Topic Review
Physiological Mental Workload Indicators
Mental workload (MWL), sometimes referred to as cognitive workload, is a dynamic concept that acquires different meanings depending on the outcome desired.  Physiological indicators of MWL have gained an immense amount of attention in several domains, considering their objective nature. The response of the human body to external sources of workloads can be effectively observed through physiological signal markers that are not heavily affected by subjective opinions. Overall, it can be considered an indirect measure that can be related to MWL and has a relatively quicker response to sudden shifts. Physiological processes that include heart activity, respiration, digestion, and sexual arousal are involuntarily regulated by the peripheral component of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system has three distinct divisions, namely, the sympathetic (SNS), parasympathetic (PNS), and enteric. The activation of the SNS and PNS can be directly observed in HR and HRV variations. Some commonly used SNS- and PNS-related physiological indicators are heart rate (HR), heartrate variability (HRV), respiratory rate (RR), galvanic skin response (GSR), and electrodermal activity (EDA). Eye-related data such as pupil size are also a result of autonomic activity and have been an important component of MWL research, as visual and mental tasks are highly correlated. Previous research has suggested that an increase in the cognitive demand or an increase in the MWL can result in increased blood flow in the frontal cortex of the brain.
  • 411
  • 18 May 2023
Topic Review
Natural Killer Cells in Liver Fibrosis
Natural killer (NK) cells are a key component of innate immunity and have miscellaneous roles in liver health and disease. Accumulating evidence shows that NK cells play dual roles in the development and progression of liver fibrosis, including profibrotic and anti-fibrotic functions.
  • 344
  • 18 May 2023
Topic Review
Osteogenesis and Its Hormone Regulation
Hormones are major contributors to osteogenesis and deviations in hormone expression can lead to an undesired bone formation outcome. Bone development is hormone dependent, with each hormone having its own receptor in bone tissue and controlled by several endocrine glands. Therefore, these pathways are susceptible to endocrine disruption by environmental insults, including EDCs, that can cause osteogenic defects.
  • 472
  • 18 May 2023
Topic Review
Carcino-Evo-Devo
The term “carcino-evo-devo” was used for the first time as a name for the theory of the evolutionary role of tumors. The new term was coined from two other terms: “carcinoembryonic” and “evo-devo”.
  • 433
  • 18 May 2023
Topic Review
Pleiotropic Signaling by Reactive Oxygen Species
The excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of diseases. ROS are central to cellular redox regulation and act as second messengers to activate redox-sensitive signals. Studies have revealed that certain sources of ROS can be beneficial or harmful to human health. Considering the essential and pleiotropic roles of ROS in basic physiological functions, future therapeutics should be designed to modulate the redox state. Dietary phytochemicals, microbiota, and metabolites derived from them can be expected to be developed as drugs to prevent or treat disorders in the tumor microenvironment.
  • 399
  • 18 May 2023
Topic Review
Protein Sorting at the Outer Mitochondrial Membrane
Mitochondria are double membrane-bound organelles consisting of an outer membrane, intermembrane space (IMS), inner membrane, and matrix that play critical functions in cells including metabolism, energy production, regulation of intrinsic apoptosis, and maintenance of calcium homeostasis. Mitochondria are fascinatingly equipped with their own genome and machinery for transcribing and translating 13 essential proteins of the oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS). The rest of the proteins (99%) that function in mitochondria in the various pathways described above are nuclear-transcribed and synthesized as precursors in the cytosol. These proteins are imported into the mitochondria by the unique mitochondrial protein import system that consists of seven machineries. Proper functioning of the mitochondrial protein import system is crucial for optimal mitochondrial deliverables, as well as mitochondrial and cellular homeostasis.
  • 501
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
Blood-Borne Proteins in Alzheimer’s Disease
The blood–brain barrier (BBB) restricts entry of neurotoxic plasma components, blood cells, and pathogens into the brain, leading to proper neuronal functioning. BBB impairment leads to blood-borne protein infiltration such as prothrombin, thrombin, prothrombin kringle-2, fibrinogen, fibrin, and other harmful substances. Thus, microglial activation and release of pro-inflammatory mediators commence, resulting in neuronal damage and leading to impaired cognition via neuroinflammatory responses, which are important features observed in the brain of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients.
  • 417
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
Ethylene and Jasmonates Biosynthesis and Signaling
While ethylene is the simplest known olefin, JAs (jasmonates) include its free acid and a number of conjugates. Both ethylene and JAs occur in almost all tissues of higher plants and regulate developmental and physiological processes (e.g., root development, accumulation of anthocyanins) in a complex manner.
  • 278
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
CRISPR-Cas Genome Editing for Insect Pest Stress
Global crop yield and food security are being threatened by phytophagous insects. Innovative methods are required to increase agricultural output while reducing reliance on hazardous synthetic insecticides. Using the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas technology to develop insect-resistant plants appears to be highly efficient at lowering production costs and increasing farm profitability. The genomes of a model insect, Drosophila melanogaster, and major phytophagous insect genera, viz. Spodoptera, Helicoverpa, Nilaparvata, Locusta, Tribolium, Agrotis, etc., were successfully edited by the CRISPR-Cas toolkits. However, this new method can alter an insect’s DNA to either induce a gene drive or overcome an insect’s tolerance to certain insecticides. The rapid progress in the methodologies of CRISPR technology and their diverse applications show a high promise in the development of insect-resistant plant varieties or other strategies for the sustainable management of insect pests to ensure food security.
  • 532
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
Two phytochrome A Types in Plants
The phytochrome (phy) system of plants with the main phyA and phyB controls their development beginning from seed germination to fruiting and senescence. The regulation reactions are categorized into three modes—the very low and low fluence responses (VLFR and LFR) and the high irradiance responses (HIR). The phyA is unique among the other phytochromes; it is major in etiolated seedlings and light-labile, and mediates all the three photoresponse modes. The phyB is light-stable, dominates in deetiolated plants, and performs the LFR. The phyA is itself heterogeneous which may explain its functional complexity. It comprises two native types, phyA′ and phyA″, the products of post-translational modification of the molecule at the N-terminus, possibly, via serine phosphorylation. This alters chromophore-apoprotein interactions resulting in the different photochemical, phenomenological, and functional properties of the two phyA pools. The phyA′ is major, water-soluble, and light-labile; the phyA″ is minor, amphiphilic, and relatively light-stable. The phyA′ mediates the VLFR whereas the water-soluble fraction of phyA″ is responsible for the HIR and LFR, the processes taking place in the nucleus. The membrane- (protein-) associated fraction of phyA” is likely to participate in the cytoplasmic photoregulation processes. The phyA pools' functions—their mode, intensity and sign—depend on plant's species, genotype and organ/tissue. The evidence of the existence of the two distinct phyA types in a plant, and their physicochemical properties and their role in the phyA functioning are discussed.
  • 704
  • 17 May 2023
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