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Topic Review
Transparent Wood Composites
Transparent wood composites are novel wood materials which have up to 90% transparency and some higher mechanical properties than wood itself, made for the first time in 1992. When these materials are made commercially available, a significant benefit is expected due to their inherent biodegradable properties; however, this has the axiomatic disadvantage of being problematic for long-term construction. These materials are significantly more biodegradable than glass and plastics. Transparent wood is also shatterproof. On the other hand, concerns may be relevant due to the use of non-biodegradable plastics for long-lasting purposes such as in buildings. File:Example of Transparent Wood and Light diffusion.webm
  • 1.9K
  • 11 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Soil Microbes in Chernobyl and Fukushima
Compositional changes in soil microbes associated with decreases in abundance and species diversity were reported, especially in heavily contaminated areas of both Chernobyl and Fukushima, which may accompany explosions of radioresistant species. In Chernobyl, the population size of soil microbes remained low for at least 20 years after the accident, and the abundance of plant-associated microbes, which are related to the growth and defense systems of plants, possibly decreased. These reported changes in microbes likely affect soil conditions and alter plant physiology. These microbe-mediated effects may then indirectly affect insect herbivores through food-mass-mediated, pollen-mediated, and metabolite-mediated interactions. Metabolite-mediated interactions may be a major pathway for ecological impacts at low pollution levels and could explain the decreases in insect herbivores in Fukushima.
  • 1.9K
  • 20 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Assays for Pertussis Toxin
One of the main virulence factors produced by Bordetella pertussis is pertussis toxin (PTx) which, in its inactivated form, is the major component of all marketed acellular pertussis vaccines. PTx ADP ribosylates Gαi proteins, thereby affecting the inhibition of adenylate cyclases and resulting in the accumulation of cAMP. Apart from this classical model, PTx also activates some receptors and can affect various ADP ribosylation- and adenylate cyclase-independent signalling pathways. Due to its potent ADP-ribosylation properties, PTx has been used in many research areas. Initially the research primarily focussed on the in vivo effects of the toxin, including histamine sensitization, insulin secretion and leukocytosis. Nowadays, PTx is also used in toxicology research, cell signalling, research involving the blood–brain barrier, and testing of neutralizing antibodies. However, the most important area of use is testing of acellular pertussis vaccines for the presence of residual PTx. In vivo models and in vitro assays for PTx often reflect one of the toxin’s properties or details of its mechanism.
  • 1.9K
  • 16 Aug 2021
Topic Review
DNA Damage Response in Autoimmunity
The DNA damage response and repair (DDR/R) network, a sum of hierarchically structured signaling pathways that recognize and repair DNA damage, and the immune response to endogenous and/or exogenous threats, act synergistically to enhance cellular defence. On the other hand, a deregulated interplay between these systems underlines inflammatory diseases including malignancies and chronic systemic autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Recent data demonstrate accumulation of endogenous DNA damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from these patients, which is related to augmented formation of DNA damage and epigenetically regulated functional abnormalities of fundamental DNA repair mechanisms. Since endogenous DNA damage accumulation has serious consequences for cellular health, including genomic instability and enhancement of an aberrant immune response, these results can be exploited for understanding pathogenesis and progression of systemic autoimmune diseases, as well as for the development of new treatments.
  • 1.9K
  • 03 Nov 2020
Topic Review
External Costs of Inland Transport
Sustainable transport, such as using inland waterway transport (IWT), represents a major pillar of the European Green Deal to reduce global warming. To evaluate the different inland transport modes (road, rail, IWT), it is crucial to know the external costs of these modes.
  • 1.9K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are key components of the epigenetic machinery controlling gene expression. They are involved in chromatin remodeling events via post-translational histone modifications but may also act on nonhistone proteins, influencing many fundamental cellular processes. Due to the key involvement of HDACs in serious human pathologies, including cancer, HDAC inhibitors (HDACis) have received increased attention in recent years. It is known that marine invertebrates produce significant amounts of secondary metabolites showing active pharmacological properties and an extensive spectrum of biomedical applications. Some of these compounds possess HDACi properties.
