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Topic Review
VocaLink
Vocalink is a payment systems company headquartered in the United Kingdom , created in 2007 from the merger between Voca and LINK. It designs, builds and operates the UK payments infrastructure, which underpins the provision of the Bacs payment system, the Direct Debit system, the UK ATM LINK switching platform covering 65,000 ATMs and the UK Faster Payments systems. Vocalink processes over 90% of UK salaries, more than 70% of household bills and 98% of state benefits. In 2013 the company processed over 10.5 billion UK payments with a value of over £5 trillion. In July 2016 MasterCard purchased a 92% stake in the company, with the remainder to be held by UK banks for a period of three years.
  • 1.3K
  • 20 Oct 2022
Topic Review
AIDA (Mission)
The Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment (AIDA) mission is a proposed pair of space probes which will study and demonstrate the kinetic effects of crashing an impactor spacecraft into an asteroid moon. The mission is intended to test and validate impact models of whether a spacecraft could successfully deflect an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. The original plan called for a European spacecraft, the Asteroid Impact Mission (AIM), to operate in synergy with a large NASA impactor called Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) and observe the immediate effects of the impact. AIM was cancelled in 2016 when Germany was unable to fund its portion, and after some backlash within ESA, AIM was replaced in 2018 with a smaller spacecraft called Hera that will launch five years after DART to orbit and study the crater on the asteroid. Hera will also deploy Europe's first CubeSats in deep space for close-up asteroid surveying: Juventas and Milani. DART is currently planned to impact in 2022 in the small moon of asteroid 65803 Didymos, while Hera will arrive at Didymos in 2027, five years after DART's impact.
  • 1.3K
  • 01 Nov 2022
Topic Review
NO-cGMP Signaling in Retinal Ganglion Cell in Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a progressive age-related disease of the visual system and the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Currently, intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only modifiable risk factor for the disease, but even as IOP is lowered, the pathology of the disease often progresses. Hence, effective clinical targets for the treatment of glaucoma remain elusive. Glaucoma shares comorbidities with a multitude of vascular diseases, and evidence in humans and animal models demonstrates an association between vascular dysfunction of the retina and glaucoma pathology. Integral to the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is functional neurovascular coupling (NVC), providing RGCs with metabolic support in response to neuronal activity. NVC is mediated by cells of the neurovascular unit (NVU), which include vascular cells, glial cells, and neurons. Nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO-cGMP) signaling is a prime mediator of NVC between endothelial cells and neurons, but emerging evidence suggests that cGMP signaling is also important in the physiology of other cells of the NVU. NO-cGMP signaling has been implicated in glaucomatous neurodegeneration in humans and mice.
  • 1.3K
  • 21 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Selecting Suitable Battery Technologies for Untethered Robots
Energy storage is one of the major barriers to achieve long-duration autonomy in robots. This entry evaluates the capabilities of relevant battery technologies, taking into consideration the requirements of different applications in robotics. We also discuss additional technologies that can be used to overcome the inherent limitations of the most common battery chemistries.
  • 1.3K
  • 10 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Functional Materials Based on Nanocellulose for Pharmaceutical/Medical Applications
Nanocelluloses (NCs), with their remarkable characteristics, have proven to be one of the most promising “green” materials of our times and have received special attention from researchers in nanomaterials. A diversity of new functional materials with a wide range of biomedical applications has been designed based on the most desirable properties of NCs, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and their special physicochemical properties.
  • 1.3K
  • 23 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Development of Intrapersonal Intelligence
Intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligence are two of the eight multiple intelligences that Gardner describes. The first of them refers to an individual’s ability to understand themselves, their emotions, motivations, strengths, weaknesses, and thoughts. This intelligence also includes the ability to think about oneself and recognize how actions and decisions affect others.
  • 1.3K
  • 24 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Remote Sensing Applied on the Agriculture
Agricultural remote sensing technology has made great progress. The availability of sensors capable of detecting electromagnetic energy and/or heat emitted by targets improves the pre-harvest process and therefore becomes an indispensable tool in the post-harvest phase. The use of sensors in the field and post-harvest processes allows for accurate real-time monitoring of operations and grain quality, enabling decision-making supported by computer tools such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence algorithms. This way, grain producers can get ahead, track and reduce losses, and maintain grain quality from field to consumer.
  • 1.3K
  • 20 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Down Syndrome
Down Syndrome (DS) (OMIM#190685, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man®, An Online Catalog of Human Genes and Genetic Disorders) is a genetic disorder caused by a trisomy of chromosome 21 and is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID).
  • 1.3K
  • 05 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Nutrients and Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease that is worsened post-menopause due to oestrogen loss.  The objective of this review was to investigate nutrient and dietary patterns that have been reported to be beneficial for bone health in postmenopausal women. We found calcium, vitamin D, B-vitamins, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin C, and vitamin K are important nutrient requirements for bone health while foods such as low-fat dairy (including milk, yoghurt, and cheese), fish (with bones), fortified and fruits and vegetables are important for bone health maintenance.
  • 1.3K
  • 14 Oct 2020
Topic Review
LNX/PDZRN E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Family
The ligand of Numb protein-X (LNX) family, also known as the PDZRN family, is composed of four discrete RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligases (LNX1, LNX2, LNX3, and LNX4), and LNX5 which may not act as an E3 ubiquitin ligase owing to the lack of the RING domain. 
