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Topic Review
Osteoporosis Treatments
A healthy and active lifestyle is vital for the proper maintenance of all body tissues, including bone. Several studies have highlighted the importance of physical exercise to improve the quality of life of patients with osteoporosis. Diet also plays a fundamental role in bone health. Calcium supplementation is able to decrease the rate of bone mineral density loss in women, presenting even better results in combination with vitamin D. Lately, isoflavones has gain interest as a treatment in osteoporosis but their effectiveness still remains unclear. Therefore, pharmacological therapies have been developed to counteract bone fragility based on molecular targets. Therapies for osteoporosis are focus on restoring the normal balance between bone resorption and bone formation. Bone anti-resorptive therapies focus on the inhibition or reduction of bone resorption process, these are; estrogens, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), bisphosphonates and monoclonal antibodies. On the other hand, bone formation agents target anabolic pathways to stimulate the osteoblastic activity. This include Teriparatide, a recombinant human parathyroid hormone (PTH), and Romosozumab; an anti-sclerostin monoclonal antibody with dual effect.  It increases bone formation and, to a lesser extent, it reduces bone resorption (or bone loss) which translates into a decrease in the risk of fracture. In summary, currently used osteoporosis therapies are not fully effective in all patients and present considerable side effects that seriously compromise their long-term use. Thus, the development of new therapeutic strategies for osteoporosis is necessary in an increasingly aging world population. In this context, cell-based therapeutic strategies based on mesenchymal stem cells are positioning as encouraging possibilities to address osteoporosis.
  • 1.2K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
University Programmes during COVID-19 Pandemic
Within the physical sciences and other STEM-based disciplines, the need for physical, laboratory-based practical activities is essential to complement the more theoretical content associated with learning a subject. This entry reviews the transition from traditional to online/e-delivery that could be realised by educational providers when seeking to limit the spread of infection associated with viral pandemics (such as Covid-19), whilst remaining cognisant of the ability to retain a quality student learning experience and continue to achieve programme learning outcomes.
  • 1.2K
  • 10 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Human-like Arm Motion Generation
In the last decade, the objectives outlined by the needs of personal robotics have led to the rise of new biologically-inspired techniques for arm motion planning. This entry presents a literature review of the most recent research on the generation of human-like arm movements in humanoid and manipulation robotic systems. Search methods and inclusion criteria are described. The studies are analyzed taking into consideration the sources of publication, the experimental settings, the type of movements, the technical approach, and the human motor principles that have been used to inspire and assess human-likeness. 
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Road Traffic Safety
This paper attempts to examine whether socioeconomic volatility produces differentiated effects on road traffic accident indicators. Adopting the Autoregressive distributed lag error-correction model (ARDL-ECM) , this paper explores the long-term equilibrium and short-term interactions between five common economic indicators, namely, average salaries (AS), employment (EM), unemployment (UE), total mileage of highway (TMH), and private vehicle ownership (PVO), as well as road traffic-related indicators including the number of road traffic accidents (RTA), injuries (IN), fatalities (FA), and direct economic losses (DEL), using data of road traffic accidents spanning from 1999 to 2018 in China. The study found that all economic indicators except average salaries showed a long-term equilibrium with road traffic accident indicators. The Granger causality test showed that, over the short term, an increase in employment could lead to an increase in injuries, and an increase in private vehicle ownership could cause a rise in fatalities. This study demonstrates that the volatility in economic indicators indeed produces differentiated effects on road traffic accident indicators, providing a theoretical basis for improving road safety performance and formulating relevant policies.
  • 1.2K
  • 16 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Lysyl Oxidase
The lysyl oxidase (LOX) family members are secreted copper-dependent amine oxidases, comprised of five paralogues: LOX and LOX-like l-4 (LOXL1-4), which are characterized by catalytic activity contributing to the remodeling of the cross-linking of the structural extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM remodeling plays a key role in the angiogenesis surrounding tumors, whereby a corrupt tumor microenvironment (TME) takes shape. Primary liver cancer includes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), ranked as the seventh most common cancer globally, with limited therapeutic options for advanced stages. In recent years, a growing body of evidence has revealed the key roles of LOX family members in the pathogenesis of liver cancer and the shaping of TME, indicating their notable potential as therapeutic targets.
  • 1.2K
  • 07 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress
Mitochondria are essential semi-autonomous cellular organelles with a double membrane composed by an inner (IMM) and an outer membrane (OMM).
  • 1.2K
  • 18 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Mannose-Binding Lectin on Bacterial-Infected Chickens
Chickens possess mannose-binding lectin (MBL) which could be vital in managing pathogenic bacteria in chickens. MBL is one of the soluble proteins secreted by the chicken’s innate immune system which can be activated when chickens are exposed to chicken-related diseases. 
  • 1.2K
  • 22 Apr 2021
Topic Review
3D Modeling of Epithelial Tumors
The current statistics on cancer show that 90% of all human cancers originate from epithelial cells. Breast and prostate cancer are examples of common tumors of epithelial origin that would benefit from improved drug treatment strategies. About 90% of preclinically approved drugs fail in clinical trials, partially due to the use of too simplified in vitro models and a lack of mimicking the tumor microenvironment in drug efficacy testing. This entry focuses on the epithelial cancers, followed by experimental models designed to recapitulate the epithelial tumor structure and microenvironment. A specific focus is to put on novel technologies for cell culture of spheroids, organoids, and 3D-printed tissue-like models, utilizing biomaterials of natural or synthetic origins, and how the models could be utilized for nanotechnology-based drug delivery in the future.
