Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Subject:
All Disciplines Arts & Humanities Biology & Life Sciences Business & Economics Chemistry & Materials Science Computer Science & Mathematics Engineering Environmental & Earth Sciences Medicine & Pharmacology Physical Sciences Public Health & Healthcare Social Sciences
Sort by:
Most Viewed Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Filter:
All Topic Review Biography Peer Reviewed Entry Video Entry
Topic Review
Reactive Species on Innate Immunity
The role of reactive species RS (of oxygen ROS, nitrogen RNS and halogen RHS) on innate immunity is examined. The importance of these species in innate immunity was first recognized in phagocytes that underwent a “respiratory burst” after activation. The anion superoxide •O2− and hydrogen peroxide H2O2 are detrimental to the microbial population. NADPH oxidase NOx, as an •O2− producer is essential for microbial destruction, and patients lacking this functional oxidase are more susceptible to microbial infections. Reactive nitrogen species RNS (the most important are nitric oxide radical -•NO, peroxynitrite ONOO— and its derivatives), are also harmful to microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Hypochlorous acid HOCl and hypothiocyanous acid HOSCN synthesized through the enzyme myeloperoxidase MPO, which catalyzes the reaction between H2O2 and Cl− or SCN−, are important inorganic bactericidal molecules, effective against a wide range of microbes. 
  • 1.6K
  • 26 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Peer-to-Patent
The Peer To Patent project is an initiative that seeks to assist patent offices in improving patent quality by gathering public input in a structured, productive manner. Peer To Patent is the first social-software project directly linked to decision-making by the federal government. An initial pilot project in collaboration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) was completed June 15, 2009. That pilot examined more than 220 patent applications in the fields of software and business methods. The Peer To Patent project has issued two anniversary reports from the initial pilot ( and), and a final report from the initial pilot is pending. Following the conclusion of the initial pilot the USPTO undertook an evaluation of Peer To Patent assisted by students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. That evaluation concluded that the program had merit and should be continued. On October 19, 2010, the USPTO and New York Law School jointly announced a new pilot program commencing October 25, 2010, and continuing through September 30, 2011 (with the review period extending through December 31, 2011). This new pilot will not only include patent applications covering subject matter included in the initial pilot, it will now include telecommunications, speech recognition, translation, biotechnology, bioinformatics and biopharmaceuticals. Other patent offices involved in pilot programs include IP Australia, the Japan Patent Office, and the Korean Intellectual Property Office. The UK Intellectual Property Office announced on November 4, 2010, that it would commence a pilot in 2011 and the pilot commenced on 1 June 2011.
  • 1.6K
  • 14 Nov 2022
Topic Review
MOGUL Framework
The MOGUL framework is a research framework aiming to provide a theoretical perspective on the nature of language. MOGUL (Modular On-line Growth and Use of Language) draws on the common ground underlying various related areas of cognitive science including psycholinguistics, theoretical linguistics, first- and second-language acquisition, neurolinguistics and cognitive psychology; it is designed to be applicable to all these fields of research. The MOGUL framework's background assumption is that the mind is composed of expert systems which have evolved over time, one of which is responsible for human linguistic ability. Historically, scientific studies of language have been divided between many sub-disciplines; theoretical linguists focus on the abstract properties of language and researchers in other fields investigate how language is used and processed in real time: either in psychological terms or (in the case of neurolinguistics) through a study of the physical systems of neurons in the brain. Each field of study has developed its own research traditions and technical vocabulary, making it difficult to integrate insights across disciplines. The MOGUL Framework represents an attempt to identify common themes and compatible approaches in different (but related fields), and hence to facilitate integration.
  • 1.6K
  • 30 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Federated Learning Applications  in Ocular Imaging
Advances in artificial intelligence deep learning (DL) have made tremendous impacts on the field of ocular imaging. Specifically, DL has been utilised to detect and classify various ocular diseases on retinal photographs, optical coherence tomography (OCT) images, and OCT-angiography images. In order to achieve good robustness and generalisability of model performance, DL training strategies traditionally require extensive and diverse training datasets from various sites to be transferred and pooled into a “centralised location”. However, such a data transferring process could raise practical concerns related to data security and patient privacy. Federated learning (FL) is a distributed collaborative learning paradigm which enables the coordination of multiple collaborators without the need for sharing confidential data. This distributed training approach has great potential to ensure data privacy among different institutions and reduce the potential risk of data leakage from data pooling or centralisation.
  • 1.6K
  • 06 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with Natural Compounds from Plants
Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has been widely studied and described. In the age of bacterial drug resistance, an intensive search for new agents with antibacterial properties or a new form of antibiotics with effective action is necessary.
  • 1.6K
  • 12 Dec 2022
Topic Review
L–Tryptophan Derivatives as Essential Compounds for Serotonin Synthesis
L–Tryptophan (Trp) and its derivatives, such as 5-hydroxy–L–tryptophan (5-OH-L-Trp), and tryptamine, are related to biochemical reactions that lead to serotonin synthesis in the brain’s neurotransmitters, lower levels of which are observed in clinically depressed patients.
