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Topic Review
Constitutive Role of Communication in Organizations
The focal point of the communicative constitution of organizations is that “organization is an effect of communication not its predecessor”. This approach, also referred to as the CCO perspective, posits that "elements of communication, rather than being fixed in advance, are reflexively constituted within the act of communication itself".
  • 3.1K
  • 08 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Chaldean Oracles
The Chaldean Oracles are a set of spiritual and philosophical texts widely used by Neoplatonist philosophers from the 3rd to the 6th century C.E. While the original texts have been lost, they have survived in the form of fragments consisting mainly of quotes and commentary by Neoplatonist writers. They were likely to have originally formed a single mystery-poem, which may have been in part compiled, in part received via trance, by Julian the Chaldean, or more likely, his son, Julian the Theurgist in the 2nd century C.E. Later Neoplatonists, such as Iamblichus and Proclus, rated them highly. The 4th-century Emperor Julian (not to be confused with Julian the Chaldean or Julian the Theurgist) suggests in his Hymn to the Magna Mater that he was an initiate of the God of the Seven Rays, and was an adept of its teachings. When Christian Church Fathers or other Late Antiquity writers credit "the Chaldeans", they are probably referring to this tradition. An analysis of the Chaldean Oracles demonstrates an inspiration for contemporary gnostic teachings: fiery emanations initiate from the transcendental First Paternal Intellect, from whom the Second Intellect, the Demiurge comprehends the cosmos as well as himself. Within the First Intellect, a female Power, designated Hecate, is, like Sophia, the mediating World-Soul. At the base of all lies created Matter, made by the Demiurgic Intellect. The matter farthest from the Highest God (First Father / Intellect) was considered a dense shell from which the enlightened soul must emerge, shedding its bodily garments. A combination of ascetic conduct and correct ritual are recommended to free the soul from the confines of matter and limitations, and to defend it against the demonic powers lurking in some of the realms between Gods and mortals.
  • 3.1K
  • 14 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Retinoblastoma Proteins
The Retinoblastoma protein (pRb) is a key cell cycle regulator conserved in a wide variety of organisms. Experimental analysis of pRb’s functions in animals and plants has revealed that this protein participates in cell proliferation and differentiation processes. In addition, pRb in animals and its orthologs in plants (RBR), are part of highly conserved protein complexes which suggest the possibility that analogies exist not only between functions carried out by pRb orthologs themselves, but also in the structure and roles of the protein networks where these proteins are involved.
  • 3.1K
  • 09 Nov 2020
Topic Review
High-density lipoprotein in skin diseases
From an evolutionary perspective, lipoproteins are not only lipid transporters, but they also have important functions in many aspects of immunity. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles are the most abundant lipoproteins and the most heterogeneous in terms of their composition, structure, and biological functions. Despite strong evidence that HDL potently influences the activity of several immune cells, the role of HDL in skin diseases is poorly understood. Alterations in HDL-cholesterol levels have been observed in atopic dermatitis (eczema), psoriasis, urticaria, and angioedema. HDL-associated apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, apoA-IV, and apoC-III, and lyso-phosphatidylcholines potently suppress immune cell effector responses. Interestingly, recent studies provided evidence that skin diseases significantly affect HDL composition, metabolism, and function, which, in turn, could have a significant impact on disease progression, but may also affect the risk of cardiovascular disease and infections. Interestingly, not only a loss in function, but also, sometimes, a gain in function of certain HDL properties is observed.
  • 3.1K
  • 15 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Diospyros kaki L. (Persimmon)
Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) is a member of the Ebenaceae family and is a very popular and important fruit in East Asian countries, being widely produced in China, South Korea, and Japan. The name “persimmon” (Diospyros) originates from the Greek dióspuron, which means “food of Zeus”, while “kaki” comes from the Japanese kaki (柿).
  • 3.1K
  • 08 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Students' Union
A students' union, student government, free student union, student senate, students' association, guild of students, or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges, universities, and high schools. In higher education, the students' union is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social, organizational activities, representation, and academic support of the membership. In the United States, student union often only refers to a physical building owned by the university with the purpose of providing services for students without a governing body. This building is also referred to as a student activity center, although the Association of College Unions International (largely US-based) has hundreds of campus organizational members. Outside the US, student union and students' union refer to a representative body, as distinct from a student activity centre.
