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Topic Review
Methods of Thermal Treatment of Radioactive Waste
Nuclear power is generated by a small amount of fuel, as related to other non-renewable energy sources. The volume of waste formed in this process is comparably small. Thermal treatment of waste is a term given to any treatment technology that involves high temperatures in the processing of the waste feedstock. All the thermal treatment methods used for normal waste have been applied to radioactive waste.  
  • 1.5K
  • 24 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Incidence of Post-Vasectomy Pain
Vasectomy is a form of permanent male contraception that blocks the transport of sperm out of the testis. Chronic post-vasectomy pain is a recognized complication but current literature shows lack of consensus regarding its frequency. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature indicate that the incidence of post-vasectomy pain is higher than previously reported estimates. Following traditional scalpel vasectomy, the incidence of post-vasectomy pain is more than three-fold higher than after non-scalpel vasectomy. Therefore, less invasive non-scalpel vasectomy should be considered as the preferred procedural method compared to the incisional scalpel approach.
  • 1.5K
  • 27 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Methods for Removal of Ceftriaxone from Wastewater
Ceftriaxone is a type of antibiotic used to treat a variety of bacterial illnesses. The presence of pharmaceuticals in surface water and wastewater poses a threat to public health and has significant effects on the ecosystem. Since most wastewater treatment plants are ineffective at removing molecules efficiently, some pharmaceuticals enter aquatic ecosystems, thus creating issues such as antibiotic resistance and toxicity. 
  • 1.5K
  • 29 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Rapid Prompting Method
The rapid prompting method (RPM) is a pseudoscientific technique that attempts to aid communication by people with autism or other disabilities to communicate through pointing, typing, or writing. Also known as Spelling to Communicate. It is closely related to the scientifically discredited technique facilitated communication (FC). Practitioners of RPM refuse to allow unbiased scientific analysis of the method, saying that it would be stigmatizing and that allowing scientific criticisms of the technique robs people with autism of their right to communicate. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has issued a statement opposing the practice of RPM. Soma Mukhopadhyay is credited with creating RPM, though others have developed similar techniques, known as informative pointing or alphabet therapy. RPM users report unexpected literacy skills in their clients, as well as a reduction in some of the behavioral issues associated with autism. As noted by Stuart Vyse, although RPM differs from facilitated communication in some ways, "it has the same potential for unconscious prompting because the letter board is always held in the air by the assistant. As long as the method of communication involves the active participation of another person, the potential for unconscious guidance remains." Critics warn that RPM's over-reliance on prompts (verbal and physical cuing by facilitators) may inhibit development of independent communication in its target population. As of April 2017, only one scientific study attempting to support Mukhopadhyay's claims of efficacy has been conducted, though reviewers found the study had serious methodological flaws. Vyse has noted that rather than proponents of RPM subjecting the methodology to properly controlled validation research, they have responded to criticism by going on the offensive, claiming that scientific criticisms of the technique rob people with autism of their right to communicate, while the authors of a 2019 review concluded that "...until future trials have demonstrated safety and effectiveness, and perhaps more importantly, have first clarified the authorship question, we strongly discourage clinicians, educators, and parents of children with ASD from using RPM."
  • 1.5K
  • 24 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Relaxation
In the physical sciences, relaxation usually means the return of a perturbed system into equilibrium. Each relaxation process can be categorized by a relaxation time τ. The simplest theoretical description of relaxation as function of time t is an exponential law exp(-t/τ) (exponential decay).
  • 1.5K
  • 25 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Mycobacterium Avium-Intracellulare Infection
Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection (MAI) is an atypical mycobacterial infection, i.e. one with nontuberculous mycobacteria or NTM, caused by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), which is made of two Mycobacterium species, M. avium and M. intracellulare. This infection causes respiratory illness in birds, pigs, and humans, especially in immunocompromised people. In the later stages of AIDS, it can be very severe. It usually first presents as a persistent cough. It is typically treated with a series of three antibiotics for a period of at least six months. M. avium, M. intracellulare, and M. chimaera are each saprotrophic organisms present in soil and water; entry into hosts is usually via the gastrointestinal tract, but also can be via the lungs. MAC infections can cause fevers, diarrhea, malabsorption, as well as loss of appetite and weight loss, and can disseminate to the bone marrow. MAI is typically resistant to standard mycobacterial therapies.
