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Topic Review
Informing Science
Informing science is a transdiscipline that was established to promote the study of informing processes across a diverse set of academic disciplines, including management information systems, education, business, instructional technology, computer science, communications, psychology, philosophy, library science, information science and many others. Its principal unit of analysis is the informing system, a collection of informers, clients, and channels that has been designed or has evolved to serve a particular informing need. The organization created to advance the informing science transdiscipline is the Informing Science Institute (ISI), whose founder, Eli Cohen, proposed the need for the field in his article "Reconceptualizing Information Systems as a Field of the Transdiscipline Informing Science: From Ugly Duckling to Swan" (Cohen, 1999). The ISI presently hosts an annual conference (Informing Science & Information Technology Education (InSITE)), publishes thirteen academic journals, and—through its Informing Science Press—has published dozens of books. Both its journals and books are open access at no cost online, as well as being available for purchase in print form.
  • 1.7K
  • 30 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Merchants of Doubt
Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming is a 2010 non-fiction book by American historians of science Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway. It identifies parallels between the global warming controversy and earlier controversies over tobacco smoking, acid rain, DDT, and the hole in the ozone layer. Oreskes and Conway write that in each case "keeping the controversy alive" by spreading doubt and confusion after a scientific consensus had been reached was the basic strategy of those opposing action. In particular, they show that Fred Seitz, Fred Singer, and a few other contrarian scientists joined forces with conservative think tanks and private corporations to challenge the scientific consensus on many contemporary issues. Some of the book's subjects have been critical of the book, but most reviewers received it favorably. One reviewer said that Merchants of Doubt is exhaustively researched and documented, and may be one of the most important books of 2010. Another reviewer saw the book as his choice for best science book of the year. It was made into a film, Merchants of Doubt, directed by Robert Kenner, released in 2014.
  • 1.7K
  • 19 Oct 2022
Topic Review
2020 in Politics and Government
Events pertaining to world affairs in 2020, national politics, public policy, government, world economics, and international business, that took place in various nations, regions, organizations, around the world in 2020.
  • 1.7K
  • 30 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Wubi
Wubi ("Windows-based Ubuntu Installer") is a free software Ubuntu installer, that was the official Windows-based software, from 2008 until 2013, to install Ubuntu from within Windows, to a single file within an existing Windows partition. After installation, it added a new "Ubuntu" option to the existing Windows boot menu which allowed the user to choose between running Linux or Windows, and avoided the need to re-partition the disk.
  • 1.7K
  • 21 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Dairy Wastewater Treatment by Membrane Separation Technology
Water pollution caused by population growth and human activities is a critical problem exacerbated by limited freshwater resources and increasing water demands. Various sectors contribute to water pollution, with the dairy industry being a significant contributor due to the high concentrations of harmful contaminants in dairy wastewater. Traditional treatment methods have been employed, but they have limitations in terms of effectiveness, cost, and environmental impact. Membrane separation technology (MST) has emerged as a promising alternative for treating dairy wastewater. Membrane processes offer efficient separation, concentration, and purification of dairy wastewater, with benefits such as reduced process steps, minimal impact on product quality, operational flexibility, and lower energy consumption. However, membrane fouling and concentration polarization present major challenges associated with this technique. Therefore, strategies have been implemented to mitigate these phenomena, including pre-treatment prior to MST, coagulation, and adsorption. 3D printing technology has gained prominence as one of the latest and most notable advancements for addressing these issues.
  • 1.7K
  • 07 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Composition of Lipid–Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are spherical vesicles composed of ionizable lipids that are neutral at physiological pH. Despite their benefits, unmodified LNP drug delivery systems have substantial drawbacks, including a lack of targeted selectivity, a short blood circulation period, and in vivo instability. lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) are the next generation of nanoparticles, having the combined benefits of polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes. LPHNPs are being prepared from both natural and synthetic polymers with various techniques, including one- or two-step methods, emulsification solvent evaporation (ESE) method, and the nanoprecipitation method. Varieties of LPHNPs, including monolithic hybrid nanoparticles, core–shell nanoparticles, hollow core–shell nanoparticles, biomimetic lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles, and polymer-caged liposomes, have been investigated for various drug delivery applications.
