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 Deewakar Poudel  , Benjamin Belfore  , Shankar Karki  , Grace Rajan  , Sina Soltanmohammad  , Angus Rockett  and Sylvain Marsillac

Received: 28 October 2020;  Published: 06 January 2021;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2101001

The effect of water ingress on the surface of the buffer layer of a Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cell was studied. Such degradation can occur either during the fabrication process, if it involves a chemical bath as is often the case for CdS, or while the modules are in the field and encapsulants degrade. To simulate the impact of this moisture ingress, devices with a structure sodalime glass/Mo/CIGS/CdS were immersed in deionized water. The thin films were then analyzed both pre and post water soaking. Dynamic second [...]

by Peta Stapleton  , Craig Buchan  , Ian MItchell  , Yasmin McGrath  , Paul Gorton  and Brett Carter

Received: 11 December 2018;  Published: 15 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1901010

Background: This pilot randomised clinical trial investigated the effect of Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on brain activation in response to food craving stimuli using functional magnetic resonance imaging. EFT is a brief stress reduction technique which involves stating a cognitive statement with stimulation of acupressure points with a tapping technique. Method: Fifteen overweight/obese adults were allocated to a four-week group EFT treatment or control condition and completed a measure of food crav [...]

by Patrick Weber  , Cathia Rausch  , Annina Scholl  and M. Cristina Cardoso

Received: 22 July 2018;  Published: 25 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1901062

Background: Genetic repeat elements (interspersed or tandem repeats) have diverse functions within cells and at different phases of the cell cycle. However, their investigation at a genome-wide scale is challenging due to their repetitive nature. Here, we describe a method to study the DNA replication kinetics of different repeat elements in single cells throughout the S-phase of the cell cycle. Methods: Mouse major satellite, minor satellite and telomere repeat elements as well as human LINE-1 and Alu repeats were [...]

by Udeme Udokpoh  and Chidozie Nnaji

Received: 02 September 2022;  Published: 12 January 2023;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2301006

The several furniture-making phases, from cutting to processing to polishing, produce a significant volume of sawdust of differing grades. The extraction and disposal of such waste in developing countries with no established or sustainable methods is an increasing problem, frequently posing environmental challenges. Sawdust is one of the most underused wood waste portions, with mounds dispersed around the region, detracting from its visual appeal and causing other ecological concerns. This study investigated potent [...]

by Rebecca MacDonald  , Carol Wiebe  and Gilles Comeau

Received: 17 March 2023;  Published: 05 July 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2303026

The arts offer many health benefits and can be especially impactful in hospital or continuing care facilities through group art interventions or personalized art activities. Arts can also be socially prescribed to fulfill social needs, improve emotional well-being, and have a positive impact of the social determinants of heath. This feasibility study explores the value of a pilot program that brought personalized virtual 1-on-1 art performances to residents in long-term care (LTC) during the Covid-19 pandemic which [...]

by Felipe Jimenez Pastrana  , Paul Dargusch  and Genia Hill

Received: 09 February 2022;  Published: 27 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2202016

The private sector plays an important role in the global climate goals and the 1.5°C target set during the Paris Agreement. Through investment in green projects and technology and energy efficiency initiatives, their carbon management strategy is paramount to achieve sustainability and good business practices. It is crucial to understand the proposals that the industry has established to reduce its environmental impact by applying supply chain optimization and technological advances or by participating in th [...]

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 Michael K. McMullen

Received: 09 July 2018;  Published: 28 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1803022

The metabolism of fructose by the liver produces uric acid and elevated serum uric acid levels are an independent risk factor for hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Fructose occurs in fruits and fruit juices, honey as well as in the sweeteners sucrose (common white sugar) and High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). Dietary fructose may be considered a naturally occurring toxin because it is largely metabolised by the liver with little fructose reaching the systemic blood circulation. Uric acid i [...]

by Michel Ravelonandro  and Pascal Briard

Received: 16 January 2023;  Published: 25 July 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2303189

In order to sustain productivity, growers are implementing fruit trees to provide plum pox virus (PPV) resistant varieties. Unfortunately, classical breeding approaches have failed to develop resistant varieties. RNA interference (RNAi) silencing, as an alternate strategy, has been shown to be an efficient approach to combat PPV disease (sharka). PPV resistance based on RNAi has been demonstrated in natural conditions for over 10 years. Experiments using graft inoculation in high-containment greenhouses show that s [...]