  • 1.6K
  • 10 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Bioethanol
Bioethanol is the most widely used alternative transportation fuel to petrol. Bioethanol is considered a clean, renewable, and environmentally friendly fuel that can contribute to climate change mitigation, decreased environmental pollution, and enhanced energy security.
  • 1.6K
  • 26 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Mechanisms of Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation and Regulation
As one of the most important components of the innate immune system, neutrophils are always at the forefront of the response to diseases. The immune functions of neutrophils include phagocytosis, degranulation, production of reactive oxygen species, and the production of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). NETs are composed of deconcentrated chromatin DNA, histones, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and neutrophil elastase (NE), playing an important role in the resistance to some pathogenic microbial invasions.
  • 1.6K
  • 25 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Smart Cities and Urban Energy Planning
This review paper comprehensively investigates the dynamic interplay between technological innovations and urban energy planning within the framework of smart cities. It embarks on a comprehensive bibliometric analysis encompassing over 9,300 publications to critically assess the progression, ambitions, obstacles, and the evident disconnection between technological advancements and the necessary policy and regulatory frameworks. This paper categorizes the multifaceted aspects of smart city initiatives, including energy-efficient buildings, sustainable urban design, intelligent transportation systems, and the integration of smart grids, drawing attention to the predominantly technology-centric focus in existing research. It underscores a substantial gap in the literature regarding the holistic integration of policy measures that are crucial for bridging the divide between technology and societal needs. By highlighting these discrepancies, the paper advocates for a more cohesive approach that aligns technological solutions with strategic policy development, aiming to optimize the benefits of smart city initiatives. This involves a critical evaluation of policy challenges, suggesting the imperative for comprehensive strategies that encompass regulatory, economic, and socio-technical dimensions to enhance urban sustainability and resilience. Through this detailed investigation, the paper contributes valuable insights into the evolution of smart cities, offering a roadmap for future research and policy-making to harness the full potential of urban technological innovations in creating socially just, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient urban ecosystems.
  • 1.6K
  • 07 Feb 2024
Topic Review
GABAAR-Mediated Currents
Propofol or barbiturate application at low concentrations increases desensitization and slows deactivation of GABA-induced current and propofol/barbiturate at high concentrations directly elicits after-responses upon their washout in hippocampal or sensory neurons. It is postulated that the generation of such after-responses is caused by removal of the blockade by anesthetic agents as partial antagonists. However, the increased desensitization was invariably followed by slowdown of deactivation of GABA-induced current, and the after-response may arise as a consequence of extreme slowdown of deactivation following strong desensitization. It is thus possible that propofol and barbiturate can facilitate resensitization of GABA responses. Propofol and barbiturate are useful to treat the alcohol/benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. Considering that the slowdown of deactivation following desensitization and the after-response induced by propofol or barbiturate application, the regulatory mechanisms of desensitization/resensitization of GABAAR-mediated currents might be important for understanding the treatment of the alcohol/benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome.
  • 1.6K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
TPC1 in plants
TPC1 in plants is localized in the vacuolar membrane. Its activity is strictly regulated by several factors emphasizing its complex structure and function. The physiological role of TPC1 is under debate. The TPC1 hyperactive version fou2 (carring D454N mutation) is characterized by an overproduction of jasmonate acid (JA), however the tpc1-2 knockout mutant has no pronounced phenotype. The intriguing concept of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release was assigned to Vicia faba TPC1 in 1994 by Ward and Schroeder, however it has still not been confirmed for the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.
  • 1.6K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
DNA-Repair Pathways: Links to Neurodegeneration
Genomic integrity is maintained by DNA repair and the DNA damage response (DDR). Defects in certain DNA repair genes give rise to many rare progressive neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), such as ocular motor ataxia, Huntington disease (HD), and spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA). A possible causative role for DNA damage and DNA repair in the pathogenesis of common, late-onset NDDs is less well established, although DDR defects are emerging as possible culprits in diseases like AD, PD, and ALS. Whether targeting DNA repair or the DDR may be developed into therapeutic options against NDDs remains to be clarified.
  • 1.6K
  • 18 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Micromachined Accelerometers with Non-noise Floor
This paper reviews the research and development of micromachined accelerometers with a noise floor lower than 1 µg/√Hz. Firstly, the basic working principle of micromachined accelerometers is introduced. Then, different methods of reducing the noise floor of micromachined accelerometers are analyzed. Different types of micromachined accelerometers with a noise floor below 1 µg/√Hz are discussed. 