  • 3.1K
  • 01 Dec 2022
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Negative Influence of Social Media on Children’s Diets: A Systematic Review
The widespread use of social media among children has raised concerns about its impact on their dietary habits and health. This systematic review investigates the negative effects of social media on children’s diets to inform evidence-based interventions and policies. A search of peer-reviewed studies from 2020 to 2024 was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies involving children aged 5–18 and examining social media’s influence on diet were included. Two independent reviewers screened the studies, and data extraction and quality assessment were done using standardized methods. Of 945 identified studies, 25 met the inclusion criteria. The key themes included (1) exposure to unhealthy food advertisements, (2) peer influence promoting energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, (3) distorted body image perceptions leading to unhealthy eating, and (4) reduced mealtime quality due to social media distractions. Stronger associations were observed for marketing exposure and peer influence on food choices. The review highlights social media’s negative effects on children’s diets, emphasizing the need for interventions, stricter food marketing regulations, and educational programs to enhance media literacy. Future research should explore the long-term impacts and protective factors to guide policies for creating healthier digital environments for children.
  • 3.1K
  • 22 Nov 2024
Topic Review
Natural products as Ras inhibitors
RAS genes encode signaling proteins, which, in mammalian cells, act as molecular switches regulating critical cellular processes as proliferation, growth, differentiation, survival, motility, and metabolism in response to specific stimuli. Deregulation of Ras functions has a high impact on human health: gain-of-function point mutations in RAS genes are found in some developmental disorders and thirty percent of all human cancers, including the deadliest. For this reason, the pathogenic Ras variants represent important clinical targets against which to develop novel, effective, and possibly selective pharmacological inhibitors.  Few druggable sites have been identified for wild type and some oncogenic Ras mutants, and few natural compounds able to attenuate Ras signaling have been identified so far. Natural products represent a virtually unlimited resource of structurally different compounds from which one could draw on for this purpose, given the improvements in the isolation and screening of active molecules from complex sources, which can now be exploited for the selection of potential Ras inhibitors from natural sources. 
  • 3.1K
  • 09 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding, also known as nursing, is the feeding of babies and young children with milk from a woman's breast. Health professionals recommend that breastfeeding begin within the first hour of a baby's life and continue as often and as much as the baby wants. During the first few weeks of life babies may nurse roughly every two to three hours and the duration of a feeding is usually ten to fifteen minutes on each breast. Older children feed less often. Mothers may pump milk so that it can be used later when breastfeeding is not possible. Breastfeeding has a number of benefits to both mother and baby, which infant formula lacks. Deaths of an estimated 820,000 children under the age of five could be prevented globally every year with increased breastfeeding. Breastfeeding decreases the risk of respiratory tract infections and diarrhea, both in developing and developed countries. Other benefits include lower risks of asthma, food allergies, type 1 diabetes, and leukemia. Breastfeeding may also improve cognitive development and decrease the risk of obesity in adulthood. Mothers may feel pressure to breastfeed, but in the developed world children generally grow up normally when bottle fed. Benefits for the mother include less blood loss following delivery, better uterus shrinkage, and less postpartum depression. Breastfeeding delays the return of menstruation and fertility, a phenomenon known as lactational amenorrhea. Long term benefits for the mother include decreased risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Breastfeeding is less expensive than infant formula. Health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), recommend breastfeeding exclusively for six months. This means that no other foods or drinks other than possibly vitamin D are typically given. After the introduction of foods at six months of age, recommendations include continued breastfeeding until one to two years of age or more. Globally about 38% of infants are only breastfed during their first six months of life. In the United States, about 75% of women begin breastfeeding and about 13% only breastfeed until the age of six months. Medical conditions that do not allow breastfeeding are rare. Mothers who take certain recreational drugs and medications should not breastfeed. Smoking, limited amounts of alcohol, or coffee are not reasons to avoid breastfeeding.
  • 3.1K
  • 11 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Multivariate Mutual Information
In information theory there have been various attempts over the years to extend the definition of mutual information to more than two random variables. The expression and study of multivariate higher-degree mutual-information was achieved in two seemingly independent works: McGill (1954) who called these functions “interaction information”, and Hu Kuo Ting (1962) who also first proved the possible negativity of mutual-information for degrees higher than 2 and justified algebraically the intuitive correspondence to Venn diagrams .
  • 3.1K
  • 18 Oct 2022
Topic Review
BSD Licenses
BSD licenses are a family of permissive free software licenses, imposing minimal restrictions on the use and distribution of covered software. This is in contrast to copyleft licenses, which have share-alike requirements. The original BSD license was used for its namesake, the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD), a Unix-like operating system. The original version has since been revised, and its descendants are referred to as modified BSD licenses. BSD is both a license and a class of license (generally referred to as BSD-like). The modified BSD license (in wide use today) is very similar to the license originally used for the BSD version of Unix. The BSD license is a simple license that merely requires that all code retain the BSD license notice if redistributed in source code format, or reproduce the notice if redistributed in binary format. The BSD license (unlike some other licenses e.g. GPL) does not require that source code be distributed at all.
