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Topic Review
Buck-Boost DC-DC Converters for Fuel Cell Applications
The use of fuel cells in DC microgrids has been receiving a lot of attention from researchers and industry since both technologies can deliver clean energy with little to no environmental impact. To effectively integrate fuel cells in DC microgrids, a power converter that can equate the fuel cell’s voltage with the DC microgrid’s reference voltage is required. Based on the typical output voltages of fuel cells, buck-boost topologies are commonly used in this type of application. This work compiles, compares and describes different DC-DC buck-boost topologies that have been introduced in the literature over the past few years. 
  • 2.3K
  • 14 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Applications of Heat Exchanger in Solar Desalination
Solar desalination is a process to convert saline water into potable water by the application of solar energy. The enhancement of the distillate output of the solar desalination is low, so it is not considered as a method to produce potable water. A heat exchanger is an important device used for heat transfer applications.
  • 2.3K
  • 31 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Gut-Derived Protein-Bound Uremic Toxins
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) afflicts more than 500 million people worldwide and is one of the fastest growing global causes of mortality. When glomerular filtration rate begins to fall, uremic toxins accumulate in the serum and significantly increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and other causes. Several of the most harmful uremic toxins are produced by the gut microbiota. Furthermore, many such toxins are protein-bound and are therefore recalcitrant to removal by dialysis. We review the derivation and pathological mechanisms of gut-derived, protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUTs). We further outline the emerging relationship between kidney disease and gut dysbiosis, including the bacterial taxa altered, the regulation of microbial uremic toxin-producing genes, and their downstream physiological and neurological consequences. Finally, we discuss gut-targeted therapeutic strategies employed to reduce PBUTs. We conclude that targeting the gut microbiota is a promising approach for the treatment of CKD by blocking the serum accumulation of PBUTs that cannot be eliminated by dialysis.
  • 2.3K
  • 26 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Bengal Fox
The Bengal Fox (Vulpes bengalensis) emerges as a fascinating and resilient member of the carnivore collection, thriving across the Indian subcontinent. This small canid, known for its distinctive appearance and adaptability, navigates diverse landscapes from grasslands to urban environments.
  • 2.3K
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Adherence
In medicine, patient compliance (also adherence, capacitance) describes the degree to which a patient correctly follows medical advice. Most commonly, it refers to medication or drug compliance, but it can also apply to other situations such as medical device use, self care, self-directed exercises, or therapy sessions. Both patient and health-care provider affect compliance, and a positive physician-patient relationship is the most important factor in improving compliance. Access to care plays a role in patient adherence, whereby greater wait times to access care contributing to greater absenteeism. The cost of prescription medication also plays a major role. Compliance can be confused with concordance, which is the process by which a patient and clinician make decisions together about treatment. Worldwide, non-compliance is a major obstacle to the effective delivery of health care. 2003 estimates from the World Health Organization indicated that only about 50% of patients with chronic diseases living in developed countries follow treatment recommendations with particularly low rates of adherence to therapies for asthma, diabetes, and hypertension. Major barriers to compliance are thought to include the complexity of modern medication regimens, poor "health literacy" and not understanding treatment benefits, occurrence of undiscussed side effects, poor treatment satisfaction, cost of prescription medicine, and poor communication or lack of trust between a patient and his or her health-care provider. Efforts to improve compliance have been aimed at simplifying medication packaging, providing effective medication reminders, improving patient education, and limiting the number of medications prescribed simultaneously. Studies show a great variation in terms of characteristics and effects of interventions to improve medicine adherence. It is still unclear how adherence can consistently be improved in order to promote clinically important effects.
  • 2.3K
  • 07 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Metastasis
Metastasis is the process of dissemination of a tumor, whereby cells from the primary site dislodge and find their way to other tissues where secondary tumors establish. Metastasis is the primary cause of death related to cancer. This process warrants changes in original tumoral cells and their microenvironment to establish a metastatic niche. Traditionally, cancer therapy has focused on metastasis prevention by systematic treatments or direct surgical re-sectioning. However, metastasis can still occur. More recently, new therapies direct their attention to targeting cancer stem cells. As they propose, these cells could be the orchestrators of the metastatic niche.
