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Topic Review
Westfailure
In 1999, international relations scholar Susan Strange introduced the term Westfailure in her posthumously published article entitled The Westfailure System. The term Westfailure is a portmanteau (West + failure) and a pun on the term Westphalian system. Commonly used in international politics, the Westphalian system refers to the system of state sovereignty that emerged from treaties signed during the 1648 Peace of Westphalia. Strange describes the Westphalian system as one that perpetuates non-intervention, the universal recognition of state sovereignty, and the "legitimate use of violence within a given territory." Put simply, the Westphalian system promotes a system where each individual state has the inalienable authority to govern their own internal affairs (laws, market, resources, etc.) without interference from other states or non-governmental actors. The principal aim of Strange's article is to highlight how this system of international governance is failing and does not "satisfy the long-term conditions of sustainability."
  • 2.8K
  • 30 Nov 2022
Topic Review
The Concept of Sustainability and the Sustainable Pillars
The concept of sustainability or sustainable development is based on the German word “Nachhaltigkeit”, which was defined in the book Sylvicultura Oeconomica, by von Carlowitz. Implementing sustainability can be traced back to the year 1713, when it was used in relation to the forest industry, along with an implemented discussion of whether a forest can recover from humans’ wood consumption.
  • 2.8K
  • 29 May 2023
Topic Review
Factors Affecting Quality in Construction
Achieving a high level of quality in a residential building, characterized by the highest level of performance features, is crucial for the client and all participants in the investment process. The identification of negative factors that occur in the investment process, and the assessment of their impact on the quality of the facility, provide important knowledge that gives the basis for controlling the course of the process.
  • 2.8K
  • 17 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Bioengineering Support in Low Back Pain
Low back pain (LBP) remains one of the most prevalent and disabling musculoskeletal conditions globally, with profound social, economic, and healthcare implications. The rising incidence and chronic nature of LBP highlight the need for more objective, personalized, and effective approaches to assessment and rehabilitation. In this context, bioengineering has emerged as a transformative field, offering novel tools and methodologies that enhance the understanding and management of LBP. This narrative review examines current bioengineering applications in both diagnostic and therapeutic domains. For assessment, technologies such as wearable inertial sensors, three-dimensional motion capture systems, surface electromyography, and biomechanical modeling provide real-time, quantitative insights into posture, movement patterns, and muscle activity. On the therapeutic front, innovations including robotic exoskeletons, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, virtual reality-based rehabilitation, and tele-rehabilitation platforms are increasingly being integrated into multimodal treatment protocols. These technologies support precision medicine by tailoring interventions to each patient’s biomechanical and functional profile. Furthermore, the incorporation of artificial intelligence into clinical workflows enables automated data analysis, predictive modeling, and decision support systems, while future directions such as digital twin technology hold promise for personalized simulation and outcome forecasting. While these advancements are promising, further validation in large-scale, real-world settings is required to ensure safety, efficacy, and equitable accessibility. Ultimately, bioengineering provides a multidimensional, data-driven framework that has the potential to significantly improve the assessment, rehabilitation, and overall management of LBP.
  • 2.8K
  • 25 Sep 2025
Topic Review
Nickel(II) Precatalysts
Nickel(II) precatalysts are a type of catalyst used in organic reactions. Many transformations are catalyzed by nickel in organometallic chemistry and in organic synthesis. Many of these transformations invoke a low valent (generally Ni(0)) species as the active catalyst. Unfortunately, unlike its counterpart, Pd(0), Ni(0) catalysts are predominantly confined to the glovebox due to their high instability to air and water, with the most common Ni(0) catalyst being Ni(cod)2. Additionally, Ni(cod)2 is more expensive than many Ni(II) salts and the quality varies significantly amongst suppliers. To make nickel catalysis more accessible and amenable to synthesis and industrial purposes, the use of air-stable Ni(II) precursors has emerged as an important development in this area of research. This page describes the more commonly employed nickel(II) precatalysts, their synthesis for those not commercially available, and the methods for their reduction to Ni(0) complexes.
  • 2.8K
  • 08 Nov 2022
Topic Review
MXene: Recent Advances in Applications
This entry covers major breakthroughs of MXene and applications.
  • 2.8K
  • 28 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Fungi on Coffee
Coffee is grown in more than 80 countries as a cash crop and consumed worldwide as a beverage and food additive. It is susceptible to fungal infection during growth, processing and storage. Fungal infections, in particular, can seriously affect the quality of coffee and threaten human health.
