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Topic Review
Umtsimba
A traditional Swazi wedding ceremony is called umtsimba (Template:IPA-ss), where the bride commits herself to her new family for the rest of her life. The ceremony is a celebration that includes members of both the bride's - and the groom's - natal village. There are stages to the wedding that stretch over a few days. Each stage is significant, comprising symbolic gestures that have been passed on from generation to generation. The first stage is the preparation of the bridal party before leaving their village. The second stage is the actual journey of the bridal party from their village to the groom's village. The third stage is the first day of the wedding ceremony that spans three days, and starts on the day the bridal party arrives at the grooms’ village. Thereafter the actual wedding ceremony takes place which is the fourth stage of the umtsimba. The fifth stage takes place the day after the wedding ceremony and is known as kuteka, which is the actual wedding. The final stage may take place the day after the wedding day, and is when the bride gives the groom's family gifts and is the first evening the bride spends with the groom. Although the traditional wedding ceremony has evolved in modern times, the details below are based on historic accounts of anthropologist Hilda Kuper and sociological research describing the tradition
  • 1.4K
  • 19 Oct 2022
Topic Review
RNAi-Based Biocontrol of Pests
Insects and ectoparasites are causes for major concern throughout the world due to their economic and welfare impacts on livestock agriculture. Current control measures involve chemicals such as acaricides which pose challenges like chemical resistance and longer withholding periods. To enable more sustainable agriculture practices, it is important to develop technologies that combine targeted effectiveness with minimal environmental footprint. RNA interference (RNAi) is a eukaryotic process in which transcript expression is reduced in a sequence-specific manner. This makes it a perfect tool for developing efficient and effective biological control against pests and pathogens. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is the key trigger molecule for inducing RNAi; this concept is widely studied for development of RNA-based biopesticides as an alternative to chemical controls in crop protection for targeting pests and pathogens with accuracy and specificity.
  • 1.4K
  • 10 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Enhanced Traceability of Livestock-Based Products by Blockchain Technology
Blockchain has become a modern technology that can enhance the traceability of products and services, which is particularly relevant to agri-food supply chains. While blockchain technology is potentially sustainable and worthy of applications, there remain various limitations and complications toward adoption, such as the low awareness among stakeholders, the weak sector-wide coordination, and the lack of capacity in primary suppliers. Potential benefits and implications of blockchain technology for the food industry have yet to be widely understood, especially in the ASEAN. These findings would call for coordinated support from both the governments and the private sector, especially to raise awareness of the technology, reinforce sector-wide coordination, and develop skills required for adoption.
  • 1.4K
  • 17 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a widespread condition all over the world, with a high risk of mortality in pre-hospital and in-hospital settings when it is not promptly and adequately treated. Hypothermia can occur due to unfavorable environmental conditions as well as internal causes, such as pathological states that result in reduced heat production, increased heat loss or ineffectiveness of the thermal regulation system. The consequences of hypothermia affect several systems in the body—the cardiovascular system, the central and peripheral nervous systems, the respiratory system, the endocrine system and the gastrointestinal system—but also kidney function, electrolyte balance and coagulation. 
  • 1.4K
  • 19 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Spices as Sustainable Food Preservatives
Throughout history, spices have been employed for their pharmaceutical attributes and as a culinary enhancement. The food industry widely employs artificial preservatives to retard the deterioration induced by microbial proliferation, enzymatic processes, and oxidative reactions. Nevertheless, the utilization of these synthetic preservatives in food products has given rise to significant apprehension among consumers, primarily stemming from the potential health risks that they pose. These risks encompass a spectrum of adverse effects, including but not limited to gastrointestinal disorders, the disruption of gut microbiota, allergic reactions, respiratory complications, and concerns regarding their carcinogenic properties. Consequently, consumers are displaying an increasing reluctance to purchase preserved food items that contain such additives. Spices, known for their antimicrobial value, are investigated for their potential as food preservatives. 
