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Topic Review
Two-Dimensional Materials for Optoelectronics Applications
The past one and a half decades have witnessed the tremendous progress of two-dimensional (2D) crystals, including graphene, transition-metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorus, MXenes, hexagonal boron nitride, etc., in a variety of fields. The key to their success is their unique structural, electrical, mechanical and optical properties. Two-dimensional materials are layered crystalline solids that have strong bonding in the crystal plane, while the forces between the adjacent atomic layers are weak van-der-Waals forces. The special structure of 2D materials endows them with many remarkable abilities.
  • 1.5K
  • 12 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Machine Failure Prediction Using Survival Analysis
With the rapid growth of cloud computing and the creation of large-scale systems such as IoT environments, the failure of machines/devices and, by extension, the systems that rely on them is a major risk to their performance, usability, and the security systems that support them. The need to predict such anomalies in combination with the creation of fault-tolerant systems to manage them is a key factor for the development of safer and more stable systems. 
  • 1.5K
  • 19 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Decision Support for Patient-Centered Care
Care management strategies could be effectively used and augmented by shared decision support systems or artificial intelligence.  Evidence-based approaches to the determinants and consequences of chronic care management  are suggested. The proper utilization of care management strategies will not only enhance better patient care outcomes but also reduce the hospitalization or readmission.
  • 1.5K
  • 02 Nov 2020
Topic Review
MRNA as vaccination tool
Transcription of mRNA is carried out by RNA ´polymerase II in eukaryotes. This a complex process involving protein biopolymers. mRNA can be used as vaccine and can be delivered into the cells to produce an antigen. This mRNA-based vaccine could be used for several infectious diseases, cancer and SARS-CoV-2 virus. It can be also used to deliver a missing protein in a particular cell type. A functional mRNA can be in vitro transcribed, either by using a viral RNA polymerase or an eukaryotic RNA polymerase II together with a capping system. 
  • 1.5K
  • 20 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Brain Iron Metabolism
Iron is an essential trace element important for many biological functions, including the essential functions of the nervous system. Understanding the mechanisms of iron homeostasis is  of clinical relevance since either depletion or accumulation of intracellular iron may affect the normal function of the cell. Brain iron metabolism is a topic of growing interest since numerous researches have proved its role in neurodegeneration (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease) and other neurological disorders, especially in elderly. Maintaining of brain iron homeostasis is very specific because of the blood-brain barrier. It is a physiological barrier formed by the endothelial cells that line cerebral microvessels and has an important role in maintaining a precisely regulated brain microenvironment. Despite the years of research, the complex mechanisms for the iron influx, efflux, and regulation in the brain are not completely resolved. It would be of great importance for the future research to determine the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms related to disturbances of brain iron metabolism, especially in the context of brain aging and as potential therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.
  • 1.5K
  • 01 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Medical Imaging Applications
The advancement of micro-electro-mechanical systems and small-sized optical components enable the fabrication of imaging devices with promising performance as compared to the traditional medical devices. Such devices enable the detection of lesions/tumors at an earlier stage and act as a guide during surgical procedures, increasing diagnostic capabilities. A variety of different imaging techniques used in medical applications are reviewed in here.
  • 1.5K
  • 16 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Female Fertility and Environmental Pollution
Terrestrial ecosystems are contaminated by heavy metals and organic chemicals that can be taken up by and accumulate in crop plants, and water tables are heavily contaminated by untreated industrial discharges. As deadly particulates can drift far, poor air quality has become a significant global problem and one that is not exclusive to major industrialized cities. The consequences are a dramatic impairment of our ecosystem and biodiversity and increases in degenerative or man-made diseases. In this respect, it has been demonstrated that environmental pollution impairs fertility in all mammalian species. The worst consequences are observed for females since the number of germ cells present in the ovary is fixed during fetal life, and the cells are not renewable. This means that any pollutant affecting hormonal homeostasis and/or the reproductive apparatus inevitably harms reproductive performance. 
  • 1.5K
  • 18 Jan 2021
Topic Review
AT1R Antagonists
Hypertension is a medical condition where the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. However, even if one does not exhibit symptoms, long-term high blood pressure is the major risk factor for numerous pathologies, such as stroke or heart failure. Angiotensin II (AII) receptor blockers are a class of molecules that act in the Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) through binding to the AT1 receptor (Angiotensin II receptor type 1, AT1R) and preventing its activity. AT1R is a G-protein-coupled receptor that is responsible for AII pathophysiological actions.
  • 1.5K
  • 19 May 2021
Topic Review
Subclinical B12 Deficiency in Elderly
Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin that plays a pivotal role for several physiologic functions during one’s lifespan. Specific sub-group populations, such as elderly, are at risk of vitamin B12 subclinical deficiency due to different factors. This narrative review aims to summarize facts about B12 deficiency and the burden of inadequate dietary intake in elderly population, as well as to discuss sustainable approaches to vitamin B12 deficiency in aging population.
  • 1.5K
  • 11 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Outer Membrane Vesicles
OMVs are rounded nanostructures released during their growth by Gram-negative bacteria. Biologically active toxins and virulence factors are often entrapped within these vesicles that behave as molecular carriers. Recently, OMVs have been reported to contain DNA molecules, but little is known about the vesicle packaging, release, and transfer mechanisms.
  • 1.5K
  • 15 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Resveratrol Treatment and Periodontal Disease
Resveratrol is an anti-inflammatory compound found in several foods. Periodontal disease (PD) is associated to other systemic diseases, and inflammation may be responsible for the association. 
  • 1.5K
  • 23 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Liquid Crystal Waveguide Structures
Liquid crystal materials can be used to make either a core, in which light beams can be confined, or a cladding of optical waveguides.
