MDPI Papers Cited in the News: April 2024
This month’s round-up of MDPI papers cited in the news includes articles that explore a range of topics, from gene therapy to extended reality. Cited in popular news sources such as Forbes and TIME magazine, the mentioned MDPI research covers hot science topics that remain increasingly relevant in the current landscape of science research and innovation.
Forbes: Gene Therapy Methods Explained
MDPI Viruses: Viral Vectors in Gene Therapy: Where do we stand in 2023?
Viruses are known to cause havoc in our bodies, causing particularly troublesome symptoms, such as a cold. The mechanisms by which viruses can infect our cells and cause these symptoms have been of great interest to scientists in the field of infectious disease. Researching these methods has enabled the usage of viruses to help combat disease.
An article in Forbes discusses how viruses can be modified and used to carry particular pieces of genetic information. These viruses are termed ‘viral vectors’, and are used to treat individuals with genetic disorders by entering the target cells and transferring the gene to the nucleus of the cell.
However, there are limitations to using viral vectors for gene therapy, including the potential to induce an immune reaction in the individual. A recent review of viral vectors in MDPI’s Viruses describes the different viral vectors, their uses, and potential future applications.
Viral vectors essentially work to ‘correct’ the cell’s genetic research. Hence, research on viral vectors continues to be a hot topic, with applications in cancer therapy, as well as other chronic genetic diseases.
TIME: Menopause is Finally Going Mainstream
MDPI Medicina: The Controversial History of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Menopause is a topic that has remained largely understudied. Although a stage of life experienced by every biological woman from around the ages of 45-55, this article in TIME discusses how most women feel uninformed about the symptoms of menopause and what to expect. There are also certain taboos and stigmas attached to menopause which meant that it was not as openly discussed in previous years. However, according to the article, there now seem to be more conversations surrounding menopause and doctors are more attentive to the treatment of patients to manage symptoms.
One of these treatments includes hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT is a type of treatment that replaces the hormones that are not produced as much during the period of menopause. However, there has been controversy regarding their usage due to their link with the development of endometrial cancer. Following this, there have been studies highlighting the benefits of using HRT; however, there are still mixed public perceptions and opinions on their usage. A review in Medicina dives into the history of HRT, exploring the claims made by previous studies on HRT and the effect this has had on many women suffering from severe symptoms of menopause.
Scientific American: Earth is Drowning in Plastic, can an International Treaty Help?
MDPI Polymers: Ramen Microspectroscopy Detection and Characterisation of Microplastics in Human Breastmilk
The production and usage of plastic has steadily reached record-high numbers, with over 350 million tons of plastic produced each year. Hence, the issue of plastic pollution remains an ever-growing problem. Discovering ways we can work on combatting this problem is of the utmost importance. Scientific American features an article on the problems stemming from plastic pollution with marine scientist Imogen Napper.
The hope of reducing the amount of pollution in the future largely depends on the actions of governments and international treaties. The impact of plastic pollution can be seen in many ways. Traces of plastics have been found in the food and drink we consume. Research published in MDPI’s Polymers shows the detection of microplastics in human breastmilk, highlighting the scale of the problem at hand.
Forbes: XR Marks the Spot: Using Extended Reality to Propel Innovation
MDPI Energies: Extended for Smart Building Operations and Maintenance: A Review
Extended reality (XR) has gone viral since Apple’s launch of Vision Pro, a headset that merges the digital and physical world. An article in Forbes explores this same type of XR technology, and its role in innovation, particularly in architecture and engineering.
The article runs through how this technology can be applied to help solve complex scenarios and can be a highly beneficial tool for humans to use as an ‘additive tool’ alongside their work. The article also mentions the role of XR in smart building operations and maintenance (O&M), and how its use is becoming increasingly popular in this field of innovation. The research cited is published in MDPI’s Energies, where the authors review the application of the different types of extended realities in O&M. This in-depth review highlights just how XR can be used to increase efficiency and create ease and comfort in modern society.
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