  • 1.3K
  • 31 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Vitamin D and Glomerulonephritis
Vitamin D presents a plethora of different functions that go beyond its role in skeletal homeo-stasis. It is an efficient endocrine regulator of the Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System (RAAS) and erythropoiesis, exerts immunomodulatory effects, reduces the cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. In Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients, Vitamin D function is im-paired; the renal hydrolyzation of its inactive form by the action of 1α-hydroxylase declines at the same pace of reduced nephron mass. Moreover, Vitamin D major carrier, the D-binding pro-tein (DBP), is less represented due to Nephrotic Syndrome (NS), proteinuria, and the alteration of the cubilin–megalin–amnionless receptor complex in the renal proximal tubule. In Glomeru-lonephritis (GN), Vitamin D supplementation demonstrated to significantly reduce proteinuria and to slow kidney disease progression. It also has potent antiproliferative and immunomodu-lating functions, contributing to the inhibitions of kidney inflammation. Vitamin D preserves the structural integrity of the slit diaphragm guaranteeing protective effects on podocytes. Acti-vated Vitamin D has been demonstrated to potentiate the antiproteinuric effect of RAAS inhibi-tors in IgA nephropathy and Lupus Nephritis, enforcing its role in the treatment of glomerulo-nephritis: calcitriol treatment, through Vitamin D receptor (VDR) action, can regulate the hepa-ranase promoter activity and modulate the urokinase receptor (uPAR), guaranteeing podocyte preservation. It also controls the podocyte distribution by modulating mRNA synthesis and protein expression of nephrin and podocin. Maxalcalcitol is another promising alternative: it has about 1/600 affinity to vitamin D binding protein (DBP), compared to Calcitriol, overcoming the risk of hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia and calcifications, and it circulates principally in un-bound form with easier availability for target tissues. Doxercalciferol, as well as paricalcitol, showed a lower incidence of hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria than Calcitriol. Paricalcitol demonstrated a significant role in suppressing RAAS genes expression: it significantly decreases angiotensinogen, renin, renin receptors, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA levels, thus reducing proteinuria and renal damage.
  • 1.3K
  • 11 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Renin–Angiotensin-System-Induced Cardiac Remodelling
The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) indicates its central role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular remodelling via both hemodynamic alterations and direct growth and the proliferation effects of angiotensin II or aldosterone resulting in the hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes, the proliferation of fibroblasts, and inflammatory immune cell activation. 
  • 1.3K
  • 18 May 2021
Topic Review
Peptide Hormones and Adipose Tissue
Peptide hormones play a prominent role in controlling energy homeostasis and metabolism. They have been implicated in controlling appetite, the function of the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems, energy expenditure, and reproduction. Furthermore, there is growing evidence indicating that peptide hormones and their receptors contribute to energy homeostasis regulation by interacting with white and brown adipose tissue.
  • 1.3K
  • 06 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Motor Skill Learning
Motor skill learning requires the control and integration of a range of stimuli and responses to be able to perform the desired motor task. How can we explain, support, or predict how people learn these skills? Several learning theories have been developed to explain how learning motor skills occurs and what stimulates individuals to learn and change.
  • 1.3K
  • 16 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Epitaxial Graphene on 4H-SiC (0001)
Epitaxial graphene on SiC as a hosting substrate for other materials growth is due to its enhanced reactivity compared to chemically inert free-standing exfoliated graphene. Indeed, numerous experimental results by theoretical predictions indicate that by virtue of its physical and structural properties, epitaxial graphene may contain several different highly reactive regions (step edges, charge-unbalanced electron-hole puddles, strained regions, and edges of bilayer inclusions) that may serve as effective nucleation centres. 
  • 1.3K
  • 02 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Fine-Grained Change Detection
Fine-grained change detection in sensor data is very challenging for artificial intelligence though it is critically important in practice. It is the process of identifying differences in the state of an object or phenomenon where the differences are class-specific and are difficult to generalise. As a result, many recent technologies that leverage big data and deep learning struggle with this task.
  • 1.3K
  • 12 Jul 2021
Topic Review
UV-Filters Risk for Coastal Environments
Considering the rapid growth of tourism in recent years and the acknowledgement that exposure to solar UV radiation may cause skin cancer, sunscreens have been widely used by beachgoers in recent decades. UV filters contained in sunscreens were recently identified as emerging pollutants in coastal waters since they accumulate in the marine environment with different adverse effects. In fact, direct and/or indirect exposure to these components was proven to be harmful and eventually toxic to many invertebrate and vertebrate marine species.
  • 1.3K
  • 21 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Thiamine in Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Because therapeutic hypothermia and thiamine may both act on the latent period of HIE damage, a synergistic effect of these therapeutic strategies is likely. Thiamine treatment may be especially important in mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and in areas of the world where there is limited access to expensive hypothermia equipment.
  • 1.3K
  • 31 Dec 2021
Topic Review Video
Successful Experiences from Global Spread of Conservation Agriculture
Since 2008/2009, Conservation Agriculture (CA) cropland area has been expanding globally at an annual rate of more than 10 M ha per year. In 2015/2016, the total CA cropland area was 180.4 M ha, corresponding to 12.5% of global cropland area. In 2018/2019, the total cropland area was 205.4 M ha, corresponding to 14.7% of global cropland area. The spread of CA has been expanding in Asia, Africa, and Europe in recent years because farmers are becoming better organized in working together and networking. More attention and resources are being allocated by stakeholders towards supporting farmers to adopt CA and in generating new knowledge to improve their performance.
  • 1.3K
  • 11 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Merrion v. Jicarilla Apache Tribe
Merrion v. Jicarilla Apache Tribe, 455 U.S. 130 (1982), was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States holding that an Indian tribe has the authority to impose taxes on non-Indians that are conducting business on the reservation as an inherent power under their tribal sovereignty.
  • 1.3K
  • 25 Nov 2022
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