by Hassan-Ali Hakemi  and Ghazal Hakemi

Received: 05 December 2019;  Published: 03 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2001001

In this study, we explored the phase equilibria in blends of a nematic liquid crystal monomer and a nematic liquid crystal flexible polymer within the whole composition of the phase diagram. The crystal-nematic and nematic-isotropic transition temperatures, as well as the transition enthalpies and entropies, indicated the total miscibility in this mesogenic blend system. We also extracted an empirical axial ratio of 4.52 for the polymer from the nematic-isotropic transitions of the blends. Further, from the biphasi [...]

by Malith Kadirappulli-Hewage  and Rasika Jayasekara

Received: 30 August 2019;  Published: 02 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001096

Social isolation and social disconnectedness have resulted in some older adults ending their lives by suicide; therefore, improving social connectedness has become an integral part of suicide prevention programmes. The purpose of this literature review was to assess the impact of social connectedness interventions for preventing suicide in older adults. It is evident that interventions aimed at promoting social connectedness are intended to alleviate stress and depressive symptoms due to social separation and traum [...]

by Thierry Provencher  , Jonathan Charest  and Celyne H. Bastien

Received: 09 October 2019;  Published: 02 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001001

Neuroimaging evidences point to the role of hyperarousal in the pathophysiology of insomnia. While actual treatments fail to directly target brain hyperarousal, emergent complementary therapies known as neuromodulation techniques aim to improve sleep in people with insomnia by targeting irregularities in their brain activity. In this paper, we narratively review the most relevant studies reporting the application of neuromodulation techniques to improve sleep in individuals with insomnia. Using a non-systematic app [...]

by Andrew Weems  , Wenyan Li  , Duncan Maitland  and Luz Marina Calle

Received: 12 September 2019;  Published: 31 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.1904008

Biomedical applications of shape memory polymers (SMPs) are limited by their biostability, degradability, and possible toxicity risks after implantation. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were used to increase the oxidative biostability (increase time until degradation occurs) using antioxidants and to induce oxidative degradation through incorporation of hydrogen peroxide-containing MSNs with modified surfaces. The presented results confirm increased oxidative stability using antioxidants, and alternatively, [...]

by Misirkhan A. Talybov  , Lala A. Azizova  and Ilmutdin M. Abdulagatov

Received: 24 September 2019;  Published: 24 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/jept.1904006

Background: In the present study, vapor-pressures of three geothermal fluids from Baden-Baden geothermal field (Kirchenstollen, Friedrichstollen, and Murquelle, southeastern region of Germany) were measured over the temperature range of 274-413 K. The combined expanded uncertainty of the temperature and vapor-pressure measurements at 95% confidence level with a coverage factor of k = 2 were estimated to be 0.01 K and 1-3 Pa at low and 10-30 Pa at high temperatures, respectively. The measured values of vapor-pressur [...]

by Anna Karmazina  and Brent S. Steel

Received: 18 November 2019;  Published: 24 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/jept.1904005

The 2013 Pacific Coast Action Plan on Climate and Energy signed by the Governors of Oregon, California, and Washington and the Premier of British Columbia, launched a broadly announced public commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through multiple strategies. Those strategies include the development and increased use of renewable energy sources. The initiative recognized that citizens are both a central component to abating greenhouse gas emissions with regard to their energy use behaviors, and are important [...]

by Pier Alberto Testoni  and Sabrina Testoni

Received: 17 October 2019;  Published: 23 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1904042

Recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) is a clinical entity characterized by episodes of acute pancreatitis which occurs on more than one occasion. Recurrence of pancreatitis generally occurs in a setting of a normal anatomical and functional gland, however, a chronic disease at early stage may be found either on the occasion of the first episode of pancreatitis or during the follow-up. The etiology of RAP can be identified in up to 70% of cases; for the remaining cases the term “idiopathic” is used. Most common caus [...]

by Simona Ruggirello  , Enrica L. Santarcangelo  and Laura Sebastiani

Received: 10 September 2019;  Published: 18 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1904066

Background: Hypnotizability is a psychophysiological trait associated with several differences including the level of functional equivalence (FE) between imagery and perception, i.e., the similarity of the cortical activations and network configurations associated with each of them. FE is stronger in high hypnotizability individuals (highs) than low hypnotizable participants (lows). In this framework, this study investigates the correlation between electroencephalogram (EEG) of imagined arm/hand movements (MI) and [...]

by Naiwei Chi  , Shuyao Zheng  , Elwin Clutter  and Rong Wang

Received: 30 October 2019;  Published: 18 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.1904007

Background:Diabetic patients suffer from chronic wounds partly due to altered function of fibroblasts. Fibroblasts of diabetic patients synthesize collagen I (COLI) at a much higher level than collagen III (COLIII), resulting in delayed tissue granulation and, consequently, a delay in the overall wound healing process. Methods:We aimed to revive the matrix protein productivity of diabetic fibroblasts by employing aligned, electrically conductive and biocompatible spider silk-CNT fibers as a cell culture matrix to m [...]

by Ken Sato  , Atsushi Naganuma  , Shuichi Saito  , Yuichi Yamazaki  , Takeshi Kobayashi  , Hiroki Tojima  , Norio Horiguchi  , Satoru Kakizaki  , Toshio Uraoka  , Hiroshi Ohnishi  and Hiroaki Okamoto

Received: 29 September 2019;  Published: 17 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1904041

Background: Daclatasvir/asunaprevir/beclabuvir (DCV/ASV/BCV) combination therapy had been available for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1 (CHG1) in Japan. Our aim was to report the efficacy and safety of DCV/ASV/BCV in patients experiencing treatment failure with interferon (IFN)-free direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA)-based therapies, which have not been fully evaluated. Methods: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of 12-week DCV/ASV/BCV combination therapy for CHG1 patients experien [...]