  • 2.3K
  • 28 Jan 2021
Topic Review Video
Humipedon
The soil covers our entire planet and corresponds to the most superficial part of the earth's crust. Exposed to the attack of atmospheric agents and living organisms, the soil is organized in layers recognizable to the naked eye, more organic towards the atmosphere or water (if submerged), more mineral towards the rocky part of the bottom. To facilitate its study, specialists divided the soil into three sections: richer in organisms part -> 1. Humipedon; bottom still in contact with the unaltered rock section -> 3. Lithopedon; in-between, central, mineral part -> 2. Copedon. The present encyclopedia entry describes the variability of the humipedons of planet Earth. They have been subdivided in ecological groups and classified into different humus systems. The aim is to display them and diffuse their knowledge.
  • 2.3K
  • 30 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Energiewende
The Energiewende (pronounced [ʔenɛʁˈɡiːˌvɛndə] (listen); German for '"energy transition"') is the ongoing transition by Germany to a low carbon, environmentally sound, reliable, and affordable energy supply. :4 The new system intends to rely heavily on renewable energy (particularly wind, photovoltaics, and hydroelectricity), energy efficiency, and energy demand management. Most if not all existing coal-fired generation are intended to be retired. Legislative support for the Energiewende was passed in late 2010 and included greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions of 80–95% by 2050 (relative to 1990) and a renewable energy target of 60% by 2050. Germany has already made significant progress on its GHG emissions reduction target prior to the introduction of the program, achieving a 27% decrease between 1990 and 2014. However the country would need to maintain an average GHG emissions abatement rate of 3.5% per year to reach its Energiewende goal, equal to the maximum historical value thus far. A controversial part of the program was the phasing out Germany's fleet of nuclear reactors, to be complete by 2022 with the aim of reaching a 100% renewable energy system and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector. While the nuclear plants shutdown was mostly completed, they however were largely replaced by fossil gas and coal and most of the 2020 goals of the program were failed. A study found that if Germany had postponed the nuclear phase out and phased out coal first it could have saved 1,100 lives and $12 billion in social costs per year. Another article claims that Germany could have already phased out fossil fuels if it had chosen to invest in nuclear instead of renewable energy.
  • 2.3K
  • 31 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Conservation (Ethic)
Conservation's goals include protecting species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitats, enhancing ecosystem services and protecting biological diversity. A range of values underlie conservation, which can be guided by biocentrism, anthropocentrism, ecocentrism and sentientism. There has recently been a movement towards evidence-based conservation which calls for greater use of scientific evidence to improve the effectiveness of conservation efforts.
  • 2.3K
  • 27 Apr 2023
Topic Review
22 Short Films About Springfield
Template:Infobox Simpsons episode "22 Short Films About Springfield" is the twenty-first episode of The Simpsons' seventh season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 14, 1996. It was written by Richard Appel, David S. Cohen, Jonathan Collier, Jennifer Crittenden, Greg Daniels, Brent Forrester, Dan Greaney, Rachel Pulido, Steve Tompkins, Josh Weinstein, Bill Oakley, and Matt Groening, with the writing being supervised by Daniels. The episode was directed by Jim Reardon. Phil Hartman guest starred as Lionel Hutz and the hospital board chairman. The episode depicts brief incidents experienced by a wide array of Springfield residents in a series of interconnected stories that take place over a single day. The episode's concept originated from the end segment of the season four episode "The Front", and serves as a loose parody of Pulp Fiction, which gave the staff the idea of a possible spin-off from The Simpsons. The title is a reference to the film Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould. The episode received positive reviews from critics, and is noted for its popularity among fans.
  • 2.3K
  • 16 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Solid Waste Management in Togo
Waste and resource management in Togo is expected to become more difficult due to increasing socioeconomic development, industrialization, and renewable energy investments. Although there are numerous elements that affect waste and resource management, legislation and policy frameworks are essential.
  • 2.3K
  • 21 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Ketoacid Analogues Supplementation in CKD
Diet is a key component of care during chronic kidney disease (CKD). In order to reduce the risk of nutritional disorders in very-low protein diets (VLDP), supplementation by nitrogen-free ketoacid analogues (KAs) have been proposed.
  • 2.3K
  • 06 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Team Composition and Cohesion in Spaceflight Missions
Selection, training, cohesion and psychosocial adaptation influence performance and, as such, are relevant factors to consider while preparing for costly, long-duration[clarification needed] spaceflight missions in which the performance objectives will be demanding, endurance will be tested and success will be critical. During the selection of crew members, throughout their training and during their psychosocial adaptation to the mission environment, there are several opportunities to encourage optimal performance and, in turn, minimize the risk of failure.