  • 1.9K
  • 11 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Diarylureas
The diarylurea is a scaffold of great importance in medicinal chemistry as it is present in numerous heterocyclic compounds with antithrombotic, antimalarial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • 1.9K
  • 25 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Edible Insect-Based Foods in Europe
All over the world, a large proportion of the population consume insects as part of their diet. In Western countries, however, the consumption of insects is perceived as a negative phenomenon. The consumption of insects worldwide can be considered in two ways: on the one hand, as a source of protein in countries affected by hunger, while, on the other, as an alternative protein in highly-developed regions, in response to the need for implementing policies of sustainable development. This entry focused on both the regulations concerning the production and marketing of insects in Europe and the characteristics of edible insects that are most likely to establish a presence on the European market. The paper indicates numerous advantages of the consumption of insects, not only as a valuable source of protein but also as a raw material rich in valuable fatty acids, vitamins, and mineral salts.
  • 1.9K
  • 21 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Recent Advances in Membrane Distillation Module Configurations
Membrane Distillation (MD) is a membrane-based, temperature-driven water reclamation process. While research emphasis has been largely on membrane design, upscaling of MD has prompted advancements in energy-efficient module design and configurations. Apart from the four conventional configurations, researchers have come up with novel MD membrane module designs and configurations to improve thermal efficiency. While membrane design has been the focus of many studies, development of appropriate system configurations for optimal energy efficiency for each application has received considerable attention, and is a critical aspect in advancing MD configurations. This review assesses advancements in modified and novel MD configurations design with emphasis on the effects of upscaling and pilot scale studies. Improved MD configurations discussed in this review are the material gap MD, conductive gap MD, permeate gap MD, vacuum-enhanced AGMD/DCMD, submerged MD, flashed-feed MD, dead-end MD, and vacuum-enhanced multi-effect MD. All of these modified MD configurations are designed either to reduce the heat loss by mitigating the temperature polarization or to improve the mass transfer and permeate flux. Vacuum-enhanced MD processes and MD process with non-contact feed solution show promise at the lab-scale and must be further investigated. Hollow fiber membrane-based pilot scale modules have not yet been sufficiently explored. In addition, comparison of various configurations is prevented by a lack of standardized testing conditions. We also reflect on recent pilot scale studies, ongoing hurdles in commercialization, niche applications and energy efficiency of the MD process.
  • 1.9K
  • 28 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Forest Raven
The forest raven (Corvus tasmanicus), also commonly known as the Tasmanian raven, is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae native to Tasmania and parts of southern Victoria, such as Wilsons Promontory and Portland. Populations are also found in parts of New South Wales, including Dorrigo and Armidale. Measuring 50–53 cm (20–21 in) in length, it has all-black plumage, beak and legs. As with the other two species of raven in Australia , its black feathers have grey bases. Adults have white irises; younger birds have dark brown and then hazel irises with an inner blue rim. New South Wales populations are recognised as a separate subspecies C. tasmanicus boreus, but appear to be nested within the Tasmanian subspecies genetically. The forest raven lives in a wide variety of habitats in Tasmania but is restricted to more closed forest on mainland Australia. Breeding takes place in spring and summer, occurring later in Tasmania than in New South Wales. The nest is a bowl-shaped structure of sticks sited high in a tree. An omnivorous and opportunistic feeder, it eats a wide variety of plant and animal material, as well as food waste from urban areas and roadkill. It has been blamed for killing lambs and poultry and raiding orchards in Tasmania, and is unprotected under Tasmanian legislation. The forest raven is sedentary, with pairs generally bonding for life and establishing permanent territories.
  • 1.9K
  • 24 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Application of Nanosheets in Nanomedicine
The term “nanosheets” has been coined recently to describe supported and free-standing “ultrathin film” materials, with thicknesses ranging from a single atomic layer to a few tens of nanometers. Owing to their physicochemical properties and their large surface area with abundant accessible active sites, nanosheets (NSHs) of inorganic materials such as Au, amorphous carbon, graphene, and boron nitride (BN) are considered ideal building blocks or scaffolds for a wide range of applications encompassing electronic and optical devices, membranes, drug delivery systems, and multimodal contrast agents, among others. In the specific case of nanomaterials applied to medicine (nanomedicine), this multidisciplinary field has captured the interest of researchers and engineers from different disciplines.
