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Topic Review
Unique Games Conjecture
In computational complexity theory, the unique games conjecture (often referred to as UGC) is a conjecture made by Subhash Khot in 2002. The conjecture postulates that the problem of determining the approximate value of a certain type of game, known as a unique game, has NP-hard computational complexity. It has broad applications in the theory of hardness of approximation. If the unique games conjecture is true and P ≠ NP, then for many important problems it is not only impossible to get an exact solution in polynomial time (as postulated by the P versus NP problem), but also impossible to get a good polynomial-time approximation. The problems for which such an inapproximability result would hold include constraint satisfaction problems, which crop up in a wide variety of disciplines. The conjecture is unusual in that the academic world seems about evenly divided on whether it is true or not.
  • 1.6K
  • 26 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Mechanisms of Graphene-Based Humidity Sensors
Humidity sensors are a common type of sensors in our daily life, and play a significant role in numerous application fields ranging from humidity control for various kinds of industrial processing, agricultural moisture monitoring, and medical fields to weather forecasting, indoor humidity sensing, and domestic machine controlling, and the corresponding research has continued for more than 100 years since the 18th century. Principally, water molecules in the gas environment will adsorb onto the graphene surfaces in a graphene-based humidity sensor, which causes changes of some properties of the graphene materials, corresponding to the humidity change. Various kinds of graphene-based humidity sensors have been developed according to different sensing mechanisms or sensor configurations. This part briefly introduces seven types of sensing mechanisms commonly applied in the graphene-based humidity sensors, and the reviews on progresses of graphene-based humidity sensors working in the last three mechanisms, i.e. SAW, QCM, and optical fiber, are also included.
  • 1.6K
  • 14 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is a method that is used for making investment decisions in public and private sector, and comparing benefits and costs resulting from the investments. This method attempts to determine present value of potential benefits and costs of any intended investment, and selects the project with the most benefits by comparing various projects designed for the investment.
  • 1.6K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Peptides
It is widely recognized that many chronic infections of the human body have a polymicrobial etiology. These include diabetic foot ulcer infections, lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients, periodontitis, otitis, urinary tract infections and even a proportion of systemic infections. Treatment of mixed infections poses serious challenges in the clinic as a plethora of interactions establish among community members that may greatly affect the expression of virulence factors and susceptibility to antimicrobials of individual species in the community. Therefore, new strategies able to target multiple pathogens in mixed populations need to be urgently developed and evaluated. In this regard, antimicrobial or host defense peptides (AMPs) deserve particular attention as they are endowed of many favorable features that may serve to this scope. An updated overview of studies addressing the therapeutic potential of AMPs in mixed infections is provided, highlighting the opportunities offered by this class of antimicrobials in the fight against polymicrobial infections, but also the limits that may arise in their use for this type of application.
  • 1.6K
  • 02 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Neural Stem Cell
Stem cells have extensive proliferative potential and the ability to differentiate into one or more mature cell types. The mechanisms by which stem cells accomplish self-renewal provide fundamental insight into the origin and design of multicellular organisms. These pathways allow the repair of damage and extend organismal life beyond that of component cells, and they probably preceded the evolution of complex metazoans.
  • 1.6K
  • 11 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Electromagnetic Microrobotic Platforms for Biomedical Applications
Magnetic microrobotics is a promising technology for improving minimally invasive surgery (MIS) with the ambition of enhancing patient care and comfort. The potential benefits include limited incisions, less hemorrhaging and postoperative pain, and faster recovery time. To achieve this, a key issue relies on the design of a proper electromagnetic actuation (EMA) setup which is based on the use of magnetic sources. The magnetic field and its gradient generated by the EMA platform is then used to induce magnetic torque and force for microrobot manipulations inside the human body. Like any control systems, the EMA system must be adapted to the given controlled microrobot and customized for the application. 