  • 1.2K
  • 24 Jun 2021
Topic Review
GHDs with Solar Technologies
Greenhouse dryers (GHDs) are simple facilities that can provide large capacities for drying agricultural products. The solar GHDs (SGHDs) are classified as passive and active systems. The passive SGHDs have a heat transfer through natural convection, whereas, SGHDs having a heat transfer through forced convection are called active dryers. Active SGHDs can be integrated with different solar technologies, including photovoltaic (PV), photovoltaic-thermal (PVT), and solar thermal collectors. Additionally, solar-assisted greenhouse dryers (SGHDs) can be integrated with heat pumps and thermal energy storage (TES) units and presented in hybrid configuration considering their integration with other renewable energy sources with the aim of improving the thermal performance.
  • 1.2K
  • 01 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis and Honey
Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is a relapsing vaginal fungal infection caused by Candida species. In 57% of the cases, relapses occur within six months after fluconazole maintenance therapy, which is the current standard of care. The pathogenesis of RVVC is multifactorial, and recent studies have demonstrated that the vaginal microenvironment and activity of the immune system have a strong influence on the disease. 
  • 1.2K
  • 30 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Oocyte Cryopreservation in Domestic Animals and Humans
Oocyte cryopreservation plays important roles in basic research and the application of models for genetic preservation and in clinical situations. This technology provides long-term storage of gametes for genetic banking and subsequent use with other assisted reproductive technologies.
  • 1.2K
  • 22 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Interleukin-18
Interleukin (IL)-18 was originally discovered as a factor that enhanced IFN-γ production from anti-CD3-stimulated Th1 cells, especially in the presence of IL-12. Upon stimulation with Ag plus IL-12, naïve T cells develop into IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) expressing Th1 cells, which increase IFN-γ production in response to IL-18 stimulation. 
  • 1.2K
  • 21 Jan 2022
Topic Review
CD26 Induces Colorectal Cancer Angiogenesis and Metastasis
CD26 has been reported as a marker for colorectal cancer stem cells endowed with tumor-initiating properties and capable of colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis. This entry demonstrated the functional roles of CD26 in inducing CRC migration, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis and identified the potential involvement of MMP1 and CAV1 in such process.
  • 1.2K
  • 07 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Food Colour Additives
Colour is one of the most relevant organoleptic attributes that directly affects consumers’ acceptance and food selection. However, as food colouring pigments are generally unstable and become modified during processing, in order to maintain or restore product colour uniformity, colourants are added to food products around the world. Food properties, namely colours, which are a visual feature associated with the spectral distribution of light resulting from the interaction with matter, largely determine consumer’s satisfaction and expectations, affecting their choice and eating desires. Food colours affect recognition and product acceptability (warning consumers against eating spoiled food which is hazardous to health), as they are a beam of sensory perceptions such as sight, smell, and taste.
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Assessment of Citizens’ Netiquette and Information Literacy
In a rapidly evolving world, digital representation of information and its communication through digital technologies have transformed our daily life with severe consequences in terms of sustainability in society. Citizens must face demands of different natures of the digital world. The current society presents a new scenario that demands new perspectives for cyber connection and user empowerment. Digital competence (DC) taught and assessed was influenced by the framework chosen, based mainly on commercial applications such as Microsoft’s Office Suite and operating system. The launch of DigComp in 2013 facilitated the development of tailored implementations, providing a reference framework to work on DC. However, most of the implementations related to competence assessment are self-reports compounded by multiple-choice items and Likert scales, only measuring low-order cognitive skills (e.g., IKANOS, probably the best known self-diagnostic tool at a European level available on http://test.ikanos.eus/ (accessed on 3 March 2022)). Furthermore, the skill component of the DC is barely evaluated, probably because the development of simulations or task-based assessments is complicated and time consuming.
  • 1.2K
  • 25 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Extended Myc Network
Among the first discovered and most prominent cellular oncogenes is MYC, which encodes a bHLH-ZIP transcription factor (Myc) that both activates and suppresses numerous genes involved in proliferation, energy production, metabolism and translation. Myc belongs to a small group of bHLH-ZIP transcriptional regulators (the Myc Network) that includes its obligate heterodimerization partner Max and six “Mxd proteins” (Mxd1–4, Mnt and Mga), each of which heterodimerizes with Max and largely opposes Myc’s functions.
  • 1.2K
  • 13 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Gut Microbiota for Precision Psychiatry in Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a highly disabling condition with a chronic and relapsing nature. Despite the substantial socioeconomic burden associated with BD, there are still significant research gaps in risk stratification, diagnostic accuracy, and treatment selection, all key components of precision psychiatry. One possible strategy to increase the validity of precision psychiatry approaches in BD is to increase the knowledge of disorder-associated gut microbiota perturbations. 
  • 1.2K
  • 16 May 2022
Topic Review
Mathematics Anxiety at different schooling conditions during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented changes in the educational system, requiring students to continually switch between distance and in-person learning conditions. During the second wave of COVID-19, 405 students, recruited from twelve middle schools of Catania province (Italy), completed an online version of the MeMa questionnaire, answering each item twice and imagining themselves to be, respectively, in distance and in-person learning conditions.
  • 1.2K
  • 04 Jul 2022
Topic Review
The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Dermatological Conditions
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a significant range of dermatologic sequela. Etiologies of lesions continue to be investigated. Proposed mechanisms include inflammatory response to spike protein, vitamin D deficiency, ACE2 receptor activation, androgen levels, and increased psychosocial stress.
  • 1.2K
  • 13 Jul 2022
Topic Review
The Genus Tulbaghia
Amaryllidaceae is a significant source of bioactive phytochemicals with a strong propensity to develop new drugs. The genera Allium, Tulbaghia, Cyrtanthus and Crinum biosynthesize novel alkaloids and other phytochemicals with traditional and pharmacological uses. Amaryllidaceae biomolecules exhibit multiple pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory effects.
  • 1.2K
  • 29 Jul 2022
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