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
Plant Microbial Fuel Cells
PubMed (NCBI) has pointed to an exponential growth of publications on the subject of a “biofuel cell” in the first decade of our century, and this interest persisted throughout the following years. It should be noted that biofuel elements based on microorganisms (microbial fuel cells, MFCs) are a promising technology to produce bioelectricity since they simultaneously solve the problems of contamination with anthropogenic organic waste, which can be used by microorganisms as a source of carbon and energy.
  • 1.5K
  • 27 Feb 2024
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Innovation: Between Ambiguity and Clarity
This entry addresses the ongoing challenge of defining innovation within the social sciences, particularly in organizational theory. It conceptualizes innovation as a dynamic and embedded organizational phenomenon. Innovation is central to contemporary discourse, yet it remains fluid, contested, and context-dependent. Rather than viewing innovation as a fixed technical process, the entry examines how it emerges through shifting configurations of meaning, organizational structures and institutional environment. It draws on institutional, processual, and configurational perspectives. These perspectives emphasize the role of ambiguity and clarity as co-existing forces that shape innovation across multiple levels. The entry aims to clarify this ambiguity through a synthesis of typologies, theoretical frameworks, and empirical insights. In doing so, it offers a configurational lens on how innovation is shaped and interpreted across diverse organizational and institutional contexts.
  • 1.5K
  • 15 Aug 2025
Topic Review
Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a congenital neuromuscular disorder characterized by motor neuron loss, resulting in progressive weakness. SMA is notable in the health care community because it accounts for the most common cause of infant death resulting from a genetic defect. SMA is caused by low levels of the survival motor neuron protein (SMN) resulting from SMN1 gene mutations or deletions. However, patients always harbor various copies of SMN2, an almost identical but functionally deficient copy of the gene. A genotype–phenotype correlation suggests that SMN2 is a potent disease modifier for SMA, which also represents the primary target for potential therapies. Increasing comprehension of SMA pathophysiology, including the characterization of SMN1 and SMN2 genes and SMN protein functions, has led to the development of multiple therapeutic approaches. Until the end of 2016, no cure was available for SMA, and management consisted of supportive measures. Two breakthrough SMN-targeted treatments, either using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) or virus-mediated gene therapy, have recently been approved. These two novel therapeutics have a common objective: to increase the production of SMN protein in MNs and thereby improve motor function and survival. However, neither therapy currently provides a complete cure. Treating patients with SMA brings new responsibilities and unique dilemmas. As SMA is such a devastating disease, it is reasonable to assume that a unique therapeutic solution may not be sufficient. Current approaches under clinical investigation differ in administration routes, frequency of dosing, intrathecal versus systemic delivery, and mechanisms of action. Besides, emerging clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of either SMN-dependent or SMN-independent approaches are ongoing.
  • 1.5K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Fuzzy Algorithms in Multi-Motor Systems
Multi-motor systems are strong coupled multiple-input–multiple-output systems with independent or mechanically interconnected motors. The main objective in multi-motor drive control is to achieve synchronized operation of all motors in the system. In this paper, multi-motor systems are classified in accordance with their control demands. The review of recent research literature indicates that fuzzy algorithms are widely used in multi-motor control.
  • 1.5K
  • 13 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Pharmaceutical Removal on Wastewater
Pharmaceuticals enhance our quality of life; consequently, their consumption is growing as a result of the need to treat ageing-related and chronic diseases and changes in the clinical practice. The market revenues also show an historic growth worldwide motivated by the increase on the drug demand. However, this positivism on the market is fogged because the discharge of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites into the environment, including water, also increases due to their inappropriate management, treatment and disposal; now, worldwide, this fact is recognized as an environmental concern and human health risk. 
  • 1.5K
  • 08 May 2021
Topic Review
Adrenomedullin
Adrenomedullin (AM) is a bioactive peptide with various physiological functions, including vasodilation, angiogenesis, anti-inflammation, organ protection, and tissue repair.