  • 2.8K
  • 08 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Spix's Macaw
Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), also known as the little blue macaw, is a macaw native to Brazil. It is a member of tribe Arini in the subfamily Arinae (Neotropical parrots), part of the family Psittacidae (the true parrots). It was first described by German naturalist Georg Marcgrave, when he was working in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil in 1638 and it is named for German naturalist Johann Baptist von Spix, who collected a specimen in 1819 on the bank of the Rio São Francisco in northeast Bahia in Brazil. The bird is a medium-size parrot weighing about 300 grams (11 oz), smaller than most of the large macaws. Its plumage is various shades of blue, with a grey-blue head, light blue underparts, and vivid blue upperparts. Males and females are almost identical in appearance, however the females are slightly smaller on average. Currently there are no known survivors of the species outside of captivity. The species inhabited riparian Caraibeira (Tabebuia aurea) woodland galleries in the drainage basin of the Rio São Francisco within the Caatinga dry forest climate of interior northeastern Brazil. It had a very restricted natural habitat due to its dependence on the tree for nesting, feeding and roosting. It feeds primarily on seeds and nuts of Caraiba and various Euphorbiaceae (spurge) shrubs, the dominant vegetation of the Caatinga. Due to deforestation in its limited range and specialized habitat, the bird has been rare in the wild throughout the twentieth century. It has always been very rare in captivity, partly due to the remoteness of its natural range. The IUCN regard the Spix's macaw as extinct in the wild. Its last known stronghold in the wild was in northeastern Bahia, Brazil and sightings are very rare. After a 2000 sighting of a male bird, the next and last sighting was in 2016. The species is now maintained through a captive breeding program at several conservation organizations under the aegis of the Brazilian government. It is listed on CITES Appendix I, which makes trade illegal except for legitimate conservation, scientific or educational purposes. The Brazilian Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) is conducting a project Ararinha-Azul with an associated plan to restore the species to the wild as soon as sufficient breeding birds and restored habitat are available.
  • 2.8K
  • 03 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Galactomyces ferment filtrate (GFF) is such a functional ingredient. Its use originated from the empirical observation that the hands of sake brewers who deal with yeast fermentation retain a beautiful and youthful appearance. Consequently, skincare products based on GFF are widely used throughout the world.
  • 2.8K
  • 15 Nov 2022
Topic Review
BBM
BBM, also known by its full name BlackBerry Messenger, was a proprietary mobile instant messenger and videotelephony application included on BlackBerry devices that allows messaging and voice calls between BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile users. The consumer edition for iOS and Android, BBM Consumer, was developed by Indonesian company Emtek under licence from BlackBerry Limited (formerly known as Research In Motion). The consumer edition for BlackBerry OS and BlackBerry 10, as well as the paid enterprise edition, called BBM Enterprise (BBMe, formerly known as BBM Protected), were developed fully by BlackBerry Limited and continue to function. BBM Consumer for Android and iOS was shut down on 31 May 2019, however the paid enterprise version of the software, BBMe, is still supported on these platforms. Messages sent via BBM were sent over the Internet and used the BlackBerry PIN system. In the past, many service providers allowed sign-in to BBM using a dedicated BlackBerry data plan. Exchanging messages was possible to a single person or via dedicated discussion or chat groups, which allowed multiple BlackBerry devices to communicate in a single session. In addition to offering text-based instant messages, BBM also allowed users to send pictures, voicenotes (audio recordings), files (up to 16 MB), share real time location on a map, stickers and a wide selection of emojis. Communication was possible only among BlackBerry devices, until late 2013 when BBM was released on iOS and Android systems. Over 300 million Stickers were shared. Daily, approximately 150,000 BBM Voice Calls were placed. There were more than 190 million BBM users worldwide as of 2015, and BlackBerry infrastructure handled 30 petabytes of data traffic each month by early 2013. BBM was the original "mobile-first" messaging service, and was popular for a while before it started to lose out to rivals. As of April 2016, Indonesia was the only country where BBM was the most popular messaging app – installed on 87.5% of Android devices in the country.
  • 2.8K
  • 24 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Distribution Channel Selection
The selection of the appropriate distribution channel is crucial for the success of any business dealing with physical goods. When dealing with this selection, it is crucial to have an effective decision support system (DSS) that can assist with such decisions. 
  • 2.8K
  • 15 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Lion
The lion (Panthera leo) is a majestic carnivorous mammal renowned for its strength, beauty, and social structure. Found primarily in savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands across sub-Saharan Africa and a small population in the Gir Forest of India, lions are iconic symbols of power and pride. With their distinctive golden coats, impressive manes (in males), and formidable hunting prowess, lions hold a prominent place in the collective imagination and ecological balance of their habitats.
