Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Subject:
All Disciplines Arts & Humanities Biology & Life Sciences Business & Economics Chemistry & Materials Science Computer Science & Mathematics Engineering Environmental & Earth Sciences Medicine & Pharmacology Physical Sciences Public Health & Healthcare Social Sciences
Sort by:
Most Viewed Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Filter:
All Topic Review Biography Peer Reviewed Entry Video Entry
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Fluorescence in Smart Textiles
Fluorescence has been identified as an advantageous feature in smart fabrics, notably for the protection of humans during outdoor athletic activities, as well as for preventing counterfeiting and determining authenticity. Fluorescence in smart fabrics is achieved using dendrimers, rare earth metal compounds, and fluorescent dye. The principal method for producing fluorescent fabrics is to immerse the sample in a solution containing fluorescent agents. However, covalent connections between fluorophores and textile substates should be established to improve the stability and intensity of the fluorescent characteristics. Fabric can be fluorescent throughout, or fluorescent fibers can be woven directly into the textile structures, made of natural (cotton, silk) or synthetic (polyamide- and polyester-based) fibers, into a precise pathway that becomes visible under ultraviolet irradiation.
  • 1.3K
  • 14 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Contaminant Removal in Different Constructed Wetland Types
Constructed wetlands (CWs) are artificially engineered treatment systems that utilize natural cycles or processes involving soils, wetland vegetation, and plant and soil-associated microbial assemblages to remediate contaminated water and improve its quality. CW treatment systems are typically categorized as free-water surface(FWSCWs), surface-flow constructed wetlands (SFCWs), subsurface-flow constructed wetlands (SSFCWs), and hybrid constructed wetlands (HCWs). Depending on the flow direction, Subsurface-flow CWs (SSFCWs) can be further classified into horizontal subsurface-flow (HSSF) and vertical subsurface-flow (VSSF) systems.
  • 1.3K
  • 20 Nov 2023
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Saprophytic Filamentous Fungi against Helminths Affecting Captive Wild Animals
In recent decades, important modifications have been introduced in zoos in order to guarantee the welfare of captive wild animals. Thus, many of these species are housed in enclosures with access to vegetation, where they can enjoy habitats close to those in their natural surroundings, interact with the environment, etc. These habitats present beneficial conditions for some species of parasites to survive and spread. This is a very similar problem to that affecting livestock, and the same solution, based on deworming, is currently being applied. However, the free-living stages of certain parasites that develop in the soil are responsible for high rates of ground contamination throughout the year, so that animals become infected soon after successful deworming, resulting in chemical parasiticides being frequently administered. Preventive measures are seldom considered, which worsens the situation. This entry summarizes the usefulness of the dissemination of certain saprophytic filamentous fungi with proven antagonism against some of the parasites.
  • 1.3K
  • 26 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Nitrogen-Fixing Legume Symbionts
It is now widely recognized that genetic regulation of bacterial physiology cannot be fully understood without considering the possible participation of small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs). However, current genome annotations for most bacterial species unaccountably overlook sRNA genes. Here, we describe strategies undertaken to characterize the noncoding transcriptome of rhizobia, a group of soil bacteria that are well-known for their ability to establish agriculturally and environmentally relevant mutualistic nitrogen-fixing symbioses with legumes.
  • 1.3K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Electrochemical Biosensors on S-Layer Proteins
Integrating bioinspired materials and electrochemical techniques promote specific, rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive biosensing platforms. The selection of biomaterials to decorate a biosensor surface is a critical issue as it strongly affects selectivity and sensitivity. In this context, smart biomaterials with the intrinsic self-assemble capability like bacterial surface (S-) layer proteins are of paramount importance. Indeed, by forming a crystalline two-dimensional protein lattice on many sensors surfaces and interfaces, the S-layer lattice constitutes an immobilization matrix for small biomolecules and lipid membranes and a patterning structure with unsurpassed spatial distribution for sensing elements and bioreceptors. Thus, exploiting S-layer proteins for biosensor technology has already led to various applications ranging from detection of metal ions over small organic compounds to cells. Furthermore, enzymes immobilized on the S-layer proteins allow specific detection of several vital biomolecules. The special features of the S-layer protein lattice as part of the sensor architecture enhances surface functionalization and thus may feature an innovative class of electrochemical biosensors.