  • 1.5K
  • 12 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Open MHC Class I Conformers
Open MHC-I conformers are mature fully glycosylated plasma membrane molecules (HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-E, HLA-G, HLA-E, and CD1d in humans; H-2D, H-2L, and H-2K in mice) that have dissociated from the β2m light chain and the peptide. Given the flexibility and mobility of the α1 domain of the heavy chain, the open MHC-I conformers are free to interact with any nearby complementary amino acid sequences or peptides in a covalent and a non-covalent manner. Open MHC-I conformers are functional cis-trans structures capable of establishing physical cis-associations with themselves (i.e., homodimers), with other surface receptors (i.e., heterodimers), and shed into the extracellular milieu (i.e., soluble open conformers). In turn, the open conformers and the homodimers trans-interact with several receptors expressed by lymphomyeloid cells. Overall, the open MHC-I conformers impact cellular physiology and clinical and biomedical settings, including autoimmune responses, tumor escape, graft rejection, and neuronal development and cognition. 
  • 1.5K
  • 27 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Foundational Economy
Since its 2013 Manifesto for the foundational economy, the Foundational Economy Collective (FEC), a group of (mainly) European researchers, has challenged mainstream thinking about the character of our economy as well as economic policy making. Drawing upon the work of Fernand Braudel, the FEC argues for an understanding of the economy as composed of different zones, with the foundational economy vital for our everyday life. This includes inter alia provision of electricity and water, garbage disposal, food supply, education, health, care, social housing, and police. These activities constitute capitalism’s non-capitalist foundation, the “everyday communism” (Streeck) that sustains and enables it. This entry provides an overview of the genesis and development of foundational thinking.
  • 1.5K
  • 12 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Plastic Waste into Supports for Nanostructured Heterogeneous Catalysts
Plastics are ubiquitous in our society and are used in many industries, such as packaging, electronics, the automotive industry, and medical and health sectors, and plastic waste is among the types of waste of higher environmental concern. The increase in the amount of plastic waste produced daily has increased environmental problems, such as pollution by micro-plastics, contamination of the food chain, biodiversity degradation and economic losses. The selective and efficient conversion of plastic waste for applications in environmental remediation, such as by obtaining composites, is a strategy of the scientific community for the recovery of plastic waste. The development of polymeric supports for efficient, sustainable, and low-cost heterogeneous catalysts for the treatment of organic/inorganic contaminants is highly desirable yet still a great challenge; this will be the main focus of this work. Common commercial polymers, like polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene therephthalate, polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride, are addressed herein, as are their main physicochemical properties, such as molecular mass, degree of crystallinity and others. Additionally, we discuss the environmental and health risks of plastic debris and the main recycling technologies as well as their issues and environmental impact. The use of nanomaterials raises concerns about toxicity and reinforces the need to apply supports; this means that the recycling of plastics in this way may tackle two issues. Finally, we dissert about the advances in turning plastic waste into support for nanocatalysts for environmental remediation, mainly metal and metal oxide nanoparticles.
  • 1.5K
  • 18 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Ribosome Interactions with SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causing pathogen of the unprecedented global Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Upon infection, the virus manipulates host cellular machinery and ribosomes to synthesize its own proteins for successful replication and to facilitate further infection. SARS-CoV-2 executes a multi-faceted hijacking of the host mRNA translation and cellular protein synthesis. Viral nonstructural proteins (NSPs) interact with a range of different ribosomal states and interfere with mRNA translation. Concurrent mutations on NSPs and spike proteins contribute to the epidemiological success of variants of concern (VOCs). The interactions between ribosomes and SARS-CoV-2 represent attractive targets for the development of antiviral therapeutics and vaccines.
  • 1.5K
  • 18 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Construction Site Safety Management with Internet-of-Things
A considerable number of fatalities and injuries are reported in construction projects annually, and the adoption of digital technologies could provide safer construction sites. The adoption of IoT-based technologies in construction projects has offered myriad benefits, especially in the field of construction safety management. Barriers to the adoption of IoT-based technologies in construction site safety management (CSSM) have been studied. Then, the most significant barriers were determined using a comprehensive fuzzy Delphi method. Once the external validity of the findings had been checked through semi-structured interviews, 18 barriers were found to hamper the adoption of IoT-based technologies in CSSM. 
  • 1.5K
  • 28 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Microbial Production of C4 Dicarboxylic Acids
In addition to acetoin and 2,3-butanediol, another class of compounds that is readily derivable from biochemical conversions is C4 dicarboxylic acids; specifically, these are succinic (butanedioic acid), fumaric (trans-butenedioic acid), and malic (hydroxybutanedioic acid) acids. 