  • 1.4K
  • 09 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Eastern Subterranean Termite
Reticulitermes flavipes, the eastern subterranean termite is the most common termite found in North America. These termites are the most economically important wood destroying insects in the United States and are classified as pests. They feed on cellulose material such as the structural wood in buildings, wooden fixtures, paper, books, and cotton. A mature colony can range from 20,000 workers to as high as 5 million workers and the primary queen of the colony lays 5,000 to 10,000 eggs per day to add to this total.
  • 1.4K
  • 10 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Potato Phytochemicals
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) has gradually become a stable food worldwide since it can be a practical nutritional supplement and antioxidant as well as an energy provider for human beings. Financially and nutritionally, the cultivation and utility of potatoes is worthy of attention from the world. Exploring the functionality and maximizing the utilization of its component parts as well as developing new products based on the potato is still an ongoing issue. To maximize the benefits of potato and induce new high-value products while avoiding unfavorable properties of the crop has been a growing trend in food and medical areas. 
  • 1.4K
  • 08 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Electrofermentation of Lactic Acid Bacteria
Microbial electrosynthesis is the process of supplying electrons to microorganisms to reduce CO2 and yield industrially relevant products. Such systems are limited by their requirement for high currents, resulting in challenges to cell survival. Electrofermentation is an electron-efficient form of microbial electrosynthesis in which a small cathodic or anodic current is provided to a culture to alter the oxidation–reduction potential of the medium and, in turn, alter microbial metabolism. This approach has been successfully utilised to increase yields of diverse products including biogas, butanediol and lactate. Biomass conversion to lactate is frequently facilitated by ensiling plant biomass with homofermentative lactic acid bacteria. Although most commonly used as a preservative in ensiled animal feed, lactate has diverse industrial applications as a precursor for the production of probiotics, biofuels, bioplastics and platform chemicals. Lactate yields by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are constrained by a number of redox limitations which must be overcome while maintaining profitability and sustainability. 
  • 1.4K
  • 02 Dec 2022
Topic Review
The Rhizobial Type 3 Secretion System
Rhizobia are soil bacteria that can establish a symbiotic association with legumes. As a result, plant nodules are formed on the roots of the host plants where rhizobia differentiate to bacteroids capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. This ammonia is transferred to the plant in exchange of a carbon source and an appropriate environment for bacterial survival. This process is subjected to a tight regulation with several checkpoints to allow the progression of the infection or its restriction. The type 3 secretion system (T3SS) is a secretory system that injects proteins, called effectors (T3E), directly into the cytoplasm of the host cell, altering host pathways or suppressing host defense responses. The final effect of the different effectors can be neutral, beneficial or detrimental for symbiosis, depending on the host plants and the cocktail of effectors secreted. Whereas, in some cases, several T3SS effectors can induce the formation of nodules in the absence of Nod factors, in other cases the recognition of specific effectors by specific plant receptors can block nodulation. 
  • 1.4K
  • 15 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Mediterranean Diet (MD)
The Mediterranean Diet (MD), UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, has become a scientific topic of high interest due to its health benefits. The aim of this review is to pick up selected studies that report nutrigenomic or nutrigenetic data and recapitulate some of the biochemical/genomic/genetic aspects involved in the positive health effects of the MD. These include (i) the antioxidative potential of its constituents with protective effects against several diseases; (ii) the epigenetic and epigenomic effects exerted by food components, such as Indacaxanthin, Sulforaphane, and 3-Hydroxytyrosol among others, and their involvement in the modulation of miRNA expression; (iii) the existence of predisposing or protective human genotypes due to allelic diversities and the impact of the MD on disease risk. A part of the review is dedicated to the nutrigenomic effects of the main cooking methods used in the MD and also to a comparative analysis of the nutrigenomic properties of the MD and other diet regimens and non-MD-related aliments. Taking all the data into account, the traditional MD emerges as a diet with a high antioxidant and nutrigenomic modulation power, which is an example of the “Environment-Livings-Environment” relationship and an excellent patchwork of interconnected biological actions working toward human health.
  • 1.4K
  • 25 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Cells and DNA
Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. The human body is composed of trillions of cells. They provide structure for the body, take in nutrients from food, convert those nutrients into energy, and carry out specialized functions. Cells also contain the body's hereditary material and can make copies of themselves. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA). Mitochondria are structures within cells that convert the energy from food into a form that cells can use.
