Books published by Mdpi AG

This book describes current knowledge about the mechanisms by which cells segregate their already duplicated chromosomes in preparation for cell division. Experts in the field treat several important aspects of this subject: (1) the history of research on mitotic mechanisms, to serve as a background; (2) assembly of the mitotic spindle; (3) Kinetochore assembly and function; (4) the mechanisms of chromosome congression to the metaphase plate; (5) the spindle assembly checkpoint; (6) mechanisms to avoid and correct erroneous chromosome attachments to the spindle; (7) a molecular perspective on spindle assembly in land plants; (8) chromosome segregation in anaphase A; (9) spindle elongation in anaphase B; and (10) the consequences of errors in chromosome segregation. Each chapter provides the reader with a comprehensive and accurate picture of current research in a form that is both readable and authoritative. The volume is suitable for scholars in this and related fields and for teaching at an advanced level.

Earth Observations (EO) encompasses different types of sensors (e.g., SAR, LiDAR, Optical and multispectral) and platforms (e.g., satellites, aircraft, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and enables us to monitor and model geohazards over regions at different scales in which ground observations may not be possible due to physical and/or political constraints. EO can provide high spatial, temporal and spectral resolution, stereo-mapping and all-weather-imaging capabilities, but not by a single satellite at a time. Improved satellite and sensor technologies, increased frequency of satellite measurements, and easier access and interpretation of EO information have all contributed to the increased demand for satellite EO data. EO, combined with complementary terrestrial observations and with physical models, have been widely used to monitor geohazards, revolutionizing our understanding of how the Earth system works. 

Earth Observations (EO) encompasses different types of sensors (e.g., SAR, LiDAR, Optical and multispectral) and platforms (e.g., satellites, aircraft, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and enables us to monitor and model geohazards over regions at different scales in which ground observations may not be possible due to physical and/or political constraints. EO can provide high spatial, temporal and spectral resolution, stereo-mapping and all-weather-imaging capabilities, but not by a single satellite at a time. Improved satellite and sensor technologies, increased frequency of satellite measurements, and easier access and interpretation of EO information have all contributed to the increased demand for satellite EO data. EO, combined with complementary terrestrial observations and with physical models, have been widely used to monitor geohazards, revolutionizing our understanding of how the Earth system works. 

Once upon a time, gluten was not part of the human diet, and therefore, there were no gluten-related disorders. With the advent of agriculture 10,000 years ago, the introduction of gluten-containing grains in the human diet created conditions for human diseases related to gluten exposure. These diseases, including celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and wheat allergy, have distinct pathophysiological mechanisms, serological markers, and long-term treatments, but similar, often overlapping clinical presentations. Though current research strives to clarify the boundaries between these entities, their differences can be difficult to distinguish.For a very long time, awareness of these disorders has been limited and, therefore, the epidemiology of gluten-related disorders has been a “work in progress”. New epidemiological studies have revealed that gluten-related disorders are not limited to European regions; rather, they are present worldwide.After centuries of neglected attention to celiac disease and other forms of gluten reaction, now we are observing another interesting phenomenon that is generating great confusion among health care professionals. Nearly 25% of Americans (many more than the projected 3 million celiac disease (CD) patients in the U.S.) are reducing or cutting gluten from their diets. This remarkable trend in the general population reflects the misconception that gluten can be harmful for everybody and, therefore, should be avoided to stay healthy, to lose weight, or even to prevent severe diseases.This Special Issue Book of Nutrients contains contributions from leading experts in the field of gluten-related disorders that will help dissipate this confusion by sharing their evidence-based science, which will help the reader to distinguish facts from fantasies.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art sensors technology in specific leading areas. Industrial researchers, engineers and professionals can find information on the most advanced technologies and developments, together with data processing. Further research covers specific devices and technologies that capture and distribute data to be processed by applying dedicated techniques or procedures, which is where sensors play the most important role.The book provides insights and solutions for different problems covering a broad spectrum of possibilities, thanks to a set of applications and solutions based on sensory technologies. Topics include:• Signal analysis for spectral power• 3D precise measurements• Electromagnetic propagation• Drugs detection• e-health environments based on social sensor networks• Robots in wireless environments, navigation, teleoperation, object grasping, demining• Wireless sensor networks• Industrial IoT• Insights in smart cities• Voice recognition• FPGA interfaces• Flight mill device for measurements on insects• Optical systems: UV, LEDs, lasers, fiber optics• Machine vision• Power dissipation• Liquid level in fuel tanks• Parabolic solar tracker• Force sensors• Control for a twin rotor