  • 2.8K
  • 08 Mar 2024
Biography
Hugh Herr
Hugh Herr (born October 25, 1964) is an American rock climber, engineer, and biophysicist. The youngest of five siblings of a Mennonite family from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Hugh Herr was a prodigy rock climber: by age eight, he had scaled the face of the 11,627-foot (3,544 m) Mount Temple in the Canadian Rockies, and by 17 he was acknowledged to be one of the best climbers in the United Stat
  • 2.8K
  • 10 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Glucose 6-P Dehydrogenase in Skeletal Muscle during Exercise
Hypomorphic Glucose 6-P dehydrogenase (G6PD) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), which provides the precursors of nucleotide synthesis for DNA replication as well as reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). NADPH is involved in the detoxification of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and de novo lipid synthesis. An association between increased PPP activity and the stimulation of cell growth has been reported in different tissues including the skeletal muscle, liver, and kidney. PPP activity is increased in skeletal muscle during embryogenesis, denervation, ischemia, mechanical overload, the injection of myonecrotic agents, and physical exercise. In fact, the highest relative increase in the activity of skeletal muscle enzymes after one bout of exhaustive exercise is that of G6PD, suggesting that the activation of the PPP occurs in skeletal muscle to provide substrates for muscle repair. The age-associated loss in muscle mass and strength leads to a decrease in G6PD activity and protein content in skeletal muscle. G6PD overexpression in Drosophila Melanogaster and mice protects against metabolic stress, oxidative damage, and age-associated functional decline, and results in an extended median lifespan. 
  • 2.8K
  • 02 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Pathophysiology of Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancerous condition that affects hemopoietic stem cells or progenitors and is defined by the stopping of myeloid lineage development and abnormal proliferation.
  • 2.8K
  • 30 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Socio-Economic Assessment of Natural Fibers
Natural fibers, which are renewable and ecologically acceptable sources of raw materials for producing environmentally friendly products, have played a significant part in human civilization. Natural fibers are desirable bio-sourced materials as an alternative to non-sustainable glass and carbon fiber reinforced composites owing to their availability and technical viability. Natural fibers have been successfully applied to a wide range of applications, for instance, furniture, automotive, electronic industries, and building construction.
  • 2.8K
  • 17 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Practical Methods for Liver Biology
Molecular and cellular research modalities for the study of liver pathologies have been tremendously improved over the recent decades. Advanced technologies offer novel opportunities to establish cell isolation techniques with excellent purity, paving the path for 2D and 3D microscopy and high-throughput assays (e.g., bulk or single-cell RNA sequencing). The use of stem cell and organoid research will help to decipher the pathophysiology of liver diseases and the interaction between various parenchymal and non-parenchymal liver cells. Furthermore, sophisticated animal models of liver disease allow for the in vivo assessment of fibrogenesis, portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and for the preclinical testing of therapeutic strategies.
  • 2.8K
  • 01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
1769 Transit of Venus Observed from Tahiti
On June 3, 1769, British navigator Captain James Cook, British naturalist Joseph Banks, British astronomer Charles Green and Swedish naturalist Daniel Solander recorded the transit of Venus on the island of Tahiti during Cook's first voyage around the world. During a transit, Venus appears as a small black disc travelling across the Sun. This unusual astronomical phenomenon takes place in a pattern that repeats itself every 243 years. It includes two transits that are eight years apart, separated by breaks of 121.5 and 105.5 years. These men, along with a crew of scientists, were commissioned by the Royal Society of London for the primary purpose of viewing the transit of Venus. Not only would their findings help expand scientific knowledge, it would help with navigation by accurately calculating the observer's longitude. At this time, longitude was difficult to determine and not always precise. A "secret" mission that followed the transit included the exploration of the South Pacific to find the legendary Terra Australis Incognita or "unknown land of the South."
  • 2.8K
  • 30 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Short Chronology
The short chronology is one of the chronologies of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728–1686 BC and the sack of Babylon to 1531 BC. The absolute 2nd millennium BC dates resulting from these reference points have very little academic support, and have essentially been disproved by recent dendrochronology research. The middle chronology (reign of Hammurabi 1792–1750 BC) is more commonly accepted in academic literature. For much of the period in question, middle chronology dates can be calculated by adding 64 years to the corresponding short chronology date (e.g. 1728 BC in short chronology corresponds to 1792 in middle chronology). After the so-called "dark age" between the fall of Babylon and the rise of the Kassite dynasty in Babylonia, absolute dating becomes less uncertain. While exact dates are still not agreed upon, the 64-year middle/short chronology gap ceases from the beginning of the Third Babylon Dynasty onward.
  • 2.8K
  • 18 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Self-Assembly Based on DNA Nanotechnology
Using DNA self-assembly, materials can be controlled at the nano scale to achieve atomic- or nano-scaled fabrication. The programmability and addressability of DNA molecules can be applied to realize the self-assembly of materials from the bottom-up, which is called DNA nanotechnology. DNA nanotechnology does not focus on the biological functions of DNA molecules, but combines them into motifs, and then assembles these motifs to form ordered two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) lattices. These lattices can serve as general templates to regulate the assembly of guest materials.
  • 2.8K
  • 18 May 2021
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