  • 1.4K
  • 24 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Genomic Research
Discovering the sequence of the human genome was a major goal of the Human Genome Project, completed in 2003. The next stage of genomic research will begin to derive meaningful knowledge from the DNA sequence. 
  • 1.4K
  • 24 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Zirconia
Zirconia is one of the indirect metal-free restorations used in dental medicine.
  • 1.4K
  • 01 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Nrf2 and HO-1 in Atherosclerosis
Oxidative stress mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a key role in the atherosclerotic process. ROS not only oxidize LDL, they also promote several pro-atherogenic effects, including inflammation, apoptosis, and alteration of vascular tone. The imbalance between pro- and antioxidant agents drives to the formation and progression of atherosclerotic plaque lesions. In this sense, the transcription factor Nuclear factor–erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is known to activate the expression of more than 250 antioxidant enzymes—such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutathione peroxidase, or glutamate-cysteine ligase —making it a master regulator of oxidative stress. Nrf2 has been associated with different cardiovascular-related pathologies—such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, hypertension, or heart failure. Currently, Nrf2 signaling pathway is considered an important defense mechanism against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
  • 1.4K
  • 11 Oct 2021
Topic Review
The Acoustic System of the Fendouzhe HOV
Due to the strong absorption and attenuation of electromagnetic waves by water, radio communications and global positioning systems are lacking in the deep-sea environment. Therefore, underwater long-distance communications, positioning, detection and other functions depend on acoustic technology. In order to realize the above functions, the acoustic system of the Fendouzhe human occupied vehicle (HOV) is composed of eight kinds of sonars and sensors, which is one of the core systems of manned submersible. 
  • 1.4K
  • 28 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Epigenetics in the Uterine Environment
The societal burden of non-communicable disease is closely linked with environmental exposures and lifestyle behaviours, including the adherence to a poor maternal diet from the earliest preimplantation period of the life course onwards. Epigenetic variations caused by a compromised maternal nutritional status can affect embryonic development and offspring health later in life.
  • 1.4K
  • 14 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Parent-Implemented Early Start Denver Model
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can cause difficulties in communication and social interaction. Naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions (NDBIs) have been tested by clinical trials of behavioral treatments. NDBIs integrate developmental and relationship-based approaches with applied behavioral analysis (ABA) strategies and are implemented in the child’s day-to-day environment, including in play and routine activities where many learning opportunities can be embedded. Among evidence-based practices, the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) is a representative approach to NDBIs. In addition, ESDM follows comprehensive NDBI principles, grounded in developmental and behavioral science and neuroscientific evidence.
  • 1.4K
  • 22 Feb 2022
Topic Review
MOC and Wood as a Composite Building Material
Magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) is one of the alternatives, also known as Sorel cement, this type of cement is formed by the reaction of light burned MgO with MgCl2 water solution.
  • 1.4K
  • 28 Mar 2022
Topic Review
3D Printed Nonlinear Musculoskeletal Actuator
A nature-inspired musculoskeletal-actuator system is developed using 3d printing for robotic applications. The actuator resembles the rigid segments and the soft-rigid interaction architecture found in limbless vertebrates such as snakes. The rigid segments provide an increase in the range of motion while maintaining structural durability and stability. The soft-rigid interactions provided a remarkable increase in energy transmission and storage, which enhanced the reliability of the musculoskeletal-actuator. Additionally, passive structural stiffness and damping control are achieved. Similar to a muscular system, our musculoskeletal-actuator is capable of increasing its stiffness and damping up to 100% and 60%, respectively, upon load lifting.
  • 1.4K
  • 28 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in the Corneal Epithelium
It has been known for some time that the addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) promotes the restoration of the corneal epithelium and patients using EGFR inhibitors as anti-cancer therapies are at increased risk of corneal erosions. However, the use of EGF in the clinic has been limited by downregulation of the receptor. More recent advances in EGFR signaling and trafficking in corneal epithelial cells have provided new insights in how to overcome receptor desensitization. 
  • 1.4K
  • 25 Mar 2022
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