  • 1.5K
  • 19 May 2022
Topic Review
Plant Performance and Interaction with Microorganisms
Plant performance can be improved under adverse environmental conditions by integrated soil–water–plant solutions or integrated soil fertility and plant nutrient management. Microorganisms living in the soil, the rhizobiome, are distinguished from endophytes living inside plants.
  • 1.5K
  • 04 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Oral Health and Candidiasis Development
Oral fungal infection is one of the most researched medical challenges today, being critically related to the development of oral candidiasis, the dissemination of Candida sp. in oromucosal tissues, overcoming barriers such as antifungal drug resistance, and repurposing new pathways and mechanisms to alleviate resilient infections.
  • 1.5K
  • 20 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Source, Preparation and Fundamental Properties of Recycled Powder
Recycled powder (RP) is a by-product of preparing recycled aggregates from construction waste through debris removal, step-by-step crushing, screening, and mechanical strengthening. It is a fine powder with a particle size of less than 75 μm.
  • 1.5K
  • 19 Aug 2022
Topic Review
COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns
There are worldwide curfews, quarantines, and similar restrictions (variously described as stay-at-home orders, shelter-in-place orders, shutdowns or lockdowns) related to the COVID-19 pandemic and established to prevent further spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19. Countries and territories around the world have enforced lockdowns of varying degrees. Some include total movement control while others have enforced restrictions based on time. Mostly, only essential businesses are allowed to remain open. Schools, universities and colleges have closed either on a nationwide or local basis in Template: Education statistics on the COVID-19 pandemic countries, affecting approximately Template: Education statistics on the COVID-19 pandemic per cent of the world's student population. All types of recreational venues and most public places have been affected.
  • 1.5K
  • 09 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Recycling and Use of Plastic Waste
Research into plastic recycling is rapidly increasing as ocean and land pollution and ecosystem degradation from plastic waste is becoming a serious concern. In this study, we conducted a systematic review on emerging research topics, which were selected from 35,519 studies on plastic recycling by bibliometrics analysis. Our results show that research on the biodegradability of plastics, bioplastics, life cycle assessment, recycling of electrical and electronic equipment waste, and the use of recycled plastics in construction has increased rapidly in recent years, particularly since 2016. Especially, biodegradability is the most emerging topic with the average year of publication being 2018. Our key finding is that many research area is led by developed countries, while the use of recycled plastics in the construction sector is being actively explored in developing countries. Based on our results, we discuss two types of recycling systems: responsible recycling in the country where plastic waste is generated and promoting recycling through the international division of labor between developed and developing countries. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches and propose necessary measures for sustainable and responsible production and consumption of plastics such as waste traceability system and technology transfer between developed and developing countries.    
  • 1.5K
  • 03 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Microbial Detoxification of Residual Pesticides in Fermented Foods
The treatment of agricultural areas with pesticides is an indispensable approach to improve crop yields and cannot be avoided in the future. At the same time, significant amounts of pesticides remain in food and their ingestion causes serious damage such as neurological, gastrointestinal, and allergic reactions; cancer; and even death. However, during the fermentation processing of foods, residual amounts of pesticides are significantly reduced thanks to enzymatic degradation by the starter and accompanying microflora. 
  • 1.5K
  • 24 Mar 2023
Topic Review
The Role of Probiotics in Skin Health
By regulating skin health and gut–skin axis interactions, probiotics can be used as potential management tools to suppress and improve skin diseases in multiple ways, including decreasing oxidative stress, suppressing inflammatory responses, and keeping immune effects.
  • 1.5K
  • 24 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Reflexivity
Reflexivity, within the realm of social sciences, refers to the reciprocal relationship between an individual's thoughts, actions, and the social structures in which they are embedded. Coined by sociologist Anthony Giddens, this concept acknowledges that individuals both shape and are shaped by their social context, creating a dynamic interplay where self-awareness influences social structures, and vice versa. This reflexive process underscores the constant mutual influence between an individual's understanding of their identity and the broader societal dynamics in which they participate.
  • 1.5K
  • 25 Jan 2024
  • 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