  • 1.5K
  • 10 Nov 2022
Topic Review
M9 Armored Combat Earthmover
The M9 Armored Combat Earthmover (ACE) is a highly mobile armored tracked vehicle that provides combat engineer support to front-line forces. Fielded by the United States Army, its tasks include eliminating enemy obstacles, maintenance and repair of roads and supply routes, and construction of fighting positions.
  • 1.5K
  • 02 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Heat and Moisture Transfer in Clothing Materials
Clothing as a tool connecting the human body and environment provides thermal and moisture comfort, and protective performance in cold, moderate, and extremely hot environments. The heat and moisture transfer properties of clothing materials are commonly evaluated using experimental study, mathematical modeling, and computer simulation.
  • 1.5K
  • 08 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Glioblastoma Therapy
Glioblastoma (GB) stands out as the most prevalent and lethal form of brain cancer. Despite multimodality treatments, recurrence is almost universal with survival rates under 2 years after diagnosis. 
  • 1.5K
  • 15 Mar 2024
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors
The main protease (M-pro) or 3C-like protease of coronaviruses plays an essential role in virus replication. This protease contributes to the cleavage of the ppa1a and pp1ab polyproteins to produce several non-structural proteins, including M-pro itself. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 M-pro enzyme has been extensively studied, and its inhibitors are promising effective drugs for fighting against SARS-CoV-2. The first attempts to discover SARS-CoV-2 M-pro inhibitors used previously developed protease inhibitors or tried to repurpose drugs from other diseases. Covalent inhibitors form a covalent bond, usually with catalytic Cys145. Non-covalent inhibitors bind by non-covalent interactions at the active site of the enzyme, inhibiting its function.
  • 1.5K
  • 10 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Innate Immunity in CKD
Emerging studies suggest that unsolved inflammation will progressively transit into kidney fibrosis that finally results in an irreversible end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Increasing studies have suggested pathogenic roles of innate immunity in the kidney diseases. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms may uncover a novel therapeutic strategy for ESRD.
  • 1.5K
  • 06 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Genetic Characterization of Endometriosis
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the recent literature on the genetic characterization of women affected by endometriosis and to evaluate the influence of polymorphisms of the wingless-type mammalian mouse tumour virus integration site family member 4 (WNT4), vezatin (VEZT), and follicle stimulating hormone beta polypeptide (FSHB) genes, already known to be involved in molecular mechanisms associated with the proliferation and development of endometriotic lesions.
  • 1.5K
  • 06 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Trophectoderm-Specific Knockdown of LIN28
LIN28 inhibits let-7 miRNA maturation which prevents cell differentiation and promotes proliferation. We hypothesized that the LIN28-let-7 axis regulates proliferation-associated genes in sheep trophectoderm in vivo. Day 9-hatched sheep blastocysts were incubated with lentiviral particles to deliver shRNA targeting LIN28 specifically to trophectoderm cells. At day 16, conceptus elongation was significantly reduced in LIN28A and LIN28B knockdowns. Let-7 miRNAs were significantly increased and IGF2BP1-3, HMGA1, ARID3B, and c-MYC were decreased in trophectoderm from knockdown conceptuses. Ovine trophoblast (OTR) cells derived from day 16 trophectoderm are a useful tool for in vitro experiments. Surprisingly, LIN28 was significantly reduced and let-7 miRNAs increased after only a few passages of OTR cells, suggesting these passaged cells represent a more differentiated phenotype. To create an OTR cell line more similar to day 16 trophectoderm we overexpressed LIN28A and LIN28B, which significantly decreased let-7 miRNAs and increased IGF2BP1-3, HMGA1, ARID3B, and c-MYC compared to control. This is the first study showing the role of the LIN28-let-7 axis in trophoblast proliferation and conceptus elongation in vivo. These results suggest that reduced LIN28 during early placental development can lead to reduced trophoblast proliferation and sheep conceptus elongation at a critical period for successful establishment of pregnancy.
