RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...

An alternating emf or voltage source is needed to supply an alternating current (AC) to a circuit. A coil of wire rotating in a magnetic field at a constant angular speed represents such a source. It also generates a sinusoidal alternating emf and serves as an industrial alternator.
One-way current through the meter is measured using diodes. A diode is a device with better conductivity in one direction compared to the other; in its ideal state, it has zero resistance in one direction and allows...

Switching behavior in Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs) is a fundamental aspect utilized in various electronic circuits, particularly for digital logic applications like switches and amplifiers. In a typical switching circuit, a BJT alternates between cut-off and saturation modes, corresponding to the "off" and "on" states, respectively, thus behaving like an ideal switch.
Cut-off Mode ("Off" State): In this state, both the emitter-base and collector-base junctions are reverse-biased. The...

A circuit breaker is a device engineered to interrupt fault currents and sometimes reclose automatically. When a fault current is detected, the breaker separates the electrical contacts, which generates an arc. This arc is extinguished by methods such as elongation, cooling, or splitting, depending on the breaker's design. Breakers are categorized based on the voltage they operate at and the medium used for arc extinction, such as air, oil, SF6 gas, or vacuum.
In high-voltage systems, circuit...

Overcurrent relays, crucial for circuit protection, are connected to the secondary current of a current transformer. There are two primary types of overcurrent relays: instantaneous and time-delay.
Instantaneous overcurrent relays activate immediately when the input current exceeds a predetermined value, known as the pickup current, instantly energizing the circuit breaker trip coil. This rapid response is vital for addressing severe faults quickly.
Time-delay overcurrent relays, on the other...

Coordinating time-delay overcurrent relays in complex radial systems and directional overcurrent relays in multi-source transmission loops can be challenging. Impedance relays address these issues by responding to the voltage-to-current ratio, specifically measuring the apparent impedance of a line. These relays become more sensitive during faults as current increases and voltage decreases, thereby reducing the apparent impedance.
Under normal conditions, low load currents keep the measured...