Topic Review
Carbon Emission Characteristics of Railways
Rail transportation plays a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions from the transportation system, making a significant contribution to environmental impact mitigation due to the efficiency of passenger and freight rail transportation. Estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions impacts into the atmosphere are intrinsically linked to the modernization of transportation system, due this sector still heavily relies on fossil fuels, such as gasoline and diesel. In the context of studying GHG emissions and their life cycle, it is common to assess different alternatives to identify the most sustainable options. For example, when comparing different transportation systems, one can analyze not only the direct emissions from vehicles but also emissions associated with the manufacturing, maintenance, and operation of infrastructure such as roads, rails, or airports 
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  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Selected Conventional and Alternative Sweeteners on Gastrointestinal Hormones
Sugar consumption is known to be associated with a whole range of adverse health effects, including overweight status and type II diabetes mellitus. Alternative sweeteners have gained interest as substitutes for conventional sweeteners, such as sucrose, glucose, or fructose, to achieve a reduction in sugar intake without loss of the sweet taste. Several human studies have shed light on the differential effects of conventional sweeteners (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) and alternative sweeteners on metabolic parameters such as gastrointestinal (GI) hormone secretion, gastric emptying rates, energy intake, glycemic control, blood lipids, and uric acid. 
  • 88
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Failures of the Photovoltaic Module Components
With the global increase in the deployment of photovoltaic (PV) modules, the need to explore and understand their reported failure mechanisms has become crucial. Despite PV modules being considered reliable devices, failures and extreme degradations often occur. Some degradations and failures within the normal range may be minor and not cause significant harm. Others may initially be mild but can rapidly deteriorate, leading to catastrophic accidents, particularly in harsh environments.
  • 165
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Zinc Transporters in Different Biological Kingdoms
Zinc transporters take up/release zinc ions (Zn2+) across biological membranes and maintain intracellular and intra-organellar Zn2+ homeostasis. Since this process requires a series of conformational changes in the transporters, detailed information about the structures of different reaction intermediates is required for a comprehensive understanding of their Zn2+ transport mechanisms. Various Zn2+ transport systems have been identified in bacteria, yeasts, plants, and humans. 
  • 163
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Post-Discectomy Infection
Postoperative discitis (POD) accounts for 20% to 30% of all cases of pyogenic spondylodiscitis, while POD may be mis-or-under-diagnosed, due to the vague related symptomatology and the non-specific imaging findings. Most studies report infection rate of less than 1%, which increases with the addition of non-instrumented fusion to 2.4% to 6.2%. The onset of POD symptoms usually occurs at 2–4 weeks after an apparently uneventful operation. Back pain and muscle spasms are usually refractory to bed rest and analgesics. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the most sensitive and specific imaging diagnostic technique. Antimicrobial therapy depends on the results of tissue cultures, and along with bracing represents the mainstay of management. Surgical intervention is necessary in patients failing conservative treatment. For the majority of cases, extensive surgical debridement, antibiotic therapy, and orthosis immobilization are effective in eliminating the infection.
  • 96
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Satellite Constellations in Internet of Things
Artificial satellites serve various functions, such as communications, Earth observation, navigation, and global positioning. A satellite constellation is a group of satellites working together under centralized control to achieve a common objective. Positioned in complementary orbital planes and connected to global ground stations, these constellations aim to provide interconnected network capabilities for IoT communications. IoT communication satellites must effectively manage data frame repetitions, involving the capability to receive, process, and retransmit data from IoT devices operating in conditions of deficient coverage. IoT satellites prioritize compact form factors, simplicity, and scalability, aiming to support low-data-rate applications efficiently.
  • 199
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt toward Liver Transplant
Liver transplantation is currently the only curative therapy for patients with liver cirrhosis. Not all patients in the natural course of the disease will undergo transplantation, but the majority of them will experience portal hypertension and its complications. In addition to medical and endoscopic therapy, a key role in managing these complications is played by the placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). Some indications for TIPS placement are well-established, and they are expanding and broadening over time. 
  • 130
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Interconnected Smart Transactive Microgrids
Smart transactive microgrids (STMs) are defined as specialized microgrid systems that can autonomously regulate the generation, storage, and consumption of electricity among a network of users within a localized area. They enhance both economic and environmental efficiency by employing real-time pricing mechanisms and digital technologies. In a more general sense, STMs can be considered as a subset of microgrids (MGs) that incorporate principles of transactive energy, along with energy and information sharing among consumers. The United States Department of Energy (DOE) initially conceptualized this idea in the early 2000s, inaugurating the Grid Wise program in 2005 to modernize the national electric grid, which included the advancement of transactive energy systems.
  • 98
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Mindful Apocalypse
One of the foremost challenges in the ethnography of meditation is the research model itself. How can one examine an ethnographic ‘field’ that lacks a geographic location? When the domain of interest is interiority, the ethnographic method proves insufficient. It is not a question of prioritizing subjectivity within a clearly defined context, as is the case in medical anthropology where the experience of illness is explored. Instead, it is a matter of surpassing this boundary, as meditation seeks to transcend subjectivity and question it. Moreover, this subjectivity is also in dialogue with historical and socio-cultural dimensions of belonging but transcends it in the contemplative intention of meditation. 
  • 197
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Potential Immunohistochemical Biomarkers for Grading Oral Dysplasia
Oral cancer is becoming more and more frequent worldwide. Despite the widely available prevention, it is one of the most common cancers in the world, with 476,125 new cases and 225,900 deaths in 2020. Among the causes of carcinogenesis in the oral cavity, tobacco smoking or chewing, alcohol consumption, occupational exposure, risky sexual behaviour, genetic factors, and environmental pollution are widely mentioned. Smoking is the most prominent risk factor for oral cancer due to the carcinogenic chemicals in cigarette smoke, including nitrosamines, benzopyrenes, and aromatic amines. The risk of oral cancer is three times higher in smokers compared to non-smokers. In addition, the combination of cigarette smoking and frequent heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing cancer by several times.
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  • 12 Mar 2024
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