Modeling and simulation play pivotal roles in engineering design. Tools for modeling and simulation have led to both faster design, higher viability and lower design cost. This special issue presents 10 papers on modeling and simulation in a variety of applications.

The first paper, by Sayed Mohammad Reza Loghmanian et al., is entitled gNonlinear Dynamic System Identification Using Volterra Series: Multi-Objective Optimization Approach.h This paper deals with system identification of the nonlinear dynamic system based on an optimized Volterra model structure. The developed model fulfilled two criteria, or objectives, namely, good predictive accuracy and optimum model structure. Genetic algorithms are applied to search for significant Volterra kernels among all possible candidate model combinations.

The second paper, by Masao Ogino et al., is entitled gA Large-Scale Magnetostatic Analysis Using an Iterative Domain Decomposition Method Based on the Minimal Residual Method.h Large-scale 3D nonlinear magnetostatic analysis using the domain decomposition method (DDM) improves convergence based on the conjugate residual (CR) method. Compared to the conjugate gradient method, the CR method and minimal residual method both improve the convergence rate and show stable convergence behavior in solving an interface problem. Computation time is largely reduced for this large-scale problem, which has about 10 million degrees of freedom.

The third paper, by Yoshiyuki Yamashita, is on gSemi-Qualitative Trend Analysis for the Monitoring of Process Control Loops,h and deals with a qualitative approach, rather than an analytical approach, in monitoring process plants. Using this method enabled us to diagnose a control valve problem in a process control loop. Several applications are also discussed.

The fourth paper, by Hiroshi Dan and Hiroshi Kanayama, is entitled gFinite Element Analysis of Tsunami by Viscous Shallow-Water Equations.h With the number of tsunamis and earthquakes occurring worldwide today, such simulation is important in many fields. Viscous shallow-water equations are derived from three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations under hydrostatic assumptions. This approach is used to simulate a tsunami in Hakata Bay.

The fifth paper, by Junzo Watada et al., is entitled gAn Affective Approach to Developing Marketing Strategies of Mineral Water.h This research concerns the development of a marketing strategy for mineral water based on taste features obtained by chemically and physically analyzing the taste components of mineral water. Two-dimensional analysis of self-organizing map (SOM) was used to classify the evaluation of taste data. Data characteristics are recognized in the taste of mineral water by correlation analysis. A combination of principal component analysis and SOM classifies the taste of mineral water. Marketing strategies are also concluded after evaluation.

The sixth paper, by Yoshitsugu Aoki et al., is entitled gNew Approach for Antisense Oligonucleotide-Mediated Exon Skipping in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.h It reviews highlights of the challenges in antisense oligonucleotide-based therapeutics for treating and Intelligent Informatics DMD, focusing on exon 51-skipping.

The seventh paper, entitled gBuilding a Type-2 Fuzzy Qualitative Regression Model,h is by Yicheng Wei and Junzo Watada. From a theoretical fuzzy-set point of view, uncertainty exists in the membership function value of a type-1 fuzzy set, greatly impacting on the fuzziness of the external criterion of the qualitative objective. This paper models qualitative change in the external criterionfs fuzziness by applying the type-2 fuzzy set. Here, qualitative values are assumed to be fuzzy degrees of membership in qualitative categories, and qualitative change in the objective external criterion is given as the fuzziness of output.

The eighth paper, entitled gPSO-Particle Filter-Based Biometric Measurement for Human Tracking,h is by Zhenyuan Xu and Junzo Watada. It discusses an interesting application based on particle swarm optimization (PSO). Its objective is to build a mathematical model and a method for human tracking that can be used for biometric surveillance. This human tracking marks the size of human beings and objects in a picture to that if the picture is placed in a framework of axes, height and other biometric lengths can be calculated.

The ninth paper, by Josu? Roberto Lozano et al. is on g360 Degree Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty in Mexican Population.h This research uses statistical analysis of Repeated Measures One-Sample T Test, Paired-Samples T Test + Pearson Correlation Coefficient Test, and the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test in order to evaluate the efficiency of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty procedure (SLT procedure). The authors showed in the paper that the treatment with SLT applied to Mexican patients with OAG reduces IOP and the patientfs need for topical medical therapy, which can lead to a better control of the disease and compliance to treatment.

The tenth paper, by Shinichiro Terasaki and Shinfya Nagasawa, is on gThe Relationship Between Brand Integrity and Business Continuity ? A Case Study of Japanese Long-Standing Company, Shioyoshiken ?.h The Shioyoshiken brand of Japanese sweets is well appreciated by individual customers who emphasise the value of customized sweets, particularly for Japanese tea parties and weddings. This case study explores Shioyoshiken gRashisa,h or gidentity,h to identify the secret of its long-standing brand strength.