  • 1.7K
  • 08 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Forecasting Plant and Crop Disease
Every year, plant diseases cause a significant loss of valuable food crops around the world. The plant and crop disease management practice implemented in order to mitigate damages have changed considerably. Today, through the application of new information and communication technologies, it is possible to predict the onset or change in the severity of diseases using modern big data analysis techniques. In this paper, we present an analysis and classification of research studies conducted over the past decade that forecast the onset of disease at a pre-symptomatic stage (i.e., symptoms not visible to the naked eye) or at an early stage. We examine the specific approaches and methods adopted, pre-processing techniques and data used, performance metrics, and expected results, highlighting the issues encountered. The results of the study reveal that this practice is still in its infancy and that many barriers need to be overcome.
  • 1.7K
  • 01 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Microalgal Genetic Engineering for Bioremediation of Heavy Metals
Molecular tools for genome editing, together with the advent of multi-omics technologies and computational approaches, have permitted the design of tailor-made microalgal cell factories with significantly improved heavy metal bioremediation capacity.
  • 1.7K
  • 15 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Replicative Senescence in Different Types of Stem Cells
Stem cells serve as a source of cellular material in embryogenesis and postnatal growth and regeneration. This requires significant proliferative potential ensured by sufficient telomere length. Telomere attrition in the stem cells and their niche cells can result in the exhaustion of the regenerative potential of high-turnover organs, causing or contributing to the onset of age-related diseases. Telomerase activity is present in most types of adult stem cells, though at substantially lower levels. Such lower levels are sufficient for slowing down telomere shortening and expanding the replicative lifespan  but cannot prevent replicative senescence. In this case, low telomerase expression may provide protection against the malignant transformation of stem cells.
  • 1.7K
  • 13 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Behavioral Intentions of Food Tourists
Food tourism has been growing globally in recent years. Food tourism is considered as special interest tourism, attracting tourists who have a great interest in food. Tourists spend a significant percentage of their budget on the purchase of local food products and related food activities, contributing to the sustainable development of the touristic destination in the process. 
  • 1.7K
  • 16 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase
Endothelial function is largely based on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) function and activity. Likewise, oxidative stress can lead to the loss of eNOS activity or even “uncoupling” of the enzyme by adverse regulation of well-defined “redox switches” in eNOS itself or up-/down-stream signaling molecules. 
  • 1.7K
  • 01 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes is associated with altered metabolism resulting in microvascular and macrovascular diseases and enhanced susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
  • 1.7K
  • 31 Jul 2020
Topic Review
Viral Equine Encephalitis
Neurological disorders represent an important sanitary and economic threat for the equine industry worldwide. Among nervous diseases, viral encephalitis is of growing concern, due to the emergence of arboviruses and to the high contagiosity of herpesvirus-infected horses. The nature, severity and duration of the clinical signs could be different depending on the etiological agent and its virulence. However, definite diagnosis generally requires the implementation of combinations of direct and/or indirect screening assays in specialized laboratories. The equine practitioner, involved in a mission of prevention and surveillance, plays an important role in the clinical diagnosis of viral encephalitis. The general management of the horse is essentially supportive, focused on controlling pain and inflammation within the central nervous system, preventing injuries and providing supportive care. Despite its high medical relevance and economic impact in the equine industry, vaccines are not always available and there is no specific antiviral therapy. In this review, the major virological, clinical and epidemiological features of the main neuropathogenic viruses inducing encephalitis in equids in Europe, including rabies virus (Rhabdoviridae), Equid herpesviruses (Herpesviridae), Borna disease virus (Bornaviridae) and West Nile virus (Flaviviridae), as well as exotic viruses, will be presented.
  • 1.7K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
FNIRS application in Parkinson’s Disease
The management of people affected by neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, requires the adoption of targeted and cost-effective interventions to cope with chronicity. Although therapy adaptation and rehabilitation represent major targets, affordable and reliable neurophysiological correlates of cerebral activity to be used throughout treatment stages are often lacking. The functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) represents a versatile optical neuroimaging technology for investigating cortical hemodynamic activity in the most common chronic neurological conditions, including Parkinson's disease, with the advantages of non-invasiveness and portability which make fNIRS suitable for carrying out multiple measurements in rehabilitation settings.