  • 1.6K
  • 24 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Coffee By-Products and Their Applications
As coffee consumption is on the rise, and the global coffee production creates an excess of 23 million tons of waste per year, a revolutionary transition towards a circular economy via the transformation and valorization of the main by-products from its cultivation and preparation (Coffee Husk (CH), Coffee Pulp (CP), Coffee Silverskin (CS), and Spent Coffee Grounds (SCG)) is inspiring researchers around the world.
  • 1.6K
  • 25 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Tools in Circular Building Environment
The circular economy (CE) has become a trend because concern has arisen regarding the end of life of several products and the reduction of CO2 emissions in many processes.
  • 1.6K
  • 13 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Canon (Priest)
A canon (from the Latin canonicus, itself derived from the Greek κανονικός, kanonikós, "relating to a rule", "regular") is a member of certain bodies subject to an ecclesiastical rule. Originally, a canon was a cleric living with others in a clergy house or, later, in one of the houses within the precinct of or close to a cathedral or other major church and conducting his life according to the customary discipline or rules of the church. This way of life grew common (and is first documented) in the eighth century. In the eleventh century, some churches required clergy thus living together to adopt the rule first proposed by Saint Augustine that they renounce private wealth. Those who embraced this change were known as Augustinians or Canons Regular, whilst those who did not were known as secular canons.
  • 1.6K
  • 20 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Anesthesiologist Assistant
In the United States , anesthesiologist assistants - known in full as certified anesthesiologist assistants - are master's degree prepared clinicians that practice medicine under the direction of licensed anesthesiologists to implement anesthesia care plans for a patient undergoing surgery. CAAs are integral members of the anesthesia care team as described by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). All CAAs possess a baccalaureate degree (in any field with a major focus on pre med sciences), and complete an intensive didactic and clinical program at a postgraduate level. CAAs are trained in the delivery and maintenance of all types of anesthesia care as well as advanced patient monitoring techniques under the direction of a physician anesthesiologist. The goal of CAA education is to guide the transformation of student applicants into competent clinicians who aspire to practice in the anesthesia care team.
  • 1.6K
  • 20 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Tremor in Parkinson’s Disease with Mechanical Devices
Parkinsonian tremors are sometimes confused with essential tremors or other conditions. Researchers conducted several studies on tremor evaluation using wearable sensors and devices, which may support an accurate diagnosis. Mechanical devices are also commonly used to treat tremors and have been actively researched and developed. Mechanical devices for tremor suppression include deep brain stimulation (DBS), electrical muscle stimulation, and orthosis. Adaptive DBS and optimization of stimulation parameters have been studied to improve treatment efficacy further. Due to developments using state-of-the-art techniques, effectiveness in diagnosing, evaluating, and suppressing tremors using these devices is satisfactorily high in many studies.
  • 1.6K
  • 09 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Resilience Assessment in Urban Water Infrastructure
Urban water infrastructure (UWI) comprises the main systems, including water supply systems (WSS), urban drainage/stormwater systems (UDS) and wastewater systems (WWS). The UWI needs to be resilient to a wide range of shocks and stresses, including structural failures such as pipe breakage and pump breakdown and functional failures such as unmet water demand/quality, flooding and combined sewer overflows. 
  • 1.6K
  • 07 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Classification and Chemistry of Elephant Apple
Elephant apple (Dillenia indica L.) grows wild in Southeast Asia’s forests, including in China, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Elephant apples are considered essential fruit crops because of their high nutritional value, which includes high levels of vitamin C, carbohydrates, fats, fibre, protein, minerals, and fatty acids. It is important to understand the nutritional value and health benefits of elephant apples in order to increase fruit intake in people’s daily diets.