  • 1.9K
  • 08 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Propolis
The use of alternative medicine products has increased tremendously in recent decades and it is estimated that approximately 80% of patients globally depend on them for some part of their primary health care. Propolis is a beekeeping product widely used in alternative medicine. It is a natural resinous product that bees collect from various plants and mix with beeswax and salivary enzymes and comprises a complex mixture of compounds. Various biomedical properties of propolis have been studied and reported in infectious and non-infectious diseases. However, the pharmacological activity and chemical composition of propolis is highly variable depending on its geographical origin, so it is important to describe and study the biomedical properties of propolis from different geographic regions. A number of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer, are the leading causes of global mortality, generating significant economic losses in many countries.
  • 1.9K
  • 18 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Vibrational Spectroscopy
Vibrational spectroscopy, as a label-free, non-invasive and non-destructive analytical technique, is a valuable technique which can provide detailed biochemical fingerprint information, based on the structure of the molecular constituents, for analysis of cells, tissues, and body fluids.
  • 1.9K
  • 05 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Helicobacter pylori Infection, Pathogenicity, and Therapeutic Advances
A primer on Helicobacter pylori virulence factors, pathogenicity, gastric conditions that are caused by infection, and treatment modalities.
  • 1.9K
  • 22 Jan 2025
Topic Review
Therapeutic Targeting of Intestinal Fibrosis in Crohn’s Disease
Intestinal fibrosis is one of the most threatening complications of Crohn’s disease. Endoscopic and surgical approaches are currently the only options available and there is an urgent need for targeted anti-fibrotic therapy. Several molecules investigated in preclinical studies, which are awaiting clinical trials in humans, have proven effective in CD stricturing phenotype and may be available in the near future as additional weapons in preventing or reversing intestinal fibrosis. 
  • 1.9K
  • 24 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds as Anti-Cancerous Agents
Cancer is one of the major deadly diseases globally. The alarming rise in the mortality rate due to this disease attracks attention towards discovering potent anticancer agents to overcome its mortality rate. Based on their particular activity, a number of other plant-derived bioactive compounds are in the clinical development phase against cancer, such as gimatecan, elomotecan, etc. Additionally, the conjugation of natural compounds with anti-cancerous drugs, or some polymeric carriers particularly targeted to epitopes on the site of interest to tumors, can generate effective targeted treatment therapies. 
  • 1.9K
  • 27 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Diffusion Weighted Imaging in Neuro-Oncology
Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is an imaging technique commonly used for the assessment of acute ischemia, inflammatory disorders, and CNS neoplasia. It has several benefits since it is a quick, easily replicable sequence that is widely used on many standard scanners. In addition to its normal clinical purpose, DWI offers crucial functional and physiological information regarding brain neoplasia and the surrounding milieu.
  • 1.9K
  • 24 Apr 2023
Topic Review
The Biological Functions of Glutathione
Glutathione (GSH) is a ubiquitous tripeptide that is biosynthesized in situ at high concentrations (1–5 mM) and involved in the regulation of cellular homeostasis via multiple mechanisms.
  • 1.9K
  • 07 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Distributed Propulsion for Next-Generation Aircraft
Developments in the design of transport aircraft are increasingly focusing on the search for innovative solutions to improve general performance and reduce the environmental impact of flight operations. In this context, specific attention is being devoted to research into non-conventional solutions for the integration of the propulsion system, involving two different interconnected technological threads. From a general point of view, new types of propulsion systems are under investigation, and technologies involving new fuels, such as hydrogen or sustainable aviation fuels, or electric and hybrid-electric powertrains, are under development to provide breakthrough forward advancements in the field. In addition to these important innovations, and in a way that is generally complementary, non-conventional powertrain/airframe integrations are increasingly being investigated since, either as standalone or in combination with previous new power supply concepts, they can contribute to general improvements in aircraft performance, with significant implications for reducing environmental impact. Among the advanced technologies under investigation, it is worth mentioning distributed propulsion, which is gaining much interest, especially in the context of synergistic integration with electric powertrains.
  • 1.9K
  • 01 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Mast Cells
Mast Cells (MCs), from the German mast meaning well-fed, were first described by Paul Ehrlich in 1878 based on the unique color-changing granules within these cells. In fact, MCs are easily recognizable with characteristic toluidine blue-positive granules in the cytoplasm. Their granules contain several elements, such as histamine, serotonin, heparin, proteases (chymase, tryptase, carboxypeptidase), cytokines and other growth factors (vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF; fibroblast growth factor-2, FGF-2). Tryptases and chymases are considered MC-specific proteases, but the granules also contain some non-specific enzymes, such as metalloproteinase-9.
  • 1.9K
  • 28 Sep 2021
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