  • 2.3K
  • 22 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Portal Vein Embolization of Indications and Contraindications
Preoperative portal vein embolization (PVE) via the purposeful occlusion of select portal vein branches to promote contralateral hepatic lobar hypertrophy has become the accepted standard for liver regeneration. Advances in embolic materials, selection of treatment approaches, and PVE with hepatic venous deprivation or concurrent transcatheter arterial embolization/radioembolization are all active areas of research. The primary indication for pre-operative PVE is centered on the inability of the pre-embolization future liver remnant (FLR) to support whole liver function post-resection. Contraindications to PVE are severe portal hypertension, uncontrollable intrahepatic portal-to-hepatic vein shunts, tumor thrombus in the portal vein, and occlusion of the portal vein in the FLR.
  • 2.3K
  • 14 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Nanoencapsulation of Essential Oils
Essential oils (EOs) are complex mixtures of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds that originate from different plant tissues, including flowers, buds, leaves and bark. According to their chemical composition, EOs have a characteristic aroma and present a wide spectrum of applications. However, EOs are unstable and easily degradable if not protected from external factors such as oxidation, heat and light. Therefore, there is growing interest in the encapsulation of EOs, since polymeric nanocarriers serve as a barrier between the oil and the environment. In this context, nanoencapsulation seems to be an interesting approach as it not only prevents the exposure and degradation of EOs and their bioactive constituents by creating a physical barrier, but it also facilitates their controlled release, thus resulting in greater bioavailability and efficiency.
  • 2.3K
  • 20 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Beech Marten
The Beech Marten (Martes foina) is a slender and agile carnivore native to Europe and parts of Asia. With its distinctive cream-colored throat patch and bushy tail, this medium-sized mustelid is known for its adaptability to various habitats, including forests, woodlands, and urban areas. As a versatile predator, the Beech Marten preys on a variety of small mammals, birds, insects, and fruits, playing a vital role in ecosystem dynamics across its range.
  • 2.3K
  • 15 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Chitin and Chitosan
Chitin and its derivative chitosan are highly abundant polymers in nature, appearing in both the shells and exoskeletons of various marine and non-marine species. Since they possess favorable properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and non-immunogenicity, they have gained recent attention due to their enormous potential biomedical applications. The polycationic surface of chitosan enables it to form hydrogenic and ionic bonds with drug molecules, which is one of its most useful properties. Because chitosan is biocompatible, it can therefore be used in drug delivery systems. The development of chitosan-based nanoparticles has also contributed to the significance of chitin as a drug delivery system that can deliver drugs topically. Furthermore, chitin can be used in cancer treatment as a vehicle for delivering cancer drugs to a specific site and has an antiproliferative effect by reducing the viability of cells. Finally, chitosan can be used as a wound dressing in order to promote the faster regeneration of skin epithelial cells and collagen production by fibroblasts.
  • 2.3K
  • 01 Aug 2022
Topic Review
European Hand Fans in the 18th Century
Hand fans first arrived in Europe in the 15th century from Asia and became popular in the 16th century. Several fan styles were common and a plethora of materials were used to create them. Subject matter varied greatly, from Biblical scenes to landscapes. Hand fans serve as a cooling mechanism, social instrument, and fashion accessory.
  • 2.3K
  • 30 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Polyphenols and Health
Polyphenols as one of the most abundant classes of bioactive compounds present in plant-based foods emerge as a promising approach for the development of efficacious preventive agents against NCDs with reduced side effects. 
  • 2.3K
  • 11 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Chelating Ability of Plant Polyphenols
Many studies have widely examined the effects of dietary polyphenols on human health. Polyphenols are well known for their antioxidant properties and for their chelating abilities, by which they can be potentially employed in cases of pathological conditions, such as iron overload. The iron-binding abilities of dietary polyphenols can be important in inflammatory/immunomodulatory responses, especially involving macrophages and dendritic cells, and they also might contribute to reshape the gut microbiota into a healthy profile. As the axes “polyphenol–iron metabolism–inflammatory responses” and “polyphenol–iron availability–gut microbiota” have not been very well explored so far, there is the need for further investigation to exploit such a potential to prevent or counteract pathological conditions.
  • 2.3K
  • 16 Mar 2023
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