  • 1.5K
  • 02 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Entomophagy
Entomophagy, the practice of eating insects as food, has recently been receiving more widespread recognition along with growing public interest in adopting more sustainable diets. Compared with meats, edible insects taste just as good, are equally or even more nutritious, and have a significantly smaller environmental footprint. However, the adoption of entomophagy is still limited, particularly in Western countries. Considering the environmental benefits of entomophagy and its potential contribution to food security, it is important to understand factors that can influence the willingness to try edible insects as meat substitutes, and policy tools that can encourage the adoption of entomophagy. 
  • 1.5K
  • 02 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Dyslipidemia in Renal Transplant Recipients
Dyslipidemia is a frequent complication after kidney transplantation (KT) and is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Renal transplant recipients (RTRs) are considered at high, or very high, risk of CVD, which is a leading cause of death in patient group. Despite many factors of post-transplant dyslipidemia, the immunosuppressive treatment has the biggest influence on a lipid profile. There are no strict dyslipidemia treatment guidelines for RTRs, but the ones proposing an individual approach regarding CVD risk seem most suitable. Proper diet and physical activity are the main general measures to manage dyslipidemia and should be introduced initially in every patient after KT. In the case of an insufficient correction of lipemia, statins are the basis for hypolipidemic treatment. Statins should be introduced with caution to avoid serious side-effects (e.g., myopathy) or drug-drug interactions, especially with immunosuppressants. To lower the incidence of adverse effects, and improve medication adherence, ezetimibe in combination with statins is recommended. 
  • 1.5K
  • 31 May 2022
Topic Review
Refrigeration Systems and Energy Efficiency
Cooling towers constitute a fundamental part of refrigeration systems in power plants and large commercial buildings. Their main function is to treat the heat emitted by other equipment to cool down the temperature of the environment and/or processes. In the considered refrigeration system, cooling towers are coupled with compression chillers.
  • 1.5K
  • 27 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Interval Scheduling
Interval scheduling is a class of problems in computer science, particularly in the area of algorithm design. The problems consider a set of tasks. Each task is represented by an interval describing the time in which it needs to be executed. For instance, task A might run from 2:00 to 5:00, task B might run from 4:00 to 10:00 and task C might run from 9:00 to 11:00. A subset of intervals is compatible if no two intervals overlap. For example, the subset {A,C} is compatible, as is the subset {B}; but neither {A,B} nor {B,C} are compatible subsets, because the corresponding intervals within each subset overlap. The interval scheduling maximization problem (ISMP) is to find a largest compatible set - a set of non-overlapping intervals of maximum size. The goal here is to execute as many tasks as possible. In an upgraded version of the problem, the intervals are partitioned into groups. A subset of intervals is compatible if no two intervals overlap, and moreover, no two intervals belong to the same group (i.e. the subset contains at most a single representative interval of each group). The group interval scheduling decision problem (GISDP) is to decide whether there exists a compatible set in which all groups are represented. The goal here is to execute a single representative task from each group. GISDPk is a restricted version of GISDP in which the number of intervals in each group is at most k. The group interval scheduling maximization problem (GISMP) is to find a largest compatible set - a set of non-overlapping representatives of maximum size. The goal here is to execute a representative task from as many groups as possible. GISMPk is a restricted version of GISMP in which the number of intervals in each group is at most k. This problem is often called JISPk, where J stands for Job. GISMP is the most general problem; the other two problems can be seen as special cases of it:
  • 1.5K
  • 07 Nov 2022
Topic Review
NGF and the Male Reproductive System
Infertility is a worldwide health issue defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the inability to establish a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular and unprotected sexual intercourse. Male infertility etiology can be related to either congenital or acquired factors. The therapeutical approach to male infertility depends on the underlying causes and includes medical and surgical treatments. The potential role of nerve growth factor (NGF) in male reproductive physiology has been proposed. It has been hypothesized that neurotrophins might be involved in testis morphogenesis and regulation of several aspects of spermatogenesis. Moreover, it has been shown that NGF exerts its role on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons through the activation of the PKC/p–ERK1/2/p–CREB cascade, which leads to the activation of hypothalamic cells and the consequent activation of hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal axis (HPG) with the secretion of GnRH.
  • 1.5K
  • 21 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Neuroprotective Potential of Cordyceps Extracts
Cordyceps, also known as “zombie fungus”, is a non-poisonous mushroom that parasitizes insects for growth and development by manipulating the host system in a way that makes the victim behave like a “zombie”. These species produce promising bioactive metabolites, like adenosine, β-glucans, cordycepin, and ergosterol. Cordyceps has been used in traditional medicine due to its immense health benefits, as it boosts stamina, appetite, immunity, longevity, libido, memory, and sleep. Neuronal loss is the typical feature of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) (Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)) and neurotrauma. Both these conditions share common pathophysiological features, like oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and glutamatergic excitotoxicity. 
  • 1.5K
  • 01 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Irradiation-Tolerant Refractory High-Entropy Alloys
Along with the globalization of environmental problems and the rapid development of the field of nuclear technologies, the severe irradiation damage of materials has become a big issue, restricting the development of advanced nuclear reactor systems. Refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) have the characteristics of a complex composition, a short-range order, and lattice distortion and possess a high phase stability, outstanding mechanical properties, and excellent irradiation resistance at elevated temperatures; thus, they are expected to be promising candidates for advanced nuclear reactors. 
  • 1.5K
  • 18 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Supercritical CO2 Power Technology
In the late 1960s, a handful of inspired researchers predicted the great potential of supercritical CO2 (“sCO2”) cycles for the production of electricity and highlighted the prospects for dramatic reductions in component sizes and efficiency increases. Since then, considerable development programs have been deployed around the world to “tame” this new technology. 
  • 1.5K
  • 08 Mar 2024
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