by Sofia Silva  , Alexandra Cravo  , João Rodrigues  , Cátia Correia  and Cristina M.M. Almeida

Received: 09 April 2021;  Published: 19 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2102015

The use of biomarkers in bivalves has gained significance as a reliable method for the assessment of the presence and effect of contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. However, it is important to note that the biomarkers respond not only to contaminant loadings and bioavailability but also to environmental stress. Therefore, the association between biomarkers and contamination/pollution should be conducted cautiously as the environmental factors also affect their response. These factors should be integrated into the as [...]

by Shih-Ang Hsu

Received: 16 April 2021;  Published: 16 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2102025

During a tropical cyclone (TC) worldwide, the Regional and Mesoscale Meteorological Branch (RAMMB) of NOAA/NESDIS (http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/) issues real-time TC surface wind analyses. The purpose of this article is to provide value-added estimations of several meteorological and oceanographic (met-ocean) parameters including overwater friction velocity and turbulence intensity, variation of the wind speed with height, significant wave height, peak or dominant wave period, wind-driven currents and wind-stres [...]

by Jessica Turnbull  , Sally Hobson  , Jenna Vyas-Lee  and Bidisha Lahoti

Received: 31 January 2021;  Published: 15 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2102101

We describe our experience of setting up and evaluating a community-based multi-disciplinary sleep service for children with neurodevelopmental disorders and psychosocial vulnerabilities.Referrals are accepted for children (1-18 years of age) with persistent sleep problems, and neurodevelopmental difficulties or significant psychosocial adversity, living in two inner-city boroughs.Holistic sleep assessment involves 1-hour Paediatrician-led consultation, often followed by Psychologist-led parent workshop, with follo [...]

by Melodee Harris  , Priya Mendiratta  , Gohar Azhar  , Ruofei Du  and Jing Jin

Received: 24 November 2020;  Published: 15 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2102172

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) occur in almost all persons living with dementia. Antipsychotic medications are often prescribed inappropriately for persons living with dementia who experience NPS. Adverse side effects of antipsychotic medications include falls, sedation, cognitive dysfunction, prolonged QTc interval, extrapyramidal side effects, cerebrovascular events, metabolic changes, infection, and mortality. The purpose of this descriptive quality improvement project was to test the feasibility and preliminar [...]

by Mariusz KSIĄŻEK

Received: 24 March 2021;  Published: 15 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2102024

Metal parts of endoprosthesis have a detrimental effect on the bones that come into contact with them and on the entire body of the patient. Coating them with biocompatible layers (hydroxyapatite and bioglass) has not yet brought about permanent results. In this study, the author showed the possibility of using a binder containing sulfur waste for this purpose. The sulfur binder is used industrially in electrical engineering and construction applications. The chemical properties of elemental sulfur indicate that it [...]

by Andrew C. Chien  , Eric Y. Lin  and Nicole J. Ye

Received: 26 April 2021;  Published: 11 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2102024

The metallic copper, alkaline earth metal oxide, boron, and perovskite were incorporated on the surface of a Ni-cermet anode, and the performance of the modified Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) anode was evaluated. The cell performance was analyzed by voltage-current characteristics (V-I curve) and H2-CH4 step reactions (P-t curve) in a potentiostatic mode. Besides, we also determined if a metallic phase or high electronic conductivity of the anode is important for a cell to perform well when H2 is used as a fuel, whe [...]

by Mieczysław Szyszkowicz

Received: 14 April 2021;  Published: 10 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2102014

Each country has its own characteristics of COVID-19 infection trajectory and epidemic waves. Differences in government-implemented restrictions and social regulations result in variability of the virus transmissions and spread dynamics. This in turn results in various shapes of the growth function used to represent and describe the propagation of infection. Statistical methods are applied to fit non-linear functions to represent daily time-series data of the cumulative numbers of COVID-19 cases. The aim of this wo [...]

by Victoria Gómez-Dos-Santos  , Vital Hevia-Palacios  , María Laura García-Bermejo  , Alberto Alcázar-González  , Miren Edurne Ramos-Muñoz  , Laura Salinas-Muñoz  , Elisa Conde-Moreno  , Alejandro Escobar-Peso  , Ana Belén Serrano-Romero  , Ana Saiz-González  , Miriam Menacho-Román  and Francisco Javier Burgos-Revilla

Received: 22 December 2020;  Published: 10 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2102144

The efficacy and safety of using high concentrations of oxygen during hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) have not been fully elucidated to date. This study investigated the impact of administering high concentrations of oxygen on renal function during HMP in a porcine donation after circulatory death (DCD), as well as the metabolic and biochemical effects of this method. A randomized nonblinded cohort study was established in a porcine transplant (KT) model mimicking Maastricht type III DCD under oxygen-supplement [...]

by Arianna Massaro  , Ana B. Muñoz-García  , Mariarosaria Tuccillo  , Michele Pavone  and Pier Paolo Prosini

Received: 02 November 2020;  Published: 10 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2102022

The current state-of-the-art quantum mechanics methodologies were applied to derive information on the bulk and surface properties of the P2-type layered oxide Na0.85Li0.17Ni0.21Mn0.64O2 (NLNMO), a cathode material. The special quasi-random structure (SQS) approach was employed to identify the arrangement of Li, Ni, and Mn ions in a supercell containing 115 atoms. Both the cell parameters and atomic positions were determined from DFT-PBE+U calculations to highlight specific distortions induced by the dopants (Ni an [...]

by Kate McKeown  , Emma Richards  , Jessica Richardson  and Andrea Tales

Received: 08 January 2021;  Published: 07 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2102100

Information processing speed (Reaction time, RT) to a single administration of the Trails A and Trails B components of the Trail Making Test (TMT) is used in the assessment of brain and behavioural functional integrity across the lifespan in both clinical and research contexts. Although the clinical utility of such single trial-related and thus rapidly gained results, is recognised, it is possible that its administration as a single trial only, precludes its ability to provide a more in-depth and thus relevant repr [...]