objective, but others still require subjective evaluation. The introduction of computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) systems and flow cytometry has revolutionized sperm quality analysis in recent decades. However, the use of these advanced techniques remains experimental, with only a few of them having successfully led to practical applications in routine commercial semen evaluation. Future sperm biology research should focus on developing analytical techniques that have a greater capacity to predict male fertility and can be used in both the laboratory and the field. Field adaptation will require progress in automation and simplification, to produce precise, economical and efficient techniques. Nevertheless, as technology advances in these analytical tests and research continues, our greater understanding of male fertility will aid the development of new methods of sperm evaluation.

This Special Issue aims to update the current evidence and challenging topics centred around the diagnosis and management of ocular diseases. We gather ten original research articles and two literature reviews on recent efforts aimed toward the discovery of novel findings in different ocular research areas, including orbital, lacrimal, and eyelid disease, as well as glaucoma, retinal disease, myopia, and corneal disease.

Today's world demands unique and specific materials for precise engineering applications. If there exist limitations in changing or altering materials, then the only option is to improve the existing ones. This Special Issue of Coatings, "Research Progress in Thermal Layering and Deposition", explores the various techniques related to surface coatings and similar surface modification techniques with a wealth of scientific and comparative results to better understand the current state of materials technology. The present volume also revels the opportunities and challenges associated with coatings techniques, and provides a futuristic approach to solutions.

This Special Issue covers recent research in nanochemistry convergence from disease prevention to diagnosis and treatment. It includes studies on new (bio)molecules and hybrids with diagnostic, chemopreventive, or therapeutical properties; novel nanobioengineered biosensors for disease diagnostics; and nanoparticles and nanobioconjugates for targeted drug delivery. The Special Issue collects a benchmark of state-of-the-art works on the computational simulation, structural modeling, and construction of new libraries of molecules to identify potential targets, synthesize molecules, and study their potential in developing diagnostic and therapeutic tools. It illustrates other topics that go from directed evolution techniques to help create mutants of proteins with enhanced activity concerning the native structures to reviews on nanobioprobes using conjugation approaches and biosensors as promising tools for disease detection. The Special Issue also provides examples of drug delivery systems based on biocompatible and biodegradable materials for chemoprevention.

This reprint showcases a selection of bleeding-edge articles about medical image processing and segmentation workflows based on artificial intelligence algorithms. The proposed papers are applied to multiple and different anatomical districts and clinical scenarios.

This reprint presents the current status of research activities concerning vehicle design processes. The design of vehicles is one of the most challenging tasks in engineering because of several reasons. The enormous consumer expectations as well as the intensive global competition aggravates vehicle design. Cost-driven design is a necessity and vehicles need to be economical in production, operation, and recycling; in fact, sustainable design is also imperative for ecological vehicles. The dynamics of vehicles have to be considered in the design of all components and light-weight design is of fundamental importance. Consumers expect convincing functional performance, high product quality, appealing appearance, high reliability, interconnected functionality as well as comprehensible and appealing user interfaces. More and more, additional services are connected to vehicles. These enormous requirements lead to complex multi-domain design processes of vehicles because most of the important decisions are made in the design phase. Production optimization and intelligent operation are important topics, but flaws and insufficiencies in the design stage lead to enormous expenditures in later stages and less-than-perfect products. The design processes of vehicles involve thousands of engineers are spread globally and need to consider multiple product versions and variants as well as multi-company product platforms.