  • 1.5K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Seed Dormancy
The seed is the propagule of higher plants and allows its dissemination and the survival of the species. Seed dormancy prevents premature germination under favourable conditions. Dormant seeds are only able to germinate in a narrow range of conditions. During after-ripening (AR), a mechanism of dormancy release, seeds gradually lose dormancy through a period of dry storage. Part of this review focuses on how the methylation of mRNA and genomic DNA affects gene expression upon late stages of seed development, especially during dormancy. DNA methylation is a well-known epigenetic mechanism of controlling gene expression. In Arabidopsis thaliana, while there is a global increase in CHH-context methylation through embryogenesis, global DNA methylation levels remain stable during seed dormancy, decreasing when germination occurs. The biological significance of nucleic acid methylation upon seed development is discussed.
  • 1.5K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Idiopathic Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is defined as a decrease in bone density that results in micro-architecture deterioration, predisposing the affected patients to fractures. Operationally, osteoporosis has been defined on the basis of a bone mineral density assessment using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.
  • 1.5K
  • 28 Sep 2021
Topic Review
MRNA Export in Cancer
Export of mRNAs from the nucleus to the cytoplasm is a key regulatory step in the expression of proteins. mRNAs are transported through the nuclear pore complex (NPC) in association with key co-factors.  Export of selected subsets of mRNAs permits targeted elevation of specific protein expression. Indeed, there are different export pathways depending on the mRNA underpinning this selectivity.  Export of mRNAs can respond to a variety of cellular stimuli making it a dynamic means to respond to extracellular stimuli. mRNA export can be dysregulated in, and contribute to, human diseases including cancer and neurodegeneration. This entry focuses on its role in cancer.
  • 1.5K
  • 08 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Smart City Infrastructure
Smart city infrastructure contains: Infrastructure development using smart systems; Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and its role in infrastructure construction, management, maintenance and operation; Sustainability in current smart infrastructure.
  • 1.5K
  • 15 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Handedness
Handedness is described as an aspect of hemispheric specialization of function. This entry shows how hand-use, skill, and preference measures are more appropriate for examining the relation of handedness to other forms of hemispheric specialization of function (speech control, praxis, motor control mechanisms, sensorimotor foundations of cognition). 
  • 1.5K
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Organic Acids and Feeding
Because the application of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) causes accelerated adverse effects on the animal diet, the scientific community has taken progressive steps to enhance sustainable animal productivity without using AGP in animal nutrition. Organic acids (OAs) are non-antibiotic feed additives and a promising feeding strategy in the swine and broiler industry. Mechanistically, OAs improve productivity through multiple and diverse pathways in: (a) reduction of pathogenic bacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) by reducing the gut pH; (b) boosting the digestibility of nutrients by facilitating digestive enzyme secretion and increasing feed retention time in the gut system; and (c) having a positive impact and preventing meat quality deterioration without leaving any chemical residues. Recent studies have reported the effectiveness of using encapsulated OAs and synergistic mechanisms of OAs combinations in swine and broiler productivity. On the other hand, the synergistic mechanisms of OAs and the optimal combination of OAs in the animal diet are not completely understood, and further intensive scientific explorations are needed. 
  • 1.5K
  • 24 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Measurable Residual Disease in AML
Relapse is still a major problem in AML because it occurs in about 60–80% of patients, even those who have previously achieved complete remission (CR), defined by the presence of ≤5% bone marrow (BM) leukemic cells. Thus, since CR is unable to predict the relapse risk, significantly more sensitive techniques aimed at identifying AML cells in BM or peripheral blood, a parameter termed measurable residual disease (MRD), have been developed. Among them, RT-qPCR, which analyses appropriate molecular markers, and multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC), which analyses aberrantly expressed antigens, have been identified as the methods of choice for MRD detection. 
  • 1.5K
  • 22 Sep 2021
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