Bücher veröffentlicht von Mdpi AG

Papers published in metals in 2020 and 2021, related to the special issue "News trends in powder metallurgy: microstructures, properties, durability. a review of the scientific advances in this field have been carried out through a selection of 13 original research papers (progress reviews and articles) on the impact of the microstructure on the mechanical and functional properties of metallic alloys obtained by sintering (SPS) and additive manufacturing (PBF) routes.

Natural products or organic compounds isolated from natural sources as primary orsecondary metabolites have inspired numerous drugs. It is not an overstatement that themajority of medicines in clinics, even in the 21st century, have been derived from naturalresources despite the decline of industry research into natural products due to a varietyof drawbacks. Saffron crocus, considered to be the most valuable spice by weight, and itsbioactive constituents, have been studied for the treatment of a wide range ofpathologies, including neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, cancer,diabetes, and even cardiovascular diseases. In this book on the chemistry, pharmacology,and therapeutic potential of Crocus sativus L. extract and its constituents, we aimed toassess new advances in the understanding of the therapeutic action of saffron and itsconstituents in targeting different pathologies. In this context, eight original researcharticles covering recent advances in the therapeutic actions of saffron and its ingredientsin different diseases are reported. Two studies reporting novel methods regarding thebioanalysis of saffron extracts have been included. The collection is completed with twovery interesting reviews reporting advances in the fields of schizophrenia and cancer. Inconclusion, in this book, we are delighted to have received several contributions that wehope will provide new and interesting information for the scientific community on thechemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutic potential of Crocus sativus L. extract and itsconstituents.

In present book, an analysis of the literature pertaining to parametric and nonparametricdescriptions of surface topography in basics manufacturing processes (e.g.,turning, milling, grinding) has been performed. The book focuses on the improvement ofmachining processes, with particular attention to the functional properties of surfaces,and, also, in the control of process parameters by a selected group of parameters. Here,the specific areas of interest are: surface topography analysis; advanced manufacturingmetrology; surface metrology; measurement science; and measurement systems. Theproposed approach of the description of surface for the functional properties of surfacesleads to the control of the whole manufacturing process, reduction of production cost byeliminating manufacturing defects and energy consumption, as well as theimprovements of surface quality. The study presented in the book is a compendium ofknowledge regarding surface metrology and emerging aim in a novel scientific approach.

The last few decades have seen considerable progress in the development of high-performance metals and alloys that have microstructures and plastic behaviors with a high level of complexity. Ultrafine-grain materials, metallic glasses, gradient microstructures, etc., have clearly been gaining the attention of researchers and are gaining a place in the industry. Concurrently, the self-organized nature of plastic deformation, leading to complex behaviors on mesoscopic scales even in pure metals with highly symmetric lattices, has been generally recognized. Such progress has demanded the development of sophisticated experimental techniques (in situ TEM, digital image correlation, nano-indentation, etc.), advanced multiscale modeling (molecular dynamics, discrete dislocation dynamics, strain gradient models, etc.), and methods of analysis of the observed and simulated behaviors from the viewpoint of self-organization, with an aim of filling gaps between the elementary atomic-scale mechanisms and the scale of a laboratory sample. The current research has evolved in two main areas. First, new approaches to old questions and traditional model materials allow for a deeper understanding of physical mechanisms. Second, a better understanding of the process-microstructure-property links provides a basis for the elaboration of new materials and processing routes, as well as for the creation of powerful computer models that are able to predict the behavior of complex materials. This Special Issue aims at presenting examples of such recent progress and trends in the plasticity of metals and alloys.

Disasters such as earthquakes, cyclones, floods, heat waves, nuclear accidents, andlarge-scale pollution incidents take lives and incur major health problems. The majorityof large-scale disasters affect the most vulnerable populations, which often compriseextreme ages, remote living areas, and endemic poverty, as well as people with lowliteracy. Health emergency and disaster risk management (Health-EDRM) refers to thesystematic analysis and management of health risks surrounding emergencies anddisasters, and plays an important role in reducing the hazards and vulnerability alongwith extending preparedness, responses, and recovery measures. This conceptencompasses risk analyses and interventions, such as accessible early warning systems,the timely deployment of relief workers, and the provision of suitable drugs and medicalequipment to decrease the impact of disasters on people before, during, and after anevent (or events). Currently, there is a major gap in the scientific literature regardingHealth-EDRM to facilitate major global policies and initiatives for disaster risk reductionworldwide.