  • 1.7K
  • 21 Oct 2020
Topic Review
The Discovery and Function of Filaggrin
Keratohyalin granules were discovered in the mid-19th century in cells that terminally differentiate to form the outer, cornified layer of the epidermis.  The first indications of the composition of these structures emerged in the 1960’s from a histochemical stain for histidine, followed by radioauto-graphic evidence for a high incidence of histidine incorporation into newly synthesized proteins in cells containing the granules.  Research during the next three decades revealed the structure and function of the major protein in these granules, which was initially called the ‘histidine-rich pro-tein.’  Steinert and Dale named the protein ‘filaggrin’ in 1981 because of its ability to aggregate keratin intermediate filaments.  The human gene for the precursor ‘profilaggrin’ was reported in 1991 to encode 10, 11 or 12 nearly identical repeats.  Remarkably, the mouse and rat genes encode up to 20 repeats.  The lifetime of filaggrin is the time required for keratinocytes in the granular layer to move into the inner cornified layer.  During this transition, filaggrin facilitates the collapse of corneocytes into an impermeable surface barrier.  The subsequent degradation of filaggrin is as remarkable as its synthesis and the end-products aide in maintaining moisture in the cornified layer.  It became apparent that ichthyosis vulgaris and atopic dermatitis were associated with the absence of this protein.  McLean’s team in 2006 identified the cause of these diseases by discov-ering loss-of-function mutations in the profilaggrin gene that led to dysfunction of the epidermal surface barrier.  This story illustrates the complexity in maintaining a healthy, functional surface barrier.
  • 1.7K
  • 07 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Linguistic Intelligence
Linguistic Intelligence is a part of Howard Gardner's multiple intelligence theory that deals with individuals' ability to understand both spoken and written language, as well as their ability to speak and write themselves. In a practical sense, linguistic intelligence is the extent to which an individual can use language, both written and verbal, to achieve goals. In addition to this, high linguistic intelligence has been linked to improved problem solving, as well as to increased abstract reasoning. In many cases, only the verbal aspects are taken into consideration. This is usually referred to as verbal intelligence or verbal fluency, and is commonly a reflection of an individual's overall linguistic intelligence.
  • 1.7K
  • 14 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Overview of Water Electrochemistry
Seawater is the most abundant supply of water and the ideal and cheapest electrolyte. Because it is a green and renewable chemical process, water electrolysis has earned a lot of interest among the different hydrogen production techniques. Basis of water electrolysis include general theoretical concepts: chemical, physical, and electrochemical concepts. Research has focused on the specific seawater electrolysis parameters: cathodic evolution of hydrogen; concurrent anodic evolution of oxygen and chlorine; specific seawater catalyst electrodes, and seawater electrolyzer efficiency. A sustainable technology development must also capitalize on known and emerging technologies; protecting the environment; utilization of green, renewable energies as sources of electricity; and above all, economic efficiency as a whole.
  • 1.7K
  • 29 Nov 2022
Topic Review
The Brain at High Altitude
The brain requires over one-fifth of the total body oxygen demand for normal functioning. At high altitude (HA), the lower atmospheric oxygen pressure inevitably challenges the brain, affecting voluntary spatial attention, cognitive processing, and attention speed after short-term, long-term, or lifespan exposure. Molecular responses to HA are controlled mainly by hypoxia-inducible factors.
  • 1.7K
  • 29 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Antimetabolite Drug
Methotrexate (4-{N-[(2,4-diaminopteridin-6-yl) methyl]-N-methylamino} benzoyl)-L-glutamic acid, MTX) is an antimetabolite drug. It is widely used as a chemotherapeutic agent in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis and some sorts of leukemia. MTX is a relatively well-known molecule and is a first-line antirheumatic medication because of its efficacy and safety. It decreases the concentration of tetrahydrofolate (THF) in the cells by the inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) enzyme, therefore it reduces the purine nucleotide and DNA synthesis.
  • 1.7K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Catalytic Ozonation and Membrane Contactors
Membrane filtration has been widely used in water and wastewater treatment. However, this process is not very effective for the removal of refractory organic compounds (e.g., of pharmaceutical origin). Alongside, ozonation is an efficient oxidative process, although ozone is considered to be a rather selective oxidant agent and sometimes it presents quite low mineralization rates. An improvement of this oxidation process is catalytic ozonation, which can degrade organic compounds via the acceleration of hydroxyl radicals’ production. The hydroxyl radicals are unselective oxidative species, presenting high reaction constants with organic compounds. An efficient way to couple membrane filtration with catalytic ozonation is the deposition of an appropriate solid catalyst onto the membrane surface. Catalytic membrane ozonation can enhance the degradation of these compounds and, subsequently, the incidence of membrane fouling (i.e., the major problem of membrane uses).
  • 1.7K
  • 18 Nov 2020
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