  • 1.3K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Nuclear Src
Src is the representative member of the Src-family kinases (SFK), a group of tyrosine kinases involved in several cellular processes. Its main function has been for long confined to the plasma membrane/cytoplasm compartment, being a myristoylated protein anchored to the cell membrane and functioning downstream to receptors, most of them lacking intrinsic kinase activity. In the last decades, new roles for some SFKs have been described in the nuclear compartment, suggesting that these proteins can also be involved in directly regulating gene transcription or nucleoskeleton architecture. In this review, we focused on those nuclear functions specifically attributable to Src, by considering its function as both tyrosine kinase and adapting molecule. In particular, we addressed the Src involvement in physiological as well as in pathological conditions, especially in tumors.
  • 1.3K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
RSU1 in Tumor Tissues
Cancer is a multifactorial disease responsible for millions of deaths worldwide. It has a strong genetic background, as mutations in oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes contribute to the initiation of cancer development. Integrin signaling as well as the signaling pathway of Ras oncogene, have been long implicated both in carcinogenesis and disease progression. Moreover, they have been involved in the promotion of metastasis, which accounts for the majority of cancer-related deaths. Ras Suppressor-1 (RSU1) was identified as a suppressor of Ras-induced transformation and was shown to localize to cell-extracellular matrix adhesions. Recent findings indicate that its expression is elevated in various cancer types, while its role in regulating metastasis-related cellular processes remains largely unknown. Interestingly, there is no in vivo work in the field to date, and thus, all relevant knowledge stems from in vitro studies.
  • 1.3K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Isoliquiritigenin in Cancer
Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a natural bioactive compound with a chalcone structure, demonstrates high antitumor efficacy. 
  • 1.3K
  • 08 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease
Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) is defined as the presence of hepatic steatosis (detected either histologically or by imaging techniques) in those individuals who have either type 2 diabetes or obesity.
  • 1.3K
  • 12 Oct 2021
Topic Review
3D Pancreatic Cancer Models
Pancreatic cancer is an extremely lethal malignancy with a survival rate lower than any other cancer type. For decades, two-dimensional (2D) cultures have been the cornerstone for studying cancer cell biology and drug testing, due to their simplicity and cost. However, their inability to reconstitute the tumor architecture, the absence of nutrient and oxygen supply gradients, as well as the lack of appropriate mechano-forces that mimic the extracellular microenvironment, make them an inadequate model to accurately reproduce tissue level-specific characteristics. Bioengineering systems, such as three-dimensional (3D) patient-specific models, are progressively emerging as systems better able to mimic the biology of pancreatic tumors and to test new anticancer therapies, as they more efficiently recapitulate the complex tumor microenvironment characteristic of pancreatic tumors.
  • 1.3K
  • 22 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Heterochromatin Networks
Recent data point to the leading role of heterochromatin in genome maintenance, highlighting the attractions between heterochromatic regions as being central to phase separation of the active and inactive chromatin domains. The three main properties of heterochromatin—the position silencing effect on transcription, stickiness, and flexible rigidity are important for its network formation.
  • 1.3K
  • 07 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Dried Blood Spot in Toxicology
Dried Blood Spot (DBS) is becoming very popular in various medical fields, especially in toxicology. Nowadays, it is commonly used in newborn screening for inherited or congenital diseases. DBS does not require trained medical staff to collect the samples and can be effortlessly transported to the laboratory, which makes it an easy and quick procedure. A venous blood spot, collected from a finger or a heel, is put on the special paper card, which can result in a different distribution of blood and concentration of detecting substances. DBS enables drugs analysis, detecting substances of abuse as well as  trace elements. It also serves its purpose in newborn screening and testing in SARS-CoV-2 serology. DBS is certain to develop rapidly and become even more worldwide used.
  • 1.3K
  • 16 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Low/Medium Voltage Direct Current Microgrids
Direct current (DC) microgrids (MG) constitute a research field that has gained great attention over the past few years, challenging the well-established dominance of their alternating current (AC) counterparts in Low Voltage (LV) (up to 1.5 kV) as well as Medium Voltage (MV) applications (up to 50 kV). 
  • 1.3K
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Vitamins and Neurodegenerative Disease
Acquiring the recommended daily allowance of vitamins is crucial for maintaining homeostatic balance in humans and other animals. A deficiency in or dysregulation of vitamins adversely affects the neuronal metabolism, which may lead to neurodegenerative diseases. In this article, we discuss how novel vitamin-based approaches aid in attenuating abnormal neuronal functioning in neurodegeneration-based brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Prion disease. Vitamins show their therapeutic activity in Parkinson’s disease by antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity. In addition, different water- and lipid-soluble vitamins have also prevented amyloid beta and tau pathology. On the other hand, some results also show no correlation between vitamin action and the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. Some vitamins also exhibit toxic activity too. 