This book provides a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art sensors technology in specific leading areas. Industrial researchers, engineers and professionals can find information on the most advanced technologies and developments, together with data processing. Further research covers specific devices and technologies that capture and distribute data to be processed by applying dedicated techniques or procedures, which is where sensors play the most important role.The book provides insights and solutions for different problems covering a broad spectrum of possibilities, thanks to a set of applications and solutions based on sensory technologies. Topics include:• Signal analysis for spectral power• 3D precise measurements• Electromagnetic propagation• Drugs detection• e-health environments based on social sensor networks• Robots in wireless environments, navigation, teleoperation, object grasping, demining• Wireless sensor networks• Industrial IoT• Insights in smart cities• Voice recognition• FPGA interfaces• Flight mill device for measurements on insects• Optical systems: UV, LEDs, lasers, fiber optics• Machine vision• Power dissipation• Liquid level in fuel tanks• Parabolic solar tracker• Force sensors• Control for a twin rotor

The purpose of these books is to have an updated systematic overview examining, in detail, the functional role of different diets and dietary components in maintaining glucose homeostasis and preventing long-term complications. The first book includes experimental evidence from preclinical research, whereas the second book provides studies in the clinical scenario.

The purpose of these books is to have an updated systematic overview examining, in detail, the functional role of different diets and dietary components in maintaining glucose homeostasis and preventing long-term complications. The first book includes experimental evidence from preclinical research, whereas the second book provides studies in the clinical scenario.

This book aims to provide an overview of developments in the heel prick screening programme in the Netherlands in which similarities with the situation elsewhere in the world, where relevant, will be mentioned. In the Netherlands, the preparations for the national screening programme started in 1964. The formal launch of the programme was on September 1, 1974. In 2014, therefore this programme had existed 40 years. The book is structured as follows. Chapter 1 describes how the programme began with one disease and over the years has continued to expand to currently covering 19 disorders. Chapter 2 focuses on the organisation of the screening programme and the agencies that have been involved over the years. Chapter 3 is intended to provide a global view of the programme in its current form. Chapter 4 describes how neonatal screening programmes elsewhere in the world developed and outline their main differences with the Dutch programme. Finally, Chapter 5 contains the summary and conclusions. This chosen structure leads to some aspects being mentioned more than once. The book is intended for a broad audience that is interested in policy making on heel prick screening; hence, scientific depth is limited. Where possible and useful, references to the scientific literature have been included but completeness has not been pursued. The main sources were the archives of the National Steering Committees for Phenylketonuria and Congenital Hypothyroidism (LBCs), supplemented with interviews with the persons listed in Annex 1 and, if available, their personal archives.

This Special Issue cooperates with the 5th Asian Symposium on Emulsion Polymerization and Functional Polymeric Microspheres (ASEPFPM 2015) (http://asepfpm5.csp.escience.cn). Polymeric microspheres are basic materials for recent progress in environmental science, architecture, biomedicine, electronics, food, cosmetics, etc. While much progress has been made over the past few decades, there are still big challenges for the preparation of functional particles and the verification of preparation mechanisms; there is much room for growth in our ability to provide for high performance in these areas. The general theme of this symposium is to discuss recent advances in both fundamentals and applications, as well as to promote science and industrialization translation. 

Each year, extreme floods, which appear to be occurring more frequently in recent years (owing to climate change), lead to enormous economic damage and human suffering around the world. It is therefore imperative to be able to accurately predict both the occurrence time and magnitude of peak discharge in advance of an impending flood event. The use of meta-heuristic techniques in rainfall-runoff modeling is a growing field of endeavor in water resources management. These techniques can be used to calibrate data-driven rainfall-runoff models to improve forecasting accuracies. This book, being also a Special Issue of the journal Water, is designed to fill the analytical void by including fourteen articles concerning advances in the contemporary use of meta-heuristic techniques in rainfall-runoff modeling. The information and analyses are intended to contribute to the development and implementation of effective hydrological predictions, and thus, of appropriate precautionary measures.

This book contains a collection of twelve state-of-the-art, original papers with results from contemporary research in the syntheses and uses of nucleosides and nucleoside analogues, as well as two reviews on contemporary methodology to modify nucleosides.