The aim of the Special Issue "Applications of Fuzzy Optimization and Fuzzy Decision Making" is to expand the applicability of fuzzy optimization and decision making for solving various types of problems in the areas of economics, business, engineering, management, operations research, etc. Any experimental research or empirical study of theoretical developments in fuzzy optimization and decision making is highly welcome. Additionally, research papers presenting solution methods and/or studying their computational complexity, and proposing new algorithms to solve fuzzy optimization and decision making problems, in an effective and efficient manner, are also welcome. We are looking forward to receive innovative approaches that apply, in practical settings, state-of-the art mathematical/algorithmic techniques from fuzzy technology, computational intelligence and soft-computing methodologies, with the aim to offer robust solutions for complex optimization and decision making problems characterized by non-probabilistic uncertainty, vagueness, ambiguity, and hesitation. Such type of papers will address the suitability, validity, and advantages of using fuzzy technologies and the enhancement of them using intelligent methods to treat real-life problems from various disciplines.

This monography corresponds to a collection of articles celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Nanomaterials journal, in the form of a Special Issue in the Section "Nanocomposite Thin Films and 2D Materials" (ISSN 2079-4991; CODEN: NANOKO) in 2020.The set of papers is the response by the Nanomaterials journal community, submitting either their recent original work or up-to-date reviews to this Special Issue. The broad scope of this Special Issue adequately reflects the diversity and inclusiveness of the research covered by the MDPI journal Nanomaterials and provides an overview of many the topics covered by our discipline.

This book is the printed edition of the Special Issue Published in Nanomaterials. The book provides an overview on current international research activities in the field of laser-generated periodic surface micro- and nanostructures. It covers fundamental and applied aspects and collects contributions of renowned scientists in the fields of laser processing, materials science, physics, chemistry, and engineering in order to foster the current knowledge and present new ideas for future applications and new technologies.

Asthma is a multifaceted and puzzling disease. In the present book, well-known scholars offer their expert opinions and revise aspects of our current knowledge of this disease. Using new data (available in the upcoming Global Asthma Network study) on the epidemiology of asthma to explore the everlasting ''chicken-or-egg'' conundrum, the authors present clear information on topics such as new biological treatments, new approaches to inhalation combination therapy or sublingual immunotherapy, and present an in-depth exploration of old and new risk factors related to the novel epidemics of non-communicable diseases such as obesity. Regarding the ''chicken-or-egg'' conundrum, the book offers some information on asthma inception and how this could relate to early lung development. Both editors are grateful for the time and effort that the authors have put into this project, and hope that this book will help healthcare providers to gain a better understanding of this complex disease.

The bacterial flagellum is a supramolecular motility machinery consisting of the basal body acting as a rotary motor, the hook as a universal joint and the filament as a helical propeller. The bacterial flagellar motor composed of a rotor ring and a dozen stators is powered by an electrochemical-potential difference of specific ions across the cytoplasmic membrane and rotates in either the counterclockwise (CCW) or clockwise (CW) direction. A sensory signal transduction pathway regulates the switching between the CCW and CW states of the motor in response to environmental stimuli, allowing bacterial cells to migrate more desirable environments for their survival. The core structure of the bacterial flagellum is conserved among bacterial species. However, recent structural analyses of intact flagellar structures derived from various bacterial species by electron cryotomography and subtomogram averaging have shown that novel and divergent structures surround the core structure, suggesting that the flagellar motors have adapted to function in various environments of the habitat of bacteria. This Special Issue of Biomolecules covers recent advances in our understanding of and perspectives on the flagellar motor derived from different bacterial species.

Over the last few decades, an increasing amount of interest from academia and industry has been devoted to the application of the 12 Principles of the green chemistry in order to pursue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). They are based on the fundamental idea of guiding research and innovation toward more environmentally-friendly practices and solutions. This book, entitled Sustainable and Environmental Catalysis, collects original research papers, reviews, short communications, and commentaries reflecting the state-of-the-art and future applications in this field, with particular emphasis on the adoption of green chemistry principles at both a laboratory and industrial scale.