  • 1.3K
  • 29 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Multilayer Coatings for Tribology
Friction and wear usually lead to huge energy loss and failure of machine pairs, which usually causes great economic losses. Researchers have made great efforts to reduce energy dissipation and enhance durability through advanced lubrication technologies. Single-layer coatings have been applied in many sectors of engineering, but the performance of single-layer coatings still has many limitations. One solution to overcome these limitations is to use a multilayer coating that combines different components with varied physical and chemical properties. In addition, multilayer coating with alternating layers only containing two components can lead to improved performance compared to a coating with only two different layers.
  • 1.3K
  • 12 May 2022
Topic Review
Using Learning Gain to Evaluate Undergraduate Business Education
During the COVID-19 pandemic, universities across the globe replaced in-person teaching, with online teaching, because of widespread campus shutdowns. Through the application of a pre-existing learning gain model, it was possible to review the learning of one cohort of students receiving in-person teaching, and then the next cohort of students on the same course receiving the online teaching. Overall, a drop in perceived learning was reported from the cohort of students receiving online teaching. For female students, the most significant drop in learning related to practical understanding, whereas for male students, the most significant drop in learning related to theoretical knowledge.
  • 1.3K
  • 30 Jun 2022
Topic Review
CAR T Cell Locomotion in Solid Tumor Microenvironment
The promising outcomes of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in hematologic malignancies potentiates its capability in the fight against many cancers. Nevertheless, this immunotherapy modality needs significant improvements for the treatment of solid tumors. Researchers have incrementally identified limitations and constantly pursued better CAR designs. However, even if CAR T cells are armed with optimal killer functions, they must overcome and survive suppressive barriers imposed by the tumor microenvironment (TME). The ability of CAR T cells to efficiently migrate to the tumor site, infiltrate suppressive barriers, and survive the harsh TME represents a crucial prerequisite for carrying out the anti-tumor function.
  • 1.3K
  • 05 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Biomarkers of Allergic Asthma
Allergic asthma is the most common asthma phenotype and is characterized by IgE sensitization to airborne allergens and subsequent typical asthmatic symptoms after exposure. A form of type 2 (T2) airway inflammation underlies allergic asthma. It usually arises in childhood and is accompanied by multimorbidity presenting with the occurrence of other atopic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis. Biomarkers identifying patients with allergic asthma include total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and serum eosinophil counts. 
  • 1.3K
  • 28 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Portable X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Organic Amendments
Portable XRF spectrometry (pXRF) has recently undergone significant technological improvements and is being applied in a wide range of studies. Despite pXRF advantages, this technique has rarely been used to characterize organic amendments and residues. pXRF correctly measures elements such as Fe, Pb, Zn, Mn, Ca, and K but gives conflicting results for elements such as Cr, Ni, and As. Among the reasons that may cause the low performance of the technique with certain elements or under certain measurement conditions would be the inadequacy of the analytical comparison procedures used (i.e., digestion with aqua regia), the lack of knowledge of the interfering effects of organic matter, and sample moisture on the XRF signals and the need for a standardized protocol for performing the measurements. However, the speed and low cost of the procedure forecast a greater future use of this technique, especially in cooperation with other fast spectroscopic techniques based on near-infrared (NIRS) or mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopies. Chemometric procedures based on one or more of these techniques will allow the prediction of elements below the detection limit of pXRF instruments (Cd, Hg), or other properties of organic amendments (organic matter, N, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity).
  • 1.3K
  • 05 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Electrocardiographic Changes in Myocardial Ischemia in COVID-19 Patients
Given the possible pathophysiological links between myocardial ischemia and SARS-CoV-2 infection, several studies have focused attention on acute coronary syndromes in order to improve patients’ morbidity and mortality. Understanding the pathophysiological aspects of myocardial ischemia in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 can open a broad perspective on the proper management for each patient. The electrocardiogram (ECG) remains the easiest assessment of cardiac involvement in COVID-19 patients, due to its non-invasive profile, accessibility, low cost, and lack of radiation. The ECG changes provide insight into the patient’s prognosis, indicating either the worsening of an underlying cardiac illnesses or the acute direct injury by the virus. This indicates that the ECG is an important prognostic tool that can affect the outcome of COVID-19 patients, which important to correlate its aspects with the clinical characteristics and patient’s medical history. The ECG changes in myocardial ischemia include a broad spectrum in patients with COVID-19 with different cases reported of ST-segment elevation, ST-segment depression, and T wave inversion, which are associated with severe COVID-19 disease.
  • 1.3K
  • 15 Aug 2022
  • Page
  • of
  • 2728
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Reprints

>>
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Encyclopedia of Engineering
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of Medieval Royal Iconography
Academic Video Service
Feedback