  • 1.6K
  • 09 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Molecular Hybrids Targeting Tubulin Polymerization
Microtubules are cylindrical protein polymers formed from αβ-tubulin heterodimers in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. Microtubule disturbance may cause cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, and anomalous mitotic spindles will form. Microtubules are an important target for cancer drug action because of their critical role in mitosis. Several microtubule-targeting agents with vast therapeutic advantages have been developed, but they often lead to multidrug resistance and adverse side effects. Thus, single-target therapy has drawbacks in the effective control of tubulin polymerization. Molecular hybridization, based on the amalgamation of two or more pharmacophores of bioactive conjugates to engender a single molecular structure with enhanced pharmacokinetics and biological activity, compared to their parent molecules, has recently become a promising approach in drug development. The practical application of combined active scaffolds targeting tubulin polymerization inhibitors has been corroborated in the past few years
  • 1.6K
  • 12 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Neuroimaging Techniques Dedicated to Stroke
Stroke recovery processes include angiogenesis and neuroplasticity and advances in neuroimaging techniques may provide indirect description of this action and become quantifiable indicators of these processes as well as responses to the therapeutical interventions. This means that neuroimaging and neurophysiological methods can be used as biomarkers—to make a prognosis of the course of stroke recovery and define patients with great potential of improvement after treatment. This approach is most likely to lead to novel rehabilitation strategies based on categorizing individuals for personalized treatment.
  • 1.6K
  • 27 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Microinjection Moulding of Polymeric Micro Devices
Microinjection moulding has been widely used to mass-produce miniature polymeric devices and/or surface micro/nano structures, such as microneedles for drug delivery and microfluidic devices for diagnostics. The base of a microneedle patch is usually a millimetre with a single needle of several hundred micrometres in size, while the tip radius is smaller than 5 µm; such examples also include micro gears, micro-optical connectors, and micro liquid dispensers. These products have an overall weight of the patch of several milligrams or below. The other typical polymeric micro products would be micro/nano scale features on a large substrate, e.g., microfluidic chips. Microfluidic chips usually have tens to hundreds of micron channels for liquid manipulation. Such micro parts and micro/nano scale features are characterised by their very small dimensions and high surface-to-volume ratios.
  • 1.6K
  • 20 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Recorder of London
The Recorder of London is an ancient legal office in the City of London. The Recorder of London is appointed by the Crown on the recommendation of the City of London Corporation with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor. The Recorder is the senior Circuit Judge at the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey), hearing trials of criminal offences. The Recorder's deputy is the Common Serjeant of London, appointed by the Crown on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor. The current Recorder of London is Nicholas Hilliard QC.
  • 1.6K
  • 26 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Sanitizers and the Sanitization of Hatching Eggs
The sanitization of hatching eggs is the backbone of the hygienic–sanitary management of eggs on farms and extends to the hatchery. Poultry production gains depend on the benefits of sanitizers. Obtaining the maximum yield from incubation free of toxic sanitizers is a trend in poultry farming. 
  • 1.6K
  • 01 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer
The Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) was the first of ESA's Living Planet Programme satellites intended to map in unprecedented detail the Earth's gravity field. The spacecraft's primary instrumentation was a highly sensitive gravity gradiometer consisting of three pairs of accelerometers which measured gravitational gradients along three orthogonal axes. Launched on 17 March 2009, GOCE mapped the deep structure of the Earth's mantle and probed hazardous volcanic regions. It brought new insight into ocean behaviour; this in particular, was a major driver for the mission. By combining the gravity data with information about sea surface height gathered by other satellite altimeters, scientists were able to track the direction and speed of geostrophic ocean currents. The low orbit and high accuracy of the system greatly improved the known accuracy and spatial resolution of the geoid (the theoretical surface of equal gravitational potential on the Earth). The satellite's unique arrow shape and fins helped keep GOCE stable as it flew through the thermosphere at a comparatively low altitude of 255 kilometres (158 mi). Additionally, an ion propulsion system continuously compensated for the variable deceleration due to air drag without the vibration of a conventional chemically powered rocket engine, thus limiting the errors in gravity gradient measurements caused by non-gravitational forces and restoring the path of the craft as closely as possible to a purely inertial trajectory. After running out of propellant, the satellite began dropping out of orbit and made an uncontrolled reentry on 11 November 2013.
  • 1.6K
  • 02 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Neutral Beam Injection
Neutral beam injection (NBI) is one method used to heat plasma inside a fusion device consisting in a beam of high-energy neutral particles that can enter the magnetic confinement field. When these neutral particles are ionized by collision with the plasma particles, they are kept in the plasma by the confining magnetic field, and can transfer most of their energy by further collisions with the plasma. By tangential injection in the torus, neutral beams also provide momentum to the plasma and current drive, one essential feature for long pulses of burning plasmas. Neutral beam injection is a flexible and reliable technique, which has been the main heating system on a large variety of fusion devices. To date, all NBI systems were based on positive precursor ion beams. In the 90s there has been impressive progress in negative ion sources and accelerators with the construction of multi-megawatt negative ion based NBI systems at LHD (H0, 180 keV) and JT-60U (D0, 500 keV). The NBI designed for ITER is a substantial challenge (D0, 1MeV, 40A) and a prototype is being constructed to optimize its performance in view of the ITER future operations. Other ways to heat plasma for nuclear fusion include RF heating, electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH), and ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH), Lower hybrid resonance heating (LH).
  • 1.6K
  • 15 Nov 2022
  • Page
  • of
  • 2728
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Reprints

>>
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Encyclopedia of Engineering
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of Medieval Royal Iconography
Academic Video Service
Feedback