  • 3.1K
  • 16 Nov 2022
Topic Review
The Complement System in the Central Nervous System
The functions of the complement system to both innate and adaptive immunity through opsonization, cell lysis, and inflammatory activities are well known. In contrast, the role of complement in the central nervous system (CNS) which extends beyond immunity, is only beginning to be recognized as important to neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. In addition to protecting the brain against invasive pathogens, appropriate activation of the complement system is pivotal to the maintenance of normal brain function.
  • 3.1K
  • 28 Mar 2022
Topic Review
CD33 Expression
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the most frequent acute leukemia in adults, has been historically treated with infusional cytarabine (ara-c) + daunorubicin (3 + 7) for at least 40 years. The first “target therapy” to be introduced was the monoclonal anti-CD33 gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) in 2004.
  • 3.1K
  • 29 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizers on Rhizobium
Nitrogen fixation has the potential to address the global protein shortage by increasing nitrogen supply in agriculture. However, the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers has led to environmental consequences and high energy consumption. To promote sustainable agriculture, alternative approaches such as biofertilizers that utilize biological nitrogen fixation have been introduced to minimize ecological impact. Understanding the process of biological nitrogen fixation, where certain bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, is crucial for sustainable agriculture. This knowledge helps reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers and maintain soil fertility. The symbiotic relationship between Rhizobium bacteria and leguminous plants plays a vital role in sustainable agriculture by facilitating access to atmospheric nitrogen, improving soil fertility, and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.
  • 3.1K
  • 19 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Plasticizers on Alginate-Based Films
There has been a growing attempt to manipulate various properties of biodegradable materials to use them as alternatives to their synthetic plastic counterparts. Alginate is a polysaccharide extracted from seaweed or soil bacteria that is considered one of the most promising materials for numerous applications. 
  • 3.1K
  • 28 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Biodegradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a widely used plastic that is polymerized by terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG).
  • 3.1K
  • 30 Dec 2021
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Recent Advances in Research on Molecular Mechanisms of Fungal Signaling
Biochemical signaling is one of the key mechanisms to coordinate a living organism in all aspects of its life. It is still enigmatic how exactly cells and organisms deal with environmental signals and irritations precisely because of the limited number of signaling proteins and a multitude of transitions inside and outside the cell. Many components of signaling pathways are functionally pleiotropic, which means they have several functions. A single stimulus often results in multiple responses, a distinct response can be triggered by numerous stimuli and signals initiated by different stimuli are often transduced via commonly used network components. This review sheds light on the most important molecular mechanisms of cellular signaling in fungi and consequently provides a comprehensive overview about the current state of research on the road to understand the impact of signal transduction in eukaryotic microorganisms.
  • 3.1K
  • 23 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Population and Housing Censuses by Country
This is a list of national population and housing censuses.
  • 3.1K
  • 20 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Bon Festival
Obon (お盆) or just Bon (盆) is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist–Confucian custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon Odori. The festival of Obon lasts for three days; however, its starting date varies within different regions of Japan. When the lunar calendar was changed to the Gregorian calendar at the beginning of the Meiji era, the localities in Japan responded differently, which resulted in three different times of Obon. Shichigatsu Bon (Bon in July) is based on the solar calendar and is celebrated around the 15th of July in eastern Japan (Kantō region such as Tokyo, Yokohama and the Tōhoku region), coinciding with Chūgen. Hachigatsu Bon (Bon in August), based on the lunar calendar, is celebrated around the 15th of August and is the most commonly celebrated time. Kyū Bon (Old Bon) is celebrated on the 15th day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar, and so differs each year, which appears between August 8 and September 7. One exception was in 2008 and 2019, when the solar and lunar calendar matched, and so Hachigatsu Bon and Kyū Bon were celebrated on the same day. Kyū Bon is celebrated in areas such as the northern part of the Kantō region, Chūgoku region, Shikoku, and Okinawa Prefecture. These three festival days are not listed as public holidays, but it is customary for people to be given leave.
  • 3.1K
  • 23 Oct 2022
Topic Review
British Airways Ethnic Liveries
In 1997 British Airways (BA) adopted a new livery. One part of this was a newly stylised version of the British Airways "Speedbird" logo, the "Speedmarque", but the major change was the introduction of tail-fin art. Also known as the Utopia or world image tailfins, they used art and designs from international artists and other sources to represent countries on BA's route network. The signature of the artist was carried near the design on the tail. The new corporate logo was created by the London-based design agency Newell & Sorrell, who also oversaw the implementation of the tailfin designs. The German designs refer to the BA subsidiary Deutsche BA, the French designs refer to the BA subsidiary Air Liberté, and the Australian designs refer to BA's alliance with Qantas.
  • 3.1K
  • 11 Nov 2022
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