  • 1.6K
  • 17 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Sensor Calibration
A sensor is a detection device that can convert measured data into electrical signals output according to certain rules in order to meet the requirements of information transmission, processing, storage, display, recording, and control. The performance indicators of sensors usually include sensitivity, resolution, linearity, repeatability, stability, accuracy, and so on. The process of experimentally determining, under predetermined measurement conditions, the correspondence between a sensor’s input and output is known as calibration. The sensor has to be recalibrated if any of its indicators have changed as a result of the external environment or if it has been some time since the last calibration. 
  • 1.6K
  • 28 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Silicon, Organic and Perovskite Solar Cells
The journey of photovoltaic (PV) cell technology is a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of sustainable energy solutions. From the early days of solar energy exploration to the sophisticated systems of today, the evolution of PV cells has been marked by groundbreaking advancements in materials and manufacturing processes. The initial phase of solar cell development was characterized by the use of crystalline silicon, a material that has maintained its prominence due to its proven efficiency and durability. The progression from the initial 15% efficiency in the 1950s to the current levels nearing 28% epitomizes the significant strides that have been made in enhancing solar cell performance. This evolution is a clear indicator of how material advancements have been instrumental in propelling the solar industry forward.
  • 1.6K
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Porous Tantalum
Porous tantalum (Ta) is a promising biomaterial and has been applied in orthopedics and dentistry for nearly two decades. The high porosity and interconnected pore structure of porous Ta promise fine bone ingrowth and new bone formation within the inner space, which further guarantee rapid osteointegration and bone–implant stability in the long term. Porous Ta has high wettability and surface energy that can facilitate adherence, proliferation and mineralization of osteoblasts. Meanwhile, the low elastic modulus and high friction coefficient of porous Ta allow it to effectively avoid the stress shield effect, minimize marginal bone loss and ensure primary stability. Accordingly, the satisfactory clinical application of porous Ta-based implants or prostheses is mainly derived from its excellent biological and mechanical properties. 
  • 1.6K
  • 21 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Mitochondrial Processing Peptidases
Mitochondrial proteins are encoded by both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. While some of the essential subunits of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes responsible for cellular ATP production are synthesized directly in the mitochondria, most mitochondrial proteins are first translated in the cytosol and then imported into the organelle using a sophisticated transport system. These proteins are directed mainly by targeting presequences at their N-termini. These presequences need to be cleaved to allow the proper folding and assembly of the pre-proteins into functional protein complexes. In the mitochondria, the presequences are removed by several processing peptidases, including the mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP), the inner membrane processing peptidase (IMP), the inter-membrane processing peptidase (MIP), and the mitochondrial rhomboid protease (Pcp1/PARL). Their proper functioning is essential for mitochondrial homeostasis as the disruption of any of them is lethal in yeast and severely impacts the lifespan and survival in humans.
  • 1.6K
  • 16 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Groundwater Level Prediction Techniques
Groundwater level (GWL) refers to the depth of the water table or the level of water below the Earth’s surface in underground formations. It is an important factor in managing and sustaining the groundwater resources that are used for drinking water, irrigation, and other purposes. Groundwater level prediction is a critical aspect of water resource management and requires accurate and efficient modelling techniques.
  • 1.6K
  • 06 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Sensor Data Fusion Algorithms
Sensor Data Fusion (SDT) algorithms and methods have been utilised in many applications ranging from automobiles to healthcare systems. They can be used to design a redundant, reliable, and complementary system with the intent of enhancing the system’s performance. SDT can be multifaceted, involving many representations such as pixels, features, signals, and symbols.
  • 1.6K
  • 12 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Synthesis and Vibrational Properties of Conducting Polymers Composites
From composites based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and conducting polymers (CPs) to their biggest competitor, namely composites based on graphene or graphene derivate (GD) and CPs, there are many methods of synthesis that influence the morphology and the functionalization inside the composite, making them valuable candidates for EM both inside DSSCs and in supercapacitors devices. From the combination of CPs with carbon-based materials, such as CNT and graphene or GD, the perfect network is created, and so the charge transfer takes place faster and more easily.
  • 1.6K
  • 26 Jan 2024
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