by Mason L. Yeh  and Eric S. Levine

Received: 11 April 2017;  Published: 27 April 2017;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1702005

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are diagnosed on the basis of three behavioral features, namely, (1) deficits in social communication, (2) absence or delay in language and (3) stereotypy. The consensus regarding the neurological pathogenesis of ASDs is aberrant synaptogenesis and synapse function. Further, it is now widely accepted that ASD is neurodevelopmental in nature, placing emphasis on derangements occurring at the level of intra- and intercellular signaling during corticogenesis. At present, there is an ev [...]

by Jessie Poquérusse  and Bryan W. Luikart

Received: 10 April 2017;  Published: 24 April 2017;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1702004

Large-scale genetic sequencing studies have identified a wealth of genes in which mutations are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Understanding the biological function of these genes sheds light onto the neurodevelopmental basis of ASD. To this end, we defined functional categories representing brain development – (1) Cell Division and Survival, (2) Cell Migration and Differentiation, (3) Neuronal Morphological Elaboration, (4) Development and Regulation of Cellular Excitability, and (5) Synapse Forma [...]

by Linda J. Larson-Prior  , Gohar Azhar  , David G. Davila  , Se-Ran Jun  , Aaron S. Kemp  , Intawat Nookaew  , Jeanne Y. Wei  and Trudy M. Wassenaar

Received: 22 February 2019;  Published: 12 April 2017;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1702003

(1) Background: The daily rhythms of life on earth are governed by a central clock located in the hypothalamus and entrained primarily by light. By virtue of its connections to a myriad of other clocks located both in the brain and in peripheral organs and cells, this clock provides a timing signal based on the light/dark cycle by which organismal physiology and behaviour are governed. Disturbances of these natural rhythms have multiple downstream effects, frequently resulting in dysregulations of sleep and wake cy [...]

by Laurie C. Delatour  and Hermes H. Yeh

Received: 14 March 2017;  Published: 23 March 2017;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1701002

Maternal consumption of alcohol (ethanol) during pregnancy can lead to life-long neurobehavioral and cognitive abnormalities in the offspring, collectively referred to as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Prenatal exposure to ethanol is one of the leading causes of non-genetic intellectual disability and FASD is an umbrella category that includes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Alcohol Related Birth Defects, and Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder. Children with a history of&n [...]

by Jenny Berrío  , Weiwen Wang  and Bart A. Ellenbroek

Received: 22 February 2019;  Published: 14 March 2017;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1701001

Antipsychotics have been a pillar in the treatment of schizophrenia since their introduction more than 60 years ago. Their variety in structures and receptor binding properties confers on them a complex clinical profile of effectiveness and risk of adverse side-effects. Although antipsychotics are best known for their therapeutic effects in schizophrenia, these are limited to the positive symptoms, with much less influence on negative symptoms or cognitive deficits. Moreover, although the newer (so-called second-ge [...]

by Ovis D. Irefu  , Godslove I. Ebiega  , Terdoo M. Dugeri  and Seyi J. Fanifosi

Received: 29 April 2026;  Published: 26 August 2026;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2603015

Renewable energy systems play a critical role in reducing carbon emissions and promoting energy sustainability. Conventional battery storage remains the dominant but problematic solution for intermittency management in off-grid renewable energy systems (RES), imposing high capital costs ($150-400/kWh for lithium-ion), short replacement cycles of 3-15 years, and significant environmental burdens from toxic material disposal barriers that are particularly acute in the remote and resource-limited communities that most [...]

by Nathália Dias Araújo  , Patrísia de Oliveira Rodrigues  , Mariana Fornazier Borges  , Anderson Gabriel Corrêa  , Gabriela Ciribelli Santos Pompêu  , Milla Alves Baffi  and Daniel Pasquini

Received: 19 May 2026;  Published: 24 August 2026;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2603014

Organosolv pretreatment is an attractive approach to disrupt the recalcitrant structure of lignocellulosic biomass from agroindustrial wastes, aiming to facilitate its bioconversion into valuable bioproducts. This study investigated the ability of an ethanol/water (1:1 v/v) organosolv pretreatment to improve the enzymatic digestibility of sugarcane bagasse (SB), sugarcane straw (SS), corn straw (CS), and corn cob (CC) for the production of reducing sugars and monosaccharides, aiming at future applications in bioeth [...]

by Daming Zhang

Received: 11 August 2026;  Published: 23 August 2026;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2603013

In this paper, a method for operating AC microgrids in both off-grid or standalone and grid-connected modes is proposed to minimize the use of energy storage by increasing the number of PV panels and curtailing their output power. When the intensity of daylight decreases, power is imported from the main grid through an AC/DC/AC converter or solid-state transformers in parallel to compensate for the shortage. By using a three-phase transformer in Δ-Y connection with Y’s neutral connected to its local grounding syste [...]

by Francis Mafuratidze  , Hagreaves Kumba  , David Ndiyamba  and Ackson Gondo

Received: 27 January 2026;  Published: 08 July 2026;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2603012

Unreliable electricity supply remains a significant barrier to economic development in sub-Saharan Africa, with Zimbabwe experiencing acute load-shedding that disrupts residential, commercial, and industrial activity. This paper presents a techno-economic feasibility assessment of a mini wind turbine for distributed urban energy generation in Zvishavane, Zimbabwe. Wind resource data were sourced from two independent platforms Weather Spark (30-year climatological record) and Meteoblue (high-resolution reanalysis) a [...]

by Kuok Ho Daniel Tang

Received: 04 February 2026;  Published: 22 June 2026;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2602011

Bioenergy plays a differentiated yet increasingly strategic role in national energy transitions, shaped by distinct policy architectures, market structures, and developmental priorities. This review compares the bioenergy policies and markets of China, the United States (US), and India, three of the world’s largest energy consumers, to assess their implications for global bioenergy transitions. China’s bioenergy sector is embedded within a centralized, planning-based governance framework